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Membership:
Chair - Councillor Popham
Councillors Archer, Bennison, Mrs Cheyne, Mott and Stewart
Two non-voting co-optes were also co-opted on the Scrutiny Panel - Jeremy Wire and Geoff Peters
Terms of Reference:
1. To identify Elmbridge Borough Council's current position in terms of energy usage and sources, and to understand the energy profiles of current assets.
2. To explore the general principles to be followed, and the experience of other agencies in developing energy strategies linked to sustainable development
3. To explore the financial issues in moving towards using alternative energy sources.
The Alternative Energy Sources Review is intended to develop into a wider review of Climate Change issues in 2005-2006.
Meeting 1 - 2nd November 2004
An introductory session to the Review, with Members discussing the terms of reference.
LGA/EST Conference - 1st December 2004
Members attended the conference "Prosperity and Performance: Opportunities for local authorities to make a difference through sustainable energy and climate change". Members heard presentations from the DTI, Leicester City Council and the Marches Energy Agency on best practice in incorporating alternative energy and developing sustainable energy strategies.
Meeting 2 - 13th December 2004
Members heard evidence from planning officers on the planning response to climate change issues and discussed the potential for encouraging developers to incorporate alternative energy within their buildings. Members were also presented with the energy usage and costs figures for council-run establishments.
Visit to Woking Borough Council - 1st February 2005
Members undertook a site visit to Woking Borough Council to discuss with officers the development of their Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Strategies. The Group also visited a housing development with photovoltaic power generation, the Woking Park Hydrogen Fuel Cell, the leisure centre's Combined Heat and Power system and the town centre's Energy Station.
Meeting 3 - 22nd August 2005
Members discussed the report and recommendations of the Energy Savings Trust survey concerning the energy management and environmental sustainability policies of Elmbridge Borough Council.
Meeting 4 - 27th September 2005
The Review Group discussed its draft report and recommendations in detail.
Meeting 5 - 11th October 2005
Members discussed the Review's findings and conclusions with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Economy, and finalised the report and recommendations.
The Alternative Energy Sources Review report and recommendations was supported by the Environmental Affairs Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 10th November 2005 and referred to Cabinet for its consideration. Cabinet agreed to support all of the recommendations contained within the scrutiny panel report, where existing resources enable implementation, except for;
11.2 Create a position of sustainability officer to co-ordinate activities
With regard to this recommendation, Cabinet agreed to establish a Working Group to consider the Council's approach to sustainability, and report on progress and the position in relation to recommendation 11.2 to Cabinet within three months.
|Alternative Energy Sources Report
For further information please contact the |Overview and Scrutiny Officer.