Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2019 we approved as a correct record.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

Councillors Mark Clifford and Paul Sloan declared an interest in the Wildlife Trust.

Members of the Task Group identified Green Living Chorley community group as one of the key groups they wished to speak with during the inquiry.

Representatives of the group, Rachelle Bell and Emma Kilburn will be attending the meeting.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Rachelle Bell and Emma Kilburn, representatives from the Green Living Chorley Community Group.

Members of the Task Group were provided with background information on the Green Living Chorley Community Group. The group met once a month to discuss different ways in which residents can make greener lifestyle choices. 30-40 people from various age groups and backgrounds attended these meetings each month. The group also had an online Membership of over 800 people on their Facebook Group. Representatives recognised how council endorsement could help expand the group further.

In preparation for the Task Group meeting, Green Living Chorley went out on social media to find out what the top 3 climate change concerns were for residents locally. Over 150 responses were received which highlighted the following main concerns:

1.    Reducing landfill

2.    Lack of education on recycling

3.    Need for responsible housing

With regards to reducing landfill, Rachelle Bell informed the Task Group of the Surfers Against Sewage campaign to help certify plastic free towns. In order to achieve this, Green Living Chorley would need to get the local council involved, get 3 schools on board and 12 businesses to make 3 single-use swaps. Plastic free posters would be displayed is business premises/windows, and an award would be given to the business that made the most changes.

Further suggestions to reduce landfill from Green Living Chorley included:

·         Recycling/compost bins around the town centre; Members advised that this had been trialed previously but was unsuccessful due to cross contamination. It was proposed by Members that the Council consider re-introducing them. Advertising space could also be provided on bins to help income generation.

·         Food waste collection; officers advised that the council used to collect food waste from residents until 2015. It was agreed that the Task Group write to LCC to confirm why there were no longer food collections and to encourage that this be reconsidered.

·         Cloth nappy incentive e.g. some councils were providing vouchers to buy to encourage greener nappy alternatives.

·         Greater choice to buy green; Green Living Chorley had looked into opening a community plastic free shop selling unpackaged, locally sourced food however, advised on barriers such as rents and business rates. It was agreed that the council could look to progressing this.

·         Use of allotments; including those at Primrose Gardens and link with Chorley in Bloom.

The second main concern was the lack of education on recycling. Following discussion both Green Living Chorley representatives and Members of the Task Group agreed on the importance of more education on recycling, especially following the changes to recycling implemented on 1 October. It was agreed that the current recycling guidance was not clear enough, and therefore the Task Group would write to the Executive Member responsible and to LCC to ensure that greater clarity be provided on recycling, advising further on what can be recycled and how.

The final main concern was responsible housing and the need for a strict green build criteria,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.OS9

Draft Position Statement enclosed for Members consideration.

Vicky Willett, Service Lead for Transformation and Partnerships presented the Council’s draft Position Statement on Developing the Green Agenda for Chorley.

The report considered Chorley’s current position, existing and planned activity to support the green agenda, research into activity in other areas, budget and resourcing, and the next steps for the Council. It was hoped that the position statement would form the basis of the interim report in the new year.

Following Member concerns in regards to a blanket introduction of reduced bin sizes, the Task Group were reassured that if this was to be implemented there would be a phased cultural change with the relevant education to accompany this.

Members commended the document and were satisfied with the work being undertaken at the council. The Task Group agreed to adopt the position statement as a working document.

Decision: That the position statement be noted and adopted as a working document.

Members will provide feedback on any findings since the last meeting.

The Chair advised Members that a Task Group sub-group had met with the Chorley and District Natural History Society.

The main suggestions from the meeting were:

·         The creation of a forum to meet approximately 4 times per year to bring all local environmental groups together

·         Ecology experts to undertake environmental assessments at sites across the borough before monitoring and reviewing these areas.

·         Development of a strategy

The Chair had also attended a Town Centre Team meeting to speak with town centre/market traders. A subsequent meeting with Conrad Heald, Interim Service Lead for Commercial and Assets was set up to discuss how to make the town centre greener.

All suggestions and evidence would be referred to when considering the final recommendations of the Task Group.

Decision: the report was noted.

Thursday, 5 December 2019 at 6pm.

Thursday, 7 December 2019 at 6pm.