None.

None.

The Panel agreed to consider items 7, 8, 9 and 10 next on the agenda, followed by items 4, 5, 6 and 11.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 13 September 2023, will consider a report from the Executive Director (Communities and People) on HRA Energy Efficiency Projects 2023/24. Cllr Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Anna Railton, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice and Juliet Nicholas, Energy & Sustainability Manager have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Panel is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Juliet Nicholas, Energy & Sustainability Manager introduced the report, highlighting that Oxford City Council had set a target of getting 95% of its housing stock to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C or above by 2030, alongside a commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions as a city by 2040 – going beyond EPC C. The report set out a proposed piece of work to deliver HRA energy efficiency projects using a budget previously agreed by Council.

Cllr Anna Railton, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice added that this work was completely separate from the Clean Heat Streets trial in Rose Hill, which was delivered through a different funding pot.

In response to questions, the Panel was advised that:

·       The Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) trial undertaken in 2022/23 was a very small trial with a focus on monitoring efficiency; the efficiency of the ASHPs was found to be very high and the Council was in the process of taking the learnings from that project so that it could look to rollout other projects.

·       The cost to deliver circa 40 heat pumps (£500k) was an estimation and included not only the pumps and installation, but also additional costs such as remedial works to residents’ homes where required following the removal of gas boilers; the budget included contingency.

·       Circa 40 ASHPs would be installed in 40 fairly standard detached or semi-detached homes; they would not be installed in flats.

·       The procurement route for delivery of the projects had not yet been decided upon; value for money considerations would be taken into account as part of the procurement process.

·       It was felt that the proposal to conduct EPCs in circa 350 HRA properties in 2023/24 was realistic in the timeframe with the budget available; further EPCs would be undertaken in future years.

·       The Council had a piece of software which gave an indication of the EPC of each of the HRA properties, even if the property did not have an EPC lodged; conducting EPCs would help test the data and the accuracy of the software.

·       Soft market testing had been undertaken and it had been found that there was capacity within the market in respect of the projects for design and delivery, though capacity was expected to become more problematic in future years as demand for specialist suppliers increased.

·       If the Council awarded the contract to Oxford Direct Services as main contractor with a number of sub-contractors, project management and ensuring sub-contractors were delivering would form part of the delivery programme.

·       There was the possibility of exploring medium-to-long term relationships with suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors as part of the procurement process.

·       Taking advantage of economies of scale could be explored.

The Panel agreed to recommend to Cabinet that:

1.    The Council explores the full range of procurement options for the delivery of the projects, including alternative suppliers and the possibility of establishing medium-to-long term relationships with suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors.

2.    The Council sets a timetable for achieving a full  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 13 September 2023, will consider a report from the Head of Corporate Strategy on a City-wide Smoke Control Area Declaration. Cllr Anna Railton, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice and Pedro Abreu, Principal Air Quality Officer have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Panel is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Pedro Abreu, Principal Air Quality Officer introduced the report, giving an overview of the plans for the creation of a city-wide Smoke Control Area (SCA).

Cllr Anna Railton, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice added that the emphasis of this work was very much centred around Public Health.

In response to questions, the Panel was advised that:

·       Consideration would be given to how the report from the Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, on air pollution could be drawn out in the publicity about the SCA.

·       Oxford was not the only city outside of London looking at implementing a SCA; Reading was also in the process of establishing a SCA and had recently launched the public consultation.

·       Consideration would be given to how the Council could best leverage local expertise from the universities in its communications campaign.

·       The decision to exclude moored vessels from the SCA was a deliberate decision; the process for including boats within a SCA was slightly different and there was a general consensus that the Council did not want to make changes without having worked with the various boating communities to identify and address barriers to them adopting cleaner fuel types.

·       The Council was trialling ‘eco-mooring’ to provide electric infrastructure to help reduce pollution along Oxford’s waterways; one of the outputs of the trial would be testing what works and establishing a continuing education campaign.

·       The grant funding that the Council had received to deliver the ‘eco-mooring’ trial included funding for a Community Engagement Officer; it was intended that this post would make vital links with the various boat dwelling communities and produce specific air quality guidelines for the waterways.

The Panel agreed to recommend to Cabinet that:

1.    The Council ensures clear messaging in its publicity campaign that moored vessels are exempt from the Smoke Control Area, and communicates the rationale for the exemption.

2.    The Council commits to working with the various boating communities (e.g. boaters living on permanent moorings and visiting boaters) to identify and address the barriers to these communities adopting cleaner fuel types; and explores grant funding opportunities to support the work to address these issues.

At its meeting on 27 June 2023, the Panel commissioned an item on Air Pollution, to include discussion around the Council’s Annual Air Quality Status Report and Action Plan; the OxAir Air Quality Sensor Pilot recommendations and progress since the report was published; and indoor air pollution. The Annual Air Quality Status Report 2022 is attached and officers will deliver a presentation at the meeting.

Cllr Anna Railton, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice and Pedro Abreu, Principal Air Quality Officer, have been invited to present and answer questions. The Panel is asked to note and comment on the report and receive the presentation followed by an opportunity for discussion; and to agree any recommendations.

