Agenda and minutes

Substitutions were as follows:

-       Councillor L Swindlehurst for Councillor Whitehouse

-       Councillor Pascall for Councillor Salt

-       Councillor Roberts for Councillor Shaw

-       Councillor Holmes for Councillor B Hughes

·         Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

·         Other Interests

DECIDED: That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 June 2023 be approved.

DECIDED:

1)    That the report of the Chairman of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel be noted;

2)    For a letter to be sent to the Staffordshire Commissioner to request  information in terms of the availability of fire engines in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

There were none.

(At least two clear days notice required, in writing, to the Proper Officer in accordance with Procedure Rule 15).

None had been received.

The Chair highlighted the Panels support for the letter being sent to Karen Bradley MP, in relation to the Government’s funding settlement for the Canal and River Trust, as agreed at Full Council.

A request was made for a copy of this letter to be sent to Bill Cash MP, Parish Clerks and all members of the Panel.

DECIDED:

That the Work Programme 2023-2024 be agreed.

Members considered a briefing paper introduced by Dave Lovatt - Regional Housing Manager, which provided a performance and development update on YHG business areas identified in the legacy agreement and related to business activity between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2023. Aaron Hamersley – Head of Housing and Andrea Hampton – Customer Representative were also present at the meeting.

Topics covered within the report included:

-       Housing Management

-       YHG Key Contact Details

-       Neighbourhood inspection and Customer Engagement Events

-       Damp and Mould

-       Tenancy Support and Money Advice

-       Disabled Grant Facilities Update

-       Energy Efficiency Update

-       Lettings

-       Anti-Social Behaviour

-       Compliance

-       Development

-       Repairs and Maintenance

-       Digital Engagement

-       Community Regeneration

The Panel discussed damp and mould, potential new housing developments and housing wait lists in Biddulph, retrofitting of properties, installation of swift boxes, support for rural residents and the creation of wild spaces on land owned by YHG.

Members commented that there was a need for additional housing in the area and there was a lack of progress with new developments. Members wished to understand the barriers to social housing being built.

Your Housing Group was complimented on the handling of gas central heating complaint. Members found the additional informal councillor meetings to be very useful and they were well attended.

DECIDED:

1)    That the performance update be received.

2)    The following actions were noted:-

·       Waiting list information for the Biddulph area to be supplied after the meeting;

·       Damp and mould performance statistics to be provided;

·       Energy & sustainability presentation to be resent to members;

·       A spotlight on development and funding issues to be included in the next regular update;

·       For members to exchange details with the Head of Housing in relation to specific requests.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Environment, presented the Annual Climate Change Report 2023. The report detailed progress towards delivering the Council’s Climate Change plan and the key activities were explained to the Panel.

Two documents were displayed on screen as part of the update; Staffordshire Moorlands’ High Ambition Pathway and Intervention Summary. It was also noted that Appendix D of the report; Nature Recovery Declaration would be considered at the meeting in September alongside the Plan for Nature.

Members debated the reduced recycling rate for the Moorlands, increased cost of hydrogenated vegetable oil and the decision to revert back to the use of diesel in Council fleet vehicles.

A Climate Change Working Group had been formed which would report directly to Full Council and a policy for EV charging points was being developed.

Councillor Porter passed on his thanks to David Smith, Head of Communities and Climate Change and Gillian Wright, Climate Change Officer, for the support given to him.

Further discussion took place around biodiversity net gain,  meat free school menus, air quality and continued engagement with young people and scientific experts. It was commented that the Council had the capability to influence emissions district wide, as well as focussing on its own carbon reduction measures.

In response to a query around Peak Cluster, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that he had recently attended a public engagement exercise and had invited a representative to attend a meeting at the Council in the Autumn.

The Leader confirmed that the Council was still committed to its ambitious target of achieving net zero by 2030 but it had to be realistic, work with partners and may not achieve everything beyond the Council’s control.

DECIDED:

That the Panel noted the:

·                Annual Report 2023 and progress to date, and

·                next steps for 2023/2024 and beyond.