Agenda item

The Council is asked to note any statements made by Members of the Cabinet (Portfolio Holders).

Councillors may then ask questions of the Portfolio Holders on their statements.

Action on Climate Change Update

The Environment & Public Space Portfolio Holder (Councillor Talbot) made the following statement:-

“Colleagues,

At the February Council meeting I said that I intended, with the Cabinet’s support, to have a meeting with the two arms of planning in the District, since in the longer-term view, changes will have to be driven by policy consideration in those two Departments.

On the 9^{th of} March, with the full cooperation of the two Chairmen, Councillors Nick Turner and John White with officers present, we held a ‘Teams’ meeting to discuss all aspects of how our planning system could influence our future ambitions as a District, with regard to both our ‘net zero carbon’ target for the Councils own emissions by 2030, and the wider approach within Tendring to encourage Developers to install Climate Change features in their development applications. The items below are a precis of decisions made: -

1. In answer to a question about procedure at Planning meetings, it was agreed between Planning Committee Chairman John White and Graham Nourse, that there should be no problem with ensuring that all Officer reports to the Planning Committee, should contain a reference to ‘Climate Change’, stating in their report, whether the matter had been discussed with the applicant as part of their recommendation to committee.

2. Planning Policy & Local Plan Chairman Turner and Graham Nourse said that once approved, our Local Plan, currently before the inspector, will enable us to make full use of the ‘Sustainable Development’ clause to seek appropriate and timely measures from developers.  Councillor Turner further said that whilst this plan had no detailed reference to Climate Change, the Local Plan is reviewed in five years so in the longer term we have every opportunity to make necessary changes.

3. Graham Nourse with Councillor Turner’s agreement suggested that once the plan was approved, they would get together and produce some ‘Supplementary Planning Guidance’ covering what we want from developers to meet with the Climate Change agenda.

One other report: Wednesday week is the next meeting of TDALC, where Tim R. Clarke (Assistant Director - Housing and Environmental Health) is the guest speaker and since the last TDALC meeting my letter, sent with full Cabinet support, has been delivered to all Town and Parish Councils in Tendring, inviting them to consider what they can do in their patch, and suggesting they put Climate Change on every main agenda produced for their Council Meetings in future.”

Update – East of England Ambulance Service

The Partnerships Portfolio Holder (Councillor McWilliams) made the following statement:-

“Regarding the motion raised by Cllr Morrison at the Tendring District Council Full Council meeting held on the 15^th September 2020 which related to the response times and capacity of the East of England Ambulance Service. Our Chief Executive, Mr Ian Davidson wrote to the East of England Ambulance Service and raised the concerns that had been related at the Full Council meeting.

After some time, a response was received, which identified that some additional capacity had been allocated, also it was confirmed that several issues had been highlighted following a CQC inspection.

A meeting was arranged between Sir Bernard Jenkin MP, Councillor Pam Morrison who moved the motion, our Chief Executive Mr Ian Davidson and me.

The meeting discussed the issues raised.

There has been a subsequent meeting between Sir Bernard Jenkin MP, our Chief Executive and the Chairman of the East of England Ambulance Service, and the position at present is ongoing.

The MP for Clacton, Giles Watling has been kept informed and is fully aware of the meetings.

An update on progress is to be arranged and will be presented to an All Member Briefing.”