Agenda and minutes

Venue: to be livestreamed here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazjNSGpqZZT41Vibn2ZK9A/live (copy and paste the link in your browser)

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence was received from Dr Alice Owen. Martin Farrington and Wallace Sampson.

2.

Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Minutes:

There were no pecuniary interests declared by members at the meeting.

3.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

Minutes:

There were no items on the Agenda requiring exclusion of the press and public.

4.

Minutes of the Meeting of the Green Economy Panel held on 22 October 2019 pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Minutes:

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of the Green Economy Panel held on 22 October 2019 be approved.

5.

White Rose Forest Update pdf icon PDF 333 KB

Minutes:

The Panel considered an interim report on the progress of the White Rose Forest Plan with respect to planting targets, the White Rose Forest delivery pathway and future governance and progress on the England’s Community Forrest Trees for Climate business case for DEFRA.

 

Guy Thompson, White Rose Forest Partnership Manager was present at the meeting and gave a verbal update to the Panel.

 

The White Rose Forest (WRF) is one of the community forests which span the width of England from Liverpool to Hull.  It is the delivery vehicle for the Northern Forest in the Leeds City Region, which has backing of £5.7 million from government and a further £10 million from the Woodlands Trust and  is identified in the Leeds City Region Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy as one of the 12 key action areas.  It recognises the multiple benefits that trees can generate including flood alleviation and improved physical and mental health.  Trees also have a key part to play in the region achieving its target of being net-zero carbon by 2038.

 

The WRF has been taking shape over the past few years.  The basic framework and approach is now in place.  The current consultation round with WRF Partners is focusing on setting planting and sequestration targets and the practicalities of setting up and resourcing a multi-partner WRF Delivery Pathway.  The WRF Plan once agreed will be offered for endorsement by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and used to inform recovery thinking. 

 

The Panel considered the contents of the report and the Chair thanked Guy for his informative update.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)             That the contents of the interim report be noted.

 

(ii)            That the WRF Plan once agreed be offered to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority for endorsement and used to inform recovery thinking.

 

(iii)          That the Panel be presented in the Autumn with a summary of the WRF Plan once the current round of WRF partner consultation is complete.

6.

Devolution and Green Economy Infrastructure Trial pdf icon PDF 247 KB

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report and a verbal update from Officers on the emerging plans for a Green Infrastructure Standards Pilot (GISP) and wider Spatial Planning work to tackling the Climate emergency and was asked to note the newly emerging work that will support tackling the Climate Emergency. 

 

On 12 March 2020 West Yorkshire Leaders and Government signed a “minded to “Devolution deal which was announced as part of the Budget on 11 March.  The deal offers the opportunity for the region to receive additional functions and funding in return for adopting the model of a directly elected Mayor by May 2021.  The Deal has the potential to benefit the region by unlocking central government funding and powers to allow more local and accountable decision making.

 

The Combined Authority is preparing for the transition to a Mayoral Combined Authority and at the last Combined Authority meeting it was reported there are multiple workstreams across the organisation and partnership and one of the workstreams is Workstream 17 Spatial Planning and Tackling the Climate Emergency.

 

The Panel considered the contents of the report and agreed that they would take the lead advisory role for the Green Infrastructure Standard Pilot (GISP) and to them receiving regular updates on the Zero Emission Investment Framework (ZEIF) and Spatial Design Strategy (SDS)

 

Resolved:

 

(i)             That the contents of the report and verbal update be noted.

 

(ii)            That the Panel note the newly emerging work that will support spatial planning tackling the Climate Emergency.

 

(iii)          That the Panel take the lead advisory role for the GISP including receiving regular updates on the ZEIF and SDS be approved.

 

 

7.

Economic Recovery Plan - Environment and Carbon Priority pdf icon PDF 237 KB

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report on the Economic Recovery Plan specifically the Environment and Carbon Recovery elements of the Plan for West Yorkshire and was asked to note the contents of the report and to continue to help shape and develop the emerging Recovery Plan for West Yorkshire.

 

When considering how to stimulate our economy, and once the pandemic is brought under control, efforts to safeguard economic stability can be supported by a range of green stimulus that will help also protect the environment and tackle the Climate Emergency

 

Work is therefore being fed into the West Yorkshire Economy Recovery Board on this and includes themes such as capitalising on green behaviours seen during lockdown, accelerating / reprioritising clean physical infrastructure such as domestic energy efficiency programmes and clean energy generation, new training and skills programmes, green business support and avoiding incentivising carbon intensive practices.

 

A remote session on the emerging plan was held for the Panel on 23 June 2020 and to ensure they can shape and develop the environment and carbon elements of the Recovery Plan.

 

Members received a verbal update on plans at the next meeting and discussed key issues.  It was agreed they would continue to help shape and develop the emerging Economic Recovery Plan.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)             That the contents of the report be noted

 

(ii)            That the Panel will continue to help shape and develop the emerging Economic Recovery Plan for West Yorkshire.

8.

Tackling the Climate Emergency - Major Projects Update pdf icon PDF 340 KB

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report to update on the progress against the Green Economy Panel’s major projects and programmes, all of which form part of the City Region’s approach to tackling the Climate Emergency.

 

Resolved:  That the contents of the report be noted.

9.

Emission Reduction Pathway Update pdf icon PDF 337 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report and verbal update on the West Yorkshire Emission Reduction Pathway study which was commissioned to demonstrate the different ways in which the climate emergency could be addressed and met, 

 

Members discussed the report and congratulated officers on the work undertaken.  The Panel endorsed the findings and next steps and recommended that the study and engagement with partners and stakeholders be approved by the Combined Authority.

 

 Resolved:

 

(i)             That the contents of the report and verbal update be noted.

 

(ii)            That the Panel recommend that the Combined Authority endorse the findings of the study to date and that engagement with partners and stakeholders with the Combined Authority be approved.