Agenda item

1.            Mr Hills, as the Topic Proposer, provide an overview of his proposal that a Climate Change and its effect on Kent be established.  He explained that there continued to be concerning information being released by the Met Office and other parties and that this included detailed examination of potential serious climate related problems.  Mr Hills highlighted that a long term strategy had been launched to deal with coastal flooding and climate change and that the Environment Agency (EA) was preparing for a 4 degree rise in temperature.  He advised the Committee that given the expect development activity, coastline length and population growth in Kent, it was vital that KCC fully understood the challenges so that it could prepare and respond appropriately.

2.            Mr Whiting (Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste) thanked Mr Hills for raising the topic and agreed that it was a very important issue.  However, he advised the Committee that KCC already recognised that a great deal of work was required and that to respond effectively, a large amount of information had to be collected an analysed, in line with the resolution of County Council with regard to the UK Environment and Climate Change Emergency.  Mr Whiting highlighted that both the EA and central Government were developing relevant plans with regard to coastal risk management in relation to climate change and that consideration was being given to flood plain management.

3.            Mr Whiting summarised the response to the proposal, advising that in view of the all the activity already taking place at both local and national level, combined with the time needed to allow the Growth, Environment and Transport directorate to collect the necessary information, it was not appropriate to establish the Select Committee at this time but that the matter could be reconsidered in early 2020 when more information might be available.

4.            Carolyn McKenzie (Head of Sustainable Business and Communities) reassured the Committee that KCC had completed its own impact and risk assessment using the government model.  She explained that this was very detailed and had provided an excellent starting point to build on as part of the extensive ongoing work.  She highlighted that the Kent Environment Strategy would involve monitoring this important issue.

5.            Members discussed the proposal and the Executive response, noting the points made regarding a possible lack of information being available initially and that a delay to establishing the Select Committee may remedy this.  It was also noted that the issue remained quite broad with wide reaching elements and that it would be important to carefully consider the scope of the Select Committee if and when progressed.

6.            Members also discussed the idea of more than one Select Committee being run concurrently, however the Clerk explained to the Committee that there were insufficient resources to do so but that the accelerated pace of the most recent Select Committee might be possible for future ones, allowing more to be conducted in a shorter period of time, while still not overlapping.

7.            It was agreed that, in recognition of the importance of the issue, the Climate Change and its Effect on Kent Select Committee be added to the Topic Review Work Programme.

8.            Mr Bird proposed, seconded by Mr Booth, that the Committee resolve to establish the Affordable Housing Select Committee upon the completion of the current Knife Crime Select Committee and that Climate Change Topic review follow.

RESOLVED that;

·         The Climate Change and its Effect on Kent Topic Review be approved for inclusion on the work programme;

·         The Select Committee on Affordable Housing be established and formal work to commence upon the completion of the Knife Crime Select Committee;

·         The General Counsel be asked to explore options for increasing resourcing for supporting Topic Reviews.