Agenda item

Ian Thynne, Head of Environmental Specialists, was in attendance to answer Members’ questions in relation to the Strategic Climate Action Plan.

Members raised concerns about the monitoring of carbon offsetting and tree planting, specifically asking how biodiversity was mapped out in the Action Plan. It was confirmed that biodiversity was not currently mapped out in the Plan but would feature heavily in the next three-year cycle. Consultancy work funded by Defra to map out biodiversity would link with tree planting and green space management.

Members enquired about the handling of infrastructure costs related to climate change, such as drainage and flooding. In response to this it was explained that the strategic climate plan was overarching, with sub-plans like the electric vehicle charging strategy and sustainable transport plans. Referencing the September 2024 floods across the Borough, officers highlighted the local flood risk management strategy and ongoing projects to manage flood risk, including securing funding from the Environment Agency and working with Thames Water. In response to further questions from Members, it was noted that the Council’s relationship with the Environment Agency had improved, and recent project collaboration had been successful.

The Committee sought clarity on mechanisms to ensure ongoing community education to reduce carbon footprints. It was recognised that the Council’s community leadership had not been strong to date, but plans were in place for a People's Assembly in 2026 and engagement campaigns in schools using Section 106 funds. It was confirmed that the Council planned to engage with the community, including schools, to raise awareness about air quality and involve residents in monitoring efforts. This was part of a broader strategy to educate the community on reducing their carbon footprint.

In response to Members’ questions about safeguarding local decarbonisation projects amid rising energy costs and limited funding, officers highlighted that carbon management was embedded within teams rather than spending extra money on separate projects. This approach aimed to deliver a more efficient long-term strategy.

In respect of advancements in flood risk management since the last review, the Committee was informed that considerable progress had been made, including securing Message Consultancy for flood risk management, implementing projects across the Borough, and focusing on natural flood management. However, in light of the recent flooding incidents in the Borough, it was recognised that there was still a long way to go.

Members sought further information regarding funding for removing baffles and clearing ditches to prevent flooding in the Mill Road area of West Drayton. It was explained that the project was in the early stages and involved multiple stakeholders, including the Environment Agency. It was further noted that securing money from the Environment Agency was a lengthy process. The importance of education regarding the current efforts and challenges related to flood risk management was highlighted. It was noted that not all watercourses were managed by the Environment Agency or the Council, and there were issues with riparian ownership, meaning the responsibility for maintaining certain watercourses lay with the landowners. Ongoing work with the Environment Agency was underway to better understand these responsibilities and the maintenance plans for the river course to address problems like the buildup of debris.

Councillors asked how resources were prioritised to achieve the most impact and were advised that funding was prioritised based on the carbon savings ratio, with a focus on larger scale projects. It was acknowledged that behavioural change projects were also important but were smaller scale and less measurable. Over the course of the next three years, more would be done in respect of this.

In respect of the rollout of electric vehicle chargers and future sustainability plans, it was clarified that the EV strategy focused on air quality rather than carbon reduction. The next stage involved reviewing the approach to on-street charging. The Head of Environmental Specialists agreed to liaise with the Highways Team re. the number of charging points within the Borough and feed back to the Committee.

Members enquired about current resident engagement efforts and potential improvements. Officers highlighted ongoing engagement in flood risk and waste management, with plans to improve community leadership in carbon footprint reduction.

In response to further questions from the Committee, the Head of Environmental Specialists agreed to liaise with the Council’s Communications Team to ensure translated versions of the Action Plan document were available on request. Members suggested that providing more detailed breakdowns of progress within themes would assist Members in better understanding the report. Officers acknowledged the feedback and mentioned that the Annual Status Report which the Committee had sight of each year provided detailed progress updates.

The Committee sought further clarification regarding the Council’s efforts to reduce emissions at the crematorium. Members heard that there was an ongoing project to evaluate energy use at the crematorium and plans to develop a comprehensive action plan for corporate properties. In response to further questions from the Committee, it was confirmed that the new cremators were not yet reflected in the statistics but were part of ongoing efforts to reduce emissions. Councillors highlighted the use of a triple filtration system for the incineration of waste at Hillingdon Hospital and suggested that waste heat from the crematorium could be used to mitigate carbon dioxide output. It was agreed that officers would explore the feasibility of capturing and using waste heat in the future.

In respect of the delivery of cavity wall insulation in Council properties, it was explained that not all properties had been insulated yet, but there was a plan in place for managing Council properties which could be shared with the Committee.

In respect of Section 106 allocations, Members expressed concerns that, according to the data, only some £15k of the contract award for provision of an air quality monitoring service had been used to date with about £215,000 remaining unused. The Head of Environmental Specialists agreed to investigate the specifics of the unused funds allocated for air quality monitoring and ensured Members that these would be utilised effectively. It was noted that the monitoring and reporting of air quality were legal requirements, and the Council was committed to continuing this workstream. Further information would be forthcoming in the next stage of the Air Quality Action Plan which would be presented to Cabinet in 2025.

Members enquired about investment in air quality monitoring equipment. Officers acknowledged the need for equipment and outlined current monitoring efforts which included the use of automatic monitoring stations, funded by Defra, primarily located in hotspots around Heathrow and Hayes which provided real-time data on air pollution. Additionally, diffusion tube monitoring was conducted across the Borough, with equipment attached to lampposts and tested annually in laboratories. This data formed part of the annual status review which could be shared with Members.

It was confirmed that the Council was investing in new equipment and technology to improve air quality monitoring. This included the use of diffusion tubes and other small-scale equipment for monitoring pollutants like PM 2.5 and NO22. Members heard that the air quality monitoring plans included several key initiatives:

1. Continuous Monitoring and Reporting: The Environment Act 1995 mandated local authorities to assess air quality for specified pollutants and submit annual status reports. This involved active monitoring across the authority’s area, which was essential for decision-making on new developments.

2. New Contracts and Equipment: There was a statutory requirement to monitor PM 2.5, which had recently become a focus due to its harmful effects. The Council was working on an air quality action plan for 2025 to address this, in addition to existing monitoring of NO2. A new five-year contract was being set up to ensure continuous monitoring.

3. Integration with Other Environmental Initiatives: The air quality monitoring efforts were part of a broader strategy that included tree planting and biodiversity improvements. These initiatives aimed to double count the benefits of various interventions, such as how tree planting could help with both carbon offsetting and flood risk management.

It was reported that these plans highlighted the Council's commitment to improving air quality through continuous monitoring, community engagement, and integration with other environmental initiatives.

With regard to large scale electricity generation from Council-owned land, officers stated that the investigation was in the early stages and highlighted the challenges of connecting to the National Grid.

Members sought clarification as to why the first People's Assembly was scheduled for late 2026 and officers explained that it was a matter of resource prioritisation and programming; however, it was noted that feedback from the current consultation process was encouraged and could influence the timeline.

In order to become London's greenest Borough, the importance of focusing on biodiversity in addition to carbon offsetting was highlighted.

It was agreed that the drafting of the Residents’ Services Select Committee comments to be submitted to Cabinet in relation to the Climate Action Plan would be delegated to Democratic Services, in conjunction with the Chair and in consultation with the Labour Lead. This would also apply to the comments in respect of items 6 and 7.

RESOLVED: that the Residents’ Services Select Committee:

1.    noted the content of the Review and the progress set out; and,

2.    agreed that the drafting of the Residents’ Services Select Committee comments to be submitted to Cabinet in relation to the Climate Action Plan be delegated to Democratic Services, in conjunction with the Chair and in consultation with the Labour Lead.