An apology for absence was received from Cllrs Leslie Hills and Emma Elliott; Cllrs Derek Ashenden and David Beattie attended as their respective substitutes.

The minutes of the Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Monday, 25 March 2025 were agreed and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

Items called in from the Cabinet meeting on 09 September 2024

Please bring the Cabinet agenda for Monday, 09 September 2024 previously circulated to Members.

Item called-in from the Cabinet meeting of 09 September 2024: Item 11, Climate Change Update

The Chair explained that the above item was considered at Cabinet on 09 September 2024 and that it had been called-in in order for the Committee: -

• to better understand and explore the challenges that the Council faces in decarbonising its own operations
• to assess if the strategy is delivering value for money
• to consider the viability of the strategy continuing against the backdrop of savings required to balance the next budget

The Director (Corporate Services) advised that the report asked Cabinet to reflect on the delivery of the council’s Climate Change Strategy thus far and allow consideration of the future strategic direction of the council’s climate action given the changes to national policy, the economic situation of the county and the council’s financial position since the council adopted the Strategy in December 2020.

The written decision of the Cabinet was as follows: -

Resolved thatCabinet Members acknowledge the report and agree to commence the development of a new Climate Change Strategy for the Council.

The Director (Corporate Services) further explained that the report gave the Cabinet an opportunity to refocus the Councils activity around climate change; back in 2019 the Council adopted a pledge to work towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030 which was followed up with a climate strategy that focused on three key areas:

• Priority 1 – Gravesham Borough Council – the organisation
• Priority 2 – Gravesham Borough Council the housing provider
• Priority 3 – Gravesham Borough Council the community leader

Over the last five years, the country had been through significant changes, and it gave an opportunity for the Council to pause and reflect on what had been achieved over the last five years. Those achievements had been presented to Full Council and the public through annual reports submitted to the Climate Change Advisory Board.  In addition, it also gave an opportunity to review whether the Council was using its limited resources in the most effective way to deliver the most benefit to the Borough.

In light of the outcomes of those reflections, at the previous Cabinet meeting, Members agreed to a refocus and redrafting of the Climate Change Strategy. This was done to focus on the Councils’ role as a place shaper and leader in terms of how the Council would assist the public and local businesses in delivering wider climate change to the Borough. 

The Chair thanked the Director (Corporate Services) for her presentation and reiterated his reasons for calling in the decision.

The Director (Corporate Services) fielded questions from the Committee and explained that:

• The initial £500K climate exchange reserve was set up to provide seed funding to support climate change initiatives and it brought forward projects such as ‘recycling the go’, installation of EV chargers in Council owned car parks and match funding for other projects. The Council had delivered many successful projectswith  £381K of that reserve still remaining.  The Council had been successful in bids  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.