The
Panel received a report on Climate Change, regarding how portfolios
and services were contributing to reducing carbon emissions. The
Cabinet Member for Planning, Licensing & Housing Services and
the Cabinet Member for House Building, Place-Making and Development
introduced how their portfolios were contributing to carbon
emissions, as set out on the report, which was on page 3 of the
addendum report pack. The Assistant Director,
Planning, Building Standards & Sustainability, The Assistant
Director for Regeneration & Economic
Development and the Head of Carbon Management were all present for
this agenda item. The following arose during the discussion of the
report:
- The
Panel queried where the authority had got to with the Local Plan
and questioned what was being done to engage with a wide array of
people. In response, the Cabinet Member for Planning advised that
the consultation on the Local Plan was ongoing and that he had
specifically requested that the views of groups who did not
regularly engage with the Council were sought. Officers added that
they were engaging with the Bridge Renewal Trust and the Youth
Advisory Board to seek their input. Officers also set out that
Haringey had received feedback from the government that its latest
engagement strategy around planning policy was a best practice
example.
- The
Cabinet Member for Planning advised that the Cabinet was due to
meet in a few weeks to review progress to date across a raft of
measures related to climate change that were set out in the Local
Plan.
- In
response to a question, the Cabinet Member for Planning advised
that all 33 London Boroughs were working together to try and agree
proposals around Energy retrofit works that would cover a ten year
period, as having an assured funding stream and assured programme
of works was the only way to make significant progress. The
Energiesprong pilot was underway in relation to retrofitting homes
in the agreed pilot locations. 50 homes in White Hart Lane had been
selected as part of the pilot scheme, the works would be delivered
in 2022.
- The
Panel sought assurances around the Council meeting its carbon
reduction targets. In response, officers advised that Haringey had
agreed that the borough would be carbon net-zero by 2041 and that
the Council’s buildings and vehicle fleet would be carbon
net-zero by 2027. The Council had started the procurement process
for a number of electric vehicles and officers were working with
the Corporate Landlord to understand key issues going forwards. The
Council had allocated £101m to retrofitting Council housing
stock and officers advised that they were working through a
strategy to deliver that programme, which included focusing on the
worst performing buildings first. The target for these works being
completed was 2035. In relation to wider engagement, the Panel were
advised that at a Cabinet away-day earlier in that week, Cabinet
had undertook to do more to reach out into the community and speak
to harder to reach groups.
- One of
the panel members suggested that the Council should be seeking to
engage more with Extinction Rebellion around the climate change
agenda.
- Cllr
Hearn agreed to circulate her questions in writing for a subsequent
response. Officers to provide a written response. (Action: Cllr Hearn/Officers)
- The
Chair noted with concern the fact that 50% of the borough’s
carbon emissions emanated from housing and only 7% of that was from
Council housing stock. Therefore, the vast majority for emissions
were from the owner/occupier sector and the private rented sector.
The Chair suggested that, given the nature of the properties, the
majority of carbon emissions were likely to be from the private
rented sector and asked what the Council was doing in this area to
meet its requirements on net-zero, above and beyond reviewing
energy performance certificates. In response, the Cabinet Member
for Planning advised that government issued guidance was that
private rented homes had to achieve an ‘E’ grade on
their energy performance certificate otherwise they could not be
rented out. The Cabinet Member commented that in terms of
owner/occupiers this was something for central government to lead
on. The Cabinet Member expressed concerns around a perceived
scattergun approach to this by the government and the collapse of
the government scheme after only around 16,000 homes were
retrofitted.
- Officers advised the Panel that, through the licensing scheme,
the Council would be enforcing minimal standards around energy
efficiency and that the Council would also signpost and support
landlords to access alternative funding schemes. The example of the
Green Home Grant scheme was given, which was ran by GLA and was
available to all homeowners/landlords. Officers advised that the
ambition for this funding was to get all of the housing stock
across the board up to a mid ‘B’ efficiency
rating.
- The
Panel sought assurances around retrofitting council housing stock
and potential costs to leaseholders. The Panel asked whether
funding for leaseholders had been put budgeted for and whether any
thought had been given on how to manage this process and mitigate
any costs to leaseholders. In response, the Cabinet Member for
Planning advised that any costs would vary according to the type of
property and the type of retrofitting scheme that was being used.
The Panel requested that the Cabinet Member provide a written
response to this question. (Action: Cllr Bevan).
- In
reference to wrapping of properties as a method of improving energy
efficiency, the Panel sought assurances around how this could be
done in a conservation area and whether this would raise planning
questions. In response, officers advised that the planning policy
supported the retrofitting of properties and improving energy
efficiency performance as well as supporting heritage and
conservation areas. Officers advised that the purpose of the
planning process was to try and achieve a good balance between the
relevant considerations. The role of pilot scheme was highlighted
as being crucial in this respect as it allowed a forum for testing
and refining the process.
RESOLVED
Noted.