Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

1)  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2)  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3)  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

The agenda contained no exempt information.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

There were no late items of business.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Hayden and Councillor Hart-Brooke.

a)  To receive and approve the minutes of the last formal meeting held on 10^th March 2021

b)  To receive and note the meeting notes of the Consultative Meeting of Members of the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee meeting held on 9^th March 2022

RESOLVED –

a)  That the minutes of the last formal meeting held 10^th March 2021 be agreed as a correct record

b)  That the notes of the Consultative meeting of Members of the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee held 9^th March 2022 be noted.

At the discretion of the Chair, a period of up to 15 minutes may be allocated at each ordinary meeting for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Committee. No member of the public shall speak for more than five minutes in the Open Forum, except by permission of the Chair.

Please note: Members of the public are asked to submit a video of their question or statement to climate.emergency@leeds.gov.uk by 5.00 pm on Monday 20^th June.

Two matters were raised under the Open Forum:

Climate Action Leeds (CAL) - Mr T. Hermann made a short representation on the £2.5 million programme to reach a zero carbon and nature friendly city for Leeds by 2030. The organisation’s work is based on the doughnut economics model.

Five organisations support the work as delivery partners: Voluntary Action Leeds, CAG consultants, Together4Peace and Leeds Tidal. CAL provides a two day a week support worker for local groups and will start new recruitment drive to secure additional resource. Several local community groups are part of the programme, including:

·  Eco-friendly Garforth

·  Our Future Beeston

·  Otley 2030

·  Climate Action Seacroft

The Chair thanked CAL for their submission and encouraged the local groups to attend future CEAC meetings and Mr Hermann confirmed this will be communicated to the groups.

Medact Leeds – The Group submitted a video outlining their campaign, ‘Health for a Green New Deal’ which can be viewed here. Due to the World Health Organisation describing climate change as the biggest challenge facing human health, this is the group’s focus, along with loss of biodiversity. The Group is specifically focusing on the impact of air pollution and the effects on children, and the presentation acknowledged Ella Kissi-Debrah, the first person ruled to have pollution included in her death certificate. The Group is campaigning in Leeds for cheaper zero emissions, segregated bike lanes especially near schools and to improve air quality.

The Chair thanked the Group and confirmed the submission would be provided to relevant officers in City Development (Highways and Transportation) for consideration.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer (Sustainable Energy and Air Quality) which sets out the proposed meeting schedule for 2022/23 at Appendix 1 and suggested amendments to the Committee’s working groups for discussion. The report also seeks the Committee’s consideration of the approach to holding physical and/or remote meetings for the forthcoming year.

The Chief Officer (Sustainable Energy and Air Quality) submitted a report which set out the proposed meeting schedule for 2022/23 attached as Appendix 1 and suggested amendments to the Committee’s working groups for discussion.

The Committee considered the different approaches to growth, including doughnut economics. The Big Leeds Climate Conversation findings showed that more than three quarters of respondents believe that tackling climate change is either more (63.5%) or much more (14.7%) important than maintaining current levels of economic growth. There will be a workshop on doughnut economics for Members, possibly to take place through the working groups.

The Chief Officer clarified that any Councillor may apply to join the CEAC working groups, not just Members of the Committee.

The Chair confirmed that there will be an ongoing programme of visits to CEAC by the Director of each directorate during the municipal year.

RESOLVED: The committee confirmed the work programme, including committee dates.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer (Sustainable Energy and Air Quality) summarising some of the learning and activity that has taken place since the Committee considered the Climate Adaptation Update at the meeting held in March 2022. The report also details plans to undertake a deeper council-wide climate risk assessment to further prevent and protect against future climate impacts.

The Chief Officer (Sustainable Energy and Air Quality) submitted a report providing a summary on the range of activity which had taken place since the last meeting of the Committee to progress plans to build the city’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Members noted the intention for a climate audit to be undertaken with LCC services to identify how service provision and service users may be impacted by the effects of climate change.

Members noted the many areas of the city susceptible to flooding and highlighted the need for the Plan to consider smaller incidents on tributaries to the Aire, Wharfe and Calder which impacted on local residents and the local economy.

Members also considered the concept of corporate responsibility amongst partners noting a comment regarding sale of woodland for residential development.

Officers agreed to feedback the above comments to the relevant partners.

Members noted a request for the Plan to separate and identify those risks and smaller actions which will have an immediate positive short term impact from the long term aims of the Plan. The Committee noted work being undertaken with partners to translate aspects of the Plan into scenarios to present to Service areas which will inform discussions on their own policies to support change.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the update provided on activity taking place across the Council to address the current, future and expected impacts of climate change be noted.

b)  That the leading role the Council is playing in the work on resilience and adaptation across the region in conjunction with the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission be noted.

c)  That the Committee support the approach to undertake a service-led climate risk assessment, including the delivery of a series of workshops, which will inform council-wide reviews of business continuity plans and the corporate risk register.

d)  That the Committee support enhanced city-wide engagement with every community in Leeds over the next 12 months to raise awareness of, and receive feedback on, the Council's activity to support climate mitigation and adaptation.

e)  To support the proposal for the involvement of the Committee’s working groups in this work moving forward.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development submitted in support of a presentation to be given which provides an update on the development of the Leeds Local Plan.

The Director of City Development submitted a report in support of a presentation given to the Committee providing an update on the development of the Leeds Local Plan.

Martin Elliot, Head of Strategic Planning, delivered the presentation highlighting how the Leeds Local Plan 1 (LPU1) will be a statutory plan which, once adopted, developers will be required to have regard to, as such it will provide developers with a steer on the type of development the city wishes to see.

The presentation focussed on the five key themes intended to support the city to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure the delivery of sustainable development:

Carbon reduction – Existing policies will be revised to introduce the concept of a “whole life cycle” assessment of a development, from the building materials proposed, re-use of materials, sustainable construction methods, demolition or new build to the final use of the development to help consider carbon useage. The focus on zero carbon developments will seek to go further than existing policy by setting out a focus on the fabric of buildings to withstand other energy technology that can be included within the development. Policies will also be prepared which identify broad locations for development of wind turbines and solar farms. 

Place making – LPU1 has regard to the need to improve housing quality, and through stronger emphasis on design, housing density and links to the Connecting Leeds Strategy, it seeks to seeks to identify what quality developments in Leeds will look like and the concept of a “20-minute neighbourhood”.

Flood Risk – LPU1 will update Leeds’ assessment of flood susceptibility based on the latest evidence such as climate change allowances/ temperature change. Developments will be required to take the policy into account, the aim being to avoid development in high risk flood areas especially functional flood plains. Previously, the Local Authority operated an ‘exceptions test’ which balanced development with sustainability but the revised policy will start a conversation on whether that is the balance to strike for the future and whether flood plain development should be further restricted.

Green Infrastructure – LPU1 aims to present a better understanding of green infrastructure, particularly the movement of plants and animals and active travel considerations for people. The update to green space policies will ensure quality green spaces, which are functional and support Leeds health and wellbeing agenda.

Sustainable infrastructure – LPU1 will review digital connectivity for modern society, set out strategic support for mass transit schemes and policies on Leeds station update, HS2 and consider the airport policy.

Members were advised of the timetable for implementation, with a further report proposed to the October CEAC meeting as part of the formal consultation the Plan proposed for October to November 2022. Additionally the Committee noted the intention for work on a further Local Plan Update 2 to follow later in 2022, to potentially include issues such as housing, employment and town and local centres.

In discussions, the following comments were made:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Thursday 21st July 2022 2.00 p.m.

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday 21^st July 2022 at 2.00 pm