The Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships) met to discuss the Building Energy Strategy, the extension of leases for Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, and the Right to Grow policy review. The panel agreed to delegate authority to senior officers to execute the leases for the land adjacent to Paxton Pits Nature Reserve following the completion of gravel extraction operations and agreed restoration works. The panel also agreed to pass comments on the Building Energy Strategy and Right to Grow policy review to the cabinet for consideration.

Paxton Pits Nature Reserve Extension of Leases

The panel agreed to delegate authority to senior officers to fully execute the leases for the land adjacent to the current nature reserve, allowing for an extension of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve following the completion of gravel extraction operations and agreed restoration works. They also agreed to approve the feedback from 3C Legal Shared Services, providing confidence and clarity to the council in moving forward with the extension of leases. The panel supported the principle of officers engaging in efforts to acquire land and buildings in connection with exploring wider opportunities to develop existing sites across the council's parks and open spaces, as well as new sites and spaces to support wildlife and conservation, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and commercial sustainability opportunities.

Paxton Pits Nature Reserve currently consists of 78 hectares. Following further gravel extraction, the reserve is set to increase substantially (more than 3.5 times) to 280 hectares, which would make it one of the largest nature reserves in Cambridgeshire. The additional land is owned by Oxford University Chest and Thornhill Estate. Holcim UK (formerly Aggregate Industries) has planning consent for the extraction of gravel and the associated restoration.

The land will be released to the council in phases as gravel extraction and restoration is completed. Leases will be granted to the council for a minimum period of 80 years with options to extend, and the rent will be a peppercorn.

Once completed, the Nature Reserve and the adjoining land in private ownership will provide a complex of lakes and public open spaces covering over 600 hectares in total, situated between the River Great Ouse and the A1 stretching from Little Paxton to Diddington. It will have a network of footpaths, bridle paths, and cycle ways covering the whole area. Management of the site will be governed by a reserve management plan agreed upon by the council, TOF, and Thornhill in accordance with the Section 106 agreement¹. This management plan will set out in detail how the conservation land will be managed, monitored, and maintained.

Building Energy Strategy

The panel was invited to comment on the Building Energy Strategy report, which aims to enhance the energy efficiency of council buildings, reduce emissions, and identify opportunities for renewable energy installations.

Huntingdonshire District Council has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040, as outlined in the Climate Strategy adopted in February 2023. The strategy aims to enhance the energy efficiency of council buildings, reduce emissions, and identify opportunities for renewable energy installations, thereby delivering both environmental and financial benefits.

The strategy focuses on three critical operational energy areas that must be addressed to achieve net zero carbon across Huntingdonshire District Council's property portfolio:

• Reducing operational energy consumption to achieve targets of low Energy Use Intensity² (saving 60% compared to 2020) and a Display Energy Certificate (DEC) of 40B or lower.
• Low carbon energy supply (i.e. removing fossil fuels from the process of heating the buildings, from catering and minimising fugitive refrigerant gas.)
• On-site renewable energy generation.

The data reveals that between 2019/20 and 2024/25, the council achieved a market-based carbon reduction of 34.1% in building-related emissions. This leaves 1,678 tCO2e still to be eliminated to reach net zero carbon.

The Building Energy Strategy highlights five priorities to achieve net zero emissions by 2040:

• Review Huntingdonshire District Council's corporate buildings strategy to focus on retained sites
• Electrification of heat by 2033, in line with the Huntingdonshire District Council Climate Strategy.
• Reduce energy consumptions by 60% by 2040
• Procure electricity from renewable sources
• Improve the EPC rating of Pathfinder House in advance of imminent MEES regulation evolution

The panel's comments will be passed to the cabinet for their consideration when making a decision upon the recommendations within the report.

Right to Grow Policy Review

The panel was invited to discuss the Right to Grow Policy Review Report and to reflect on which strategic elements, if any, could be advanced for inclusion in the council's Corporate Plan and Medium Term Financial Strategy.

In December 2024, Councillor Martin Andrew Hassall, seconded by Councillor Stephen Ferguson, forwarded a proposal with the aim of addressing the growing challenges of food insecurity in Huntingdonshire, driven by the cost-of-living crisis, climate change, global instability, and public health recovery. The proposal aligns with Huntingdonshire District Council's Corporate Plan Priority 1: Improving quality of life for local people, and the Joint Administration's commitment to Do, Enable and Influence.

These proposals are intended to explore how the council might support residents in accessing fresh, affordable food through community-led food growing initiatives and a possible district-wide 'Right to Grow' policy. The council acknowledges the strong link between access to fresh, locally grown food and improved health and wellbeing, as well as the potential for community cultivation to reduce social isolation and demand on health and care services.

The report explores how community growing initiatives might contribute to improved health and well-being across our communities. It draws inspiration from approaches such as 'Right to Grow' to consider how similar principles could inform local thinking. The report presents a range of exploratory options that align with the council's strategic priorities, including public health, sustainability, and community engagement. These options are not formal proposals, but indicative workstreams intended to prompt discussion, support creative thinking, and guide further investigation.

The panel's feedback will be vital in shaping the direction of future work, ensuring that any actions taken are well-resourced, effectively targeted, and aligned with the council's overarching objectives.