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 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)

No late items of business were added to the agenda, however, supplementary information was circulated to Members prior to the start of the meeting. This was the report and appendix for Agenda item 8 – Leeds Food Strategy Update – report on progress.

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 for absence were received from Councillor O Newton.

To receive and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th June 2024.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on the 17^th of June 2024, be approved as a true and correct record.

The following matters arising were raised:

Minute 7

The information regarding social worker electric vehicle trials and schools and other relevant sites climate adaptability plans, referenced in the Directors Update of Children’s and Families that was presented to the Committee on the 18^th of March 2024, had still not been received and was to be followed up again.

Minute 9

The figure for the customers on the waiting list for the Leeds PIPES rollout, referenced on page 10 of the agenda pack, was agreed to be provided back to Members. This had not yet been received and was agreed to be pursued.

Minute 10

An update from the Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Transport Committee, West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) was provided in relation to the WYCA local transport plan scoping consultation, referenced on page 12 of the agenda pack. It was outlined that the consultation had been delayed due to the General Election and the sensitive nature of pre-election periods. The consultation had opened on the 15^th of July 2024 and local residents and interested parties were encouraged to have their say on the initial proposals.

(Councillor M Rafique and Councillor A Rae joined the meeting during consideration of this item)

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 Wednesday 17^th July 2024

No matters were raised under the Open Forum item.

The Chair encouraged suggestions from Members for future submissions to showcase climate action work. It was noted that Horsforth Climate Action had been contacted and intended to provide a future submission to the Open Forum.

(REPORT TO FOLLOW)

The Senior Project Manager, Climate, Energy & Green Spaces team, will attend the meeting to provide a presentation to Members on the Strategy and the work undertaken since the Committee last considered the Food Strategy on 27^th November 2023.

This report provided the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee with an update on the progress of the Leeds Food Strategy. The Senior Project Manager, Climate, Energy & Green Spaces team, attended the meeting to provide a presentation to Members on the Strategy and the work undertaken since the Committee last considered the Food Strategy on 27th November 2023.

The Chair introduced the item, noting a previous update had been provided to the Committee on the 27^th of November 2023. The Leeds Food Strategy covered a vast scope of topics and issues and Mission 3 – Sustainability and Resilience was most relevant to the Committee’s remit.

Andrew White, Senior Project Manager, presented the report and highlighted the following information:

·  The was the third update provided to the Committee as Officers had also attended a Working Group. The presentation was to particularly focus and follow up on discussions from the 27^th of November 2023 meeting.

·  A report for the strategy was due for submission and consideration by the Executive Board in September 2024. The contents of the presentation the Committee were to focus on key areas of progress and challenges that required consideration, as well as providing an overview of the three missions; 1. Health and Wellbeing, 2. Food Security and Economy, 3. Sustainability and Resilience, which linked to the Council’s three pillars.

·  The background was outlined as, from 2006 to 2010 a Food Strategy was in place, at a Council meeting in September 2014 Feed Leeds had made a deputisation and Public Health had been tasked with building partnerships, the Leeds Food Partnership was established in 2017, a National Food Strategy was launched in 2020, following a consultation, the Leeds Food Strategy had been approved by the Executive Board in 2023 and this report was the draft annual update.

·  The aim was for the strategy to run long term, in line with the Climate Emergency Declaration and the carbon neutrality by 2030 ambition. The associated targets were also long term and still in development; the revised document was to be published following submission to Executive Board.

·  The strategy was in partnership with Food Wise Leeds and there were seven internal Officers working on the strategy from Public Health, Financial Inclusion and Climate, Energy and Green Spaces, and also a steering group managed the implementation of the three missions.

·  Since November 2023 wording revisions had been made to aid clarity for the strategy’s purpose and the original 15 objectives had been reduced to 12. There were 16 key performance indicators (KPI) which were still in development and linked in with other Council services.

·  There were four objectives, with related actions to support the work on health and wellbeing, as part of mission 1.

·  There were four objectives, with related actions to support the work on food security and economy, as part of mission 2.

·  There were four objectives, with related actions to support the work on sustainability and resilience, as part of mission 3, this mission was the most specific to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To receive an update from the Executive Manager, Flood Risk and Climate Resilience, City Development, on the implementation of the Leeds Flood Risk Management Strategy. This update examines the implementation of the Strategy over the last 12 months and provides a summary of the measures that are set out for the years ahead.

The report of the Executive Manager, Flood Risk and Climate Resilience, City

Development provided an update on the implementation of the Leeds Flood Risk Management Strategy. This update examined the implementation of the Strategy over the last 12 months and provided a summary of the measures that are set out for the years ahead.

Jonathon Moxon, the Executive Manager, Flood Risk and Climate Resilience, City

Development, outlined the following information to Members:

• The strategy was developed and covered by the Highways and Transportation department within City Development but was governed by the Food and Water Management Act, which required a Flood Risk Management Strategy.

·  The strategy had been considered at the Scrutiny Board for Investment and Inclusive Growth on the 28^th of February 2024, as a statutory update and was brought to the Committee annually with the increasing role to address climate resilience. Flood risk was the most significant climate change risk posed in Leeds.

·  Globally and within the UK, extreme weather events were becoming more prevalent. Floods and droughts as well as the unpredictable nature of storms had increased. In 2023 global temperatures were 1°C higher than average temperatures measured from 1850-1900.

·  Data for weather events in Leeds over 2023 was outlined, with a stark increase in the number of storms and heavy rainfall. Rainfall data was available at a street level but was generally presented at a catchment level. The West and Northwest of Leeds had experienced the highest levels of rain over the last year.

·  There was a dedicated team working on incidents and impacts, some, including contractors, were on call on a 24/7 basis. Around 190 hotspots were managed around the city to protect vital infrastructure and communities.

·  Unprecedented high levels of rain fall impacted farmers and growers and sports and recreation facilities. The West Yorkshire Flood Programme worked with sports clubs to advice of methods, such as soil health and drainage measures, to alleviate the pressure of floods and high rainfall.

·  A map was displayed that was used to track locations where incidents had occurred, with ten categories for incidents informing monitoring framework.

·  Severe rainfall on the 6^th of May 2024 had begun in Northwest Leeds, with the average rainfall for the month occurring in one hour. This had serious implications at Horsforth Railway Station and Low Lane, with the road being closed by Yorkshire Water to repair surfaces and drainage systems. The impact was largely due to capacity issues of complex, integrated sewer and drainage pipes.

·  Different drainage and sewer systems were the responsibility of a range of Authorities, with better integration models required to limit future impacts. Impact on highways was a major consideration for flood management and response.

·  A statutory role of the service was consultation responses for planning applications which was a strong tool for adaptability and surface water management, however, resource limitations were noted for technical appraisals. Not all Local Authorities followed this model and the number of planning applications in Leeds was significant.

·  Leeds Flood Alleviation Schemes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Monday 23rd September 2024 at 9.30 am.

As the Chair had requested to seek holding physical meetings where possible, the Governance Officer agreed to look into suitable meeting dates to be held in the Civic Hall, in consultation with Members.

A visit to the Arium was scheduled for Members, with a diary invite to be sent out in due course.

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Monday 23rd September 2024 at 9.30am.