Agenda item

Carolyn McKenzie (Head of Sustainable Business and Communities) was in attendance for this item.

1.    Mr M Payne introduced the report that set out the final draft of the Kent and Medway Energy and Low Emissions Strategy which was due to go out for public consultation on 1 July 2019 for a period of twelve weeks. The draft strategy had been developed in consultation with officers across Kent and Medway districts and had been shaped by the Cross-Party Member Group whom Mr Payne thanked for their ongoing contribution. The report highlighted the specific opportunities and actions that needed to be undertaken for the economy, business and communities and identified the need for an evidenced-based pathway to deliver clean growth for Kent and Medway.

2.    Mrs McKenzie informed Members that the Kent and Medway Energy and Low Emissions Strategy was a sub strategy of the Kent Environment Strategy and reiterated that it had been delivered in partnership with district colleagues and stakeholders. Mrs McKenzie highlighted the keys areas for consideration which included the work that needed to be done with regard to the Kent Design Refresh, the emerging Enterprise and Productivity Strategy which looked to support the growth of low carbon goods and environmental services sector as demand for new technologies increased; Strategic Planning policies in relation to district heating systems and sustainable travel infrastructure, the importance of Community Wardens and the role they played in identifying vulnerable residents who could benefit from schemes and alerting Trading Standards to scams that they may be a victim of (specifically around solar panel installation/heating etc.); and finally the green space and Public Rights of Way hedge schemes to reduce carbon emissions. Mrs McKenzie informed Members that the Strategy did no highlight specific projects as these would be examined as they come forward via the appropriate business case and governance route. Mrs McKenzie said that the consultation was due to start on 1 July 2019 and welcomed Members suggestions as to where they felt the document should be presented.

3.    The officer responded to comments and questions as follows:

(a)  Mrs McKenzie assured Members that the National Grid was a key issue and said that there were a number of projects within the strategy that referred to energy investments, in particular, work was being done with the Tri-LEP Strategy that was linked to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership to look at where further funding could be encouraged to facilitate energy investment and infrastructure.  Mrs McKenzie said that the primary challenge was around funding and who would be responsible for driving and delivering those projects.

(b)  With regard to electric vehicles, the Government offered grants to support the wider use of electric and hybrid vehicles via the Office of Low Emissions Vehicles (OLEV).

(c)   In response to queries regarding the insulation of homes, Mrs McKenzie acknowledged the impossibilities and expensive nature of insulating homes and said that the policy market around domestic sector retrofit needed to be reviewed. There was a Warm Homes Scheme that helped those living in gas operated homes to convert to oil, however, Kent County Council continued in its efforts to lobby to Government and sought guidance on how to approach the housing sector. Mrs McKenzie informed Members that the housing technology was rapidly changing and that responsibility for addressing those issues fell within the remit of the District Councils. The work undertaken on the Kent Design re-fresh would address those issues and assurance had been provided by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) that they would be carrying out a review of the building regulations for housing in the near future.

(d)  Mrs McKenzie confirmed that work was being undertaken in conjunction with Sharon Thompson (Head of Planning Applications Group) to look at how KCC could incorporate solar panels on new builds and utilise existing government funding to facilitate that. A business case has also been prepared to look at whether existing schools could benefit from the solar scheme.

(e)  Mrs McKenzie assured the Committee that lighting had been installed in Public Rights of Way for those who travelled by foot or used cycle paths; safety was a priority for KCC and Mrs McKenzie recognised the importance of safety for Kent’s residents when looking at minimising emission levels.

(f)      In response to queries regarding whether carbon emissions were monitored by outside bodies, Mrs McKenzie agreed to liaise with partner agencies regarding the enforcement of planning conditions and would report back to the Member directly.

(g)  With regard to electric vehicles, Mrs McKenzie informed Members that industries were being encouraged to join the Distributer Takeback Scheme (DTS) and other companies were also looking at how electric vehicle batteries could be used to power homes as battery life for domestic usage superseded the battery life when used in electric vehicles. However, issues remained around the metals used in batteries and how these would be decomposed.

4.    RESOLVED that specific opportunities and actions for economy, business and communities be recognised and that any further avenues of engagement that should be undertaken during the public consultation phase be noted.