Agenda item

A review of Committee and Cabinet feedback on the effectiveness of the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee (CEAC) to date, and its alignment to the Vale of White Horse District Council Corporate Plan 2020-2024. Make any recommendations to Cabinet.

Introduced by Councillor David Grant

Officer – Michelle Wells

Councillor Grant introduced the report, which is a review the CEAC’s effectiveness a year from establishment.  What worked, and what would you change? The report presented today had been produced by council officers to analyse the results of the Vale CEAC review surveys. There were two surveys - one for committee members and another survey for Cabinet members.

Councillor Grant explained that tonight, the focus was on reviewing the output of the surveys, and in particular, the recommendations within. It was mentioned that we now have two Climate Action Lead Officers – Elizabeth Kingdom had joined the Insight and Policy team, so there was an increased resource for this work.

The information gained would be used to help shape the recommendations, thus improving the effectiveness of the committee. Ensuring that the work of committee aligned with the aims and objectives of the Vale Corporate Plan.

Vale CEAC did not favour a change of name. The committee also felt that quarterly meetings were sensible. However, the dates would need to be planned to fit in with key Corporate Plan milestones. Potentially, any key consultations that fall outside of CEAC meeting dates, could be picked up through Task and Finish groups.

Summary of key findings of the surveys, as listed in the report:

• “The majority of contributors to both the CEAC and Cabinet surveys believed that the committee had fulfilled most aspects of its advisory role effectively.
• CEAC members consistently highlighted the need to increase the level of resource given to both the work of the committee and the wider climate change agenda if meaningful progress was to be achieved.
• The overwhelming majority of respondents to the CEAC survey considered that the meetings of the committee had been productive and well structured.
• Most contributors did not want the name of the committee changed from CEAC to CEEAC.
• Contributors wished to see the CEAC be kept informed about the advancement of the Corporate Plan – with possibly an enhanced scrutiny role in relation to relevant projects and themes.”

The committee reviewed the key findings and agreed with the recommendations proposed within.  These included the following recommendations to Cabinet. 

Recommended to Cabinet:

·       That the committee plays a formal role in the monitoring of the Corporate Plan 2020-24 and reviews the quarterly performance reports that are part of the council’s performance management framework.  (This will allow the committee to provide advice and guidance to Cabinet on the delivery of projects in relation to the tackling the climate emergency.  The Corporate Plan 2020-24 has been designed to be agile, so projects within the plan will bend, flex and evolve, which further supports the need for the committee to play a key role in advising on its delivery.  The committee’s meetings calendar will align with the corporate plan’s quarterly performance monitoring cycle.) 

·       That task and finish groups are established to work alongside officers on the Corporate Plan, communications and engagement, Zero Carbon definition, and relevant consultations.  (They will report to the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee on a regular basis.  They will provide opportunities to give a sense of focus and work in more detail on areas of interest for members.  Each task and finish group should be led by a committee member to facilitate and manage input to the groups and feedback to the committee.) 

·       That the Chair of the committee be invited to attend the Cabinet meeting after each Climate Emergency Advisory Committee meeting to provide an update to Cabinet under the item “recommendations from other committees” to ensure there is an effective and open dialogue between the two meetings. 

Other matters not requiring a Cabinet decision:

·       The Chair of the committee and the Cabinet member for climate emergency and environment will review reports to Council, Cabinet and committees to ensure they consider climate and ecological implications. 

·       The Chair of the committee and Cabinet member for climate emergency and environment will receive monthly briefings from the Strategic Lead for Climate Action to ensure information is shared. 

·       The Cabinet member for climate emergency and environment is requested to flag any matters across other Cabinet portfolios where committee advice, input or guidance would be beneficial in advance of any formal decision-making, so these can be added to the committee’s work programme.