The Climate Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss the borough's Electric Vehicle Charging Programme, the provision and management of trees across Waltham Forest, and review the committee's forward plan and action tracker. The meeting was also set to include a public participation session.

EV Charging Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of Waltham Forest's Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Programme, including progress made to date and future investment plans. The report detailed the expansion of public charging infrastructure, noting an increase from 93 charging sockets in 2020 to 1,716 by the end of 2025. The Electric Vehicle Charging Point Strategy 2026-2030 aims for 95% of households without off-street parking to be within 200 metres of a charging point by 2030. The report also highlighted the emerging considerations around cross-pavement charging, which allows residents without driveways to use domestic electricity supplies. The committee was asked to provide feedback on a proposed phased programme of work to explore the feasibility of cross-pavement charging, considering aspects such as accessibility, safety, and the use of public space.

Waltham Forest Tree Service

A review of the Waltham Forest Tree Service was scheduled, outlining its responsibilities for managing approximately 55,000 council-owned trees. The service employs a risk-based approach to inspections and maintenance, categorising areas as high, medium, or low risk, with inspection frequencies varying accordingly. The report detailed the contract with Gristwood and Toms for tree maintenance and planting, and the service's commitment to offsetting tree removals through additional planting, aiming for a net gain in trees. The report also covered the tree planting programme, funding sources such as Section 106 agreements and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), and the challenges associated with planting in urban environments, including utility lines, street furniture, and parking constraints. The committee was invited to review the information and make recommendations.

The Scrutiny Report

The committee was scheduled to review its Forward Plan for the ongoing municipal year and consider suggestions for the 2026-27 cycle. The report included an Action Tracker, which details actions required of officers from previous meetings, and a Recommendation Tracker, which captures the committee's conclusions on service improvements. The report also highlighted key decisions that were due to be taken by the Cabinet, including a proposal to inflate the contract value for incumbent professional civil engineering services. The committee was invited to review and comment on these documents to inform its future work programme.