The Climate Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 11 June 2026 to discuss the work of the Neighbourhoods and Environment Directorate, review progress on climate action, and plan future scrutiny items. The meeting's agenda included an introduction to the various services within the directorate, an update on the council's climate action progress, and a discussion on the committee's forward plan for the upcoming municipal year.

Introduction to Services

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of the Neighbourhoods and Environment Directorate's work. This report aimed to provide members with an outline of service priorities, major challenges and risks, recent national policy changes, and key operational policies. The directorate encompasses several teams, including the Climate Team, responsible for coordinating climate and nature emergency responses; the Recycling Team, managing waste collection and street cleansing; Parks and Open Spaces, overseeing green areas and tree management; the Sports and Leisure Team, operating council facilities; the Neighbourhoods Team, focusing on environmental enforcement; Highways and Parking; The Hive, an environmental education centre; Air Quality and Environmental Protection; Culture and Registration Services; and Libraries. Each team has specific priorities, such as the Climate Team's focus on reducing emissions and tackling fuel poverty, and the Recycling Team's aim to increase the borough's recycling rate. Challenges identified across these services include low uptake of heat pumps, difficulties in securing investment for facility refurbishment, and the need to manage asset deterioration against available funding.

Climate Action Progress

A report was scheduled to be presented on the council's climate action progress. This would include an update on the reported 34% drop in carbon emissions over the last decade, with an estimation of the proportion attributable to council actions versus national grid decarbonisation. The committee was also expected to discuss the energy upgrade loan scheme for private landlords, noting the low application numbers and considering potential adjustments to the scheme's approach. The report was also set to cover how the council intends to engage with local organisations to increase participation in climate plans, highlighting existing platforms for community groups and the growing interest from diverse groups. The scale of home retrofits required, the challenges of fuel poverty in the borough, and the waste saved from recycling and reuse fairs were also on the agenda.

The Scrutiny Report and Forward Planning

The committee was scheduled to discuss potential items for the 2026/27 municipal year's forward plan. Suggestions for future scrutiny included reports on Biodiversity Net Gain, Electric Vehicle Charging in Mixed-Tenure Buildings, Community Group Involvement, River Cleanups, Friends of Parks Groups, Data Utilisation, a review of the Climate Action Plan, and the impact of new legislation on heat pumps and solar panels in new builds. The committee was also invited to review the Action Tracker and Recommendation Tracker from previous meetings. The report highlighted the importance of the Scrutiny Prioritisation Tool, which considers Public Interest, Ability to Change, Performance, Extent, Resource, and Statutory Responsibility when selecting future work programme items. The committee's remit includes green infrastructure, climate action plans, waste and recycling, transport, parking, flood resilience, biodiversity, neighbourhood services, air quality, sports and leisure, culture and heritage, and libraries.