Pedro Abreu, Principal Air Quality Officer introduced the presentation and highlighted that the Council had statutory duties in relation to air quality and had published its Annual Air Quality Status Report in June 2023. He added that there was a Council commitment to improve air quality through the Air Quality Action Plan. A copy of the presentation slides is included in the minutes pack.

In response to questions, the Panel was advised that:

·       Not all of the air quality monitoring stations were shown on the map yet; the Council was in the process of migrating the content from its old air quality website to a new one, which was due to launch on 18 September 2023.

·       Indoor air pollution caused by fumes in commercial kitchens was managed through the Council’s Environmental Health Team, which visited and assessed installations to ensure compliance with the relevant standards.

·       Possible alternative solutions to diesel generators used by street traders would be explored.

·       The provision of public information boards on air quality was on the Council’s agenda; work had been paused while the new air quality website was being developed.

·       Consideration would be given to how the impact of air quality on people, rather than just places, could be incorporated into future Annual Air Quality Status Reports.

·       Much of the way in which data on air quality was presented was as a result of statutory requirements to present information in a certain way.

The Panel agreed to recommend to Cabinet that:

1.    The Council produces an accessible and easily digestible executive summary to sit alongside the Annual Air Quality Status Report in future years; to include what the Council has done, next steps and any issues which are likely to delay progress on particular actions.

2.    The Council considers how to identify and promote the broader benefits of action to improve air quality.

Pedro Abreu, Principal Air Quality Officer left the meeting and did not return.

The Head of Corporate Strategy has submitted the Net Zero Masterplan 2023-25 which sets out Oxford City Council’s actions over the next two years to achieve its two carbon targets: a Net Zero Estate and Operations by 2030 and a Net Zero City by 2040.

The Panel is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Note: this item will consist of a Panel-led discussion; the Panel may submit written questions for response at the next meeting.

The Panel considered the Net Zero Masterplan, which set out Oxford City Council’s actions over the next two years to achieve its two carbon targets: a Net Zero Estate and Operations by 2030 and a Net Zero City by 2040. The Panel focussed discussion on how it might best add value and ensure constructive scrutiny of this standing item going forward.

In discussion, the Panel agreed that focussing solely on the actions rated ‘red’ was not helpful, though actions which were persistently ‘red’ should be considered in more detail, if the action was within the Council’s control to influence. The Panel also noted that it would be helpful to have a one-page summary alongside the document setting out key changes since the last iteration, including where priorities had changed, and other key issues to draw to the Panel’s attention; the Panel requested that the Scrutiny Officer speak to officers about providing this for future meetings.

The Panel noted that a lot of the current measures within the Masterplan cited lack of staffing, resource or specialist skills; and without those things the items may not be deliverable, so there were implications for the Council’s budget and training priorities. The Panel requested that an appropriate senior representative from the Environmental Sustainability Team be invited to the next meeting of the Panel to address issues around resourcing; reflecting on the financial realities of local government and any lateral insights of how to continue to progress the actions if budget bids were not successful.

Cllr Anna Railton, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice left the meeting and did not return.

The Panel is asked to agree the notes of the meeting held on 27 June 2023 as a true and accurate record.

The Panel agreed the notes of the meeting held on 27 June 2023 as a true and accurate record.

The Panel is asked to:

1.    Consider the Work Plan and agree any amendments.

2.    Approve the draft scopes for Scrutiny-commissioned items on: Tree Planting and Maintenance; Energy Generation and Solar Potential on Council Buildings; and Retrofit and delegate authority to the Scrutiny Officer to schedule the items into the Work Plan in discussion with relevant officers.

The Panel considered the Work Plan.

The Chair highlighted that, owing to some ongoing work related to the Tree Management Policy the Panel was not able to consider the Policy as part of the commissioned item on Tree Planting and Maintenance until that work had concluded.

The Panel:

1.    Agreed the Work Plan.

2.    Approved the draft scopes for Scrutiny-commissioned items on Tree Planting and Maintenance (subject to the point above); Energy Generation and Solar Potential on Council Buildings; and Retrofit.

3.    Delegated authority to the Scrutiny Officer to schedule the items into the Work Plan in discussion with relevant officers.

At its meeting on 12 July 2023, Cabinet considered the following reports from the Climate and Environment Panel and made responses to the recommendations:

·       Draft Carbon Reduction and Sustainable Retrofit Guidance for Historic Buildings Technical Advice Note

·       Biodiversity Update

The Panel is asked to note Cabinet’s responses to its recommendations.

The Panel noted the following Cabinet responses to its recommendations:

·       Draft Carbon Reduction and Sustainable Retrofit Guidance for Historic Buildings Technical Advice Note

·       Biodiversity Update

The Panel is asked to note the dates and times of future meetings of the Climate and Environment Panel.

·       29 November 2023, 6pm

·       27 February 2024, 6pm

·       20 March 2024, 6pm

Meetings will take place remotely via Zoom.

The Panel noted the dates and times of future meetings.