The Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss updates to the council's carbon reduction plan, a review of energy use in local housing, the council's approach to environmental despoilment, and a proposed tree and woodland strategy. The committee will also be reviewing its work programme for the coming year.

Bolsover Tree and Woodland Strategy

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the preparation of the Bolsover Tree and Woodland Strategy. The draft strategy is scheduled to be reported to the Executive on 3 November 2025, seeking approval for the draft strategy and the commencement of a consultation exercise.

The draft strategy includes:

• A vision:

To create a greener, healthier, and more connected Bolsover by nurturing and expanding our trees and woodlands, fostering community pride in them, enhancing biodiversity, and taking care of our trees and woodlands for the benefit of current and future generations.

• A baseline of the district's existing tree and woodland coverage and condition.
  • The district has almost 2,800 hectares of tree canopy cover, covering 17.5% of the district.
  • The Langwith Ward has 30.6% coverage, while the Bolsover East Ward has 6% coverage.
  • The national average for tree canopy is 14%.
• Targets, priorities and actions, based on three themes:
  • Taking care of existing trees and woodlands
  • Expanding tree and woodland coverage
  • Fostering community pride in trees and woodlands
• A delivery plan
• A monitoring and review plan

The report pack outlines a proposed four-week public consultation exercise, involving making the consultation draft of the strategy and a consultation questionnaire available at the district's libraries and contact centres, as well as online.

Review of the Council's Approach to Environmental Despoilment Education and Enforcement

The committee will be considering the Executive's response to the Review of the Council's Approach to Environmental Despoilment Education and Enforcement.

The aims of the review were:

• To reduce fly-tipping, littering and dog fouling to improve the aesthetical value of Bolsover District, to protect local wildlife and to reduce the cost of dealing with the unauthorised illegal depositing of waste by assessing the service's effectiveness in tackling environmental despoilment.
• For the council to become an excellent authority at 'keeping the District clean' rather than 'cleaning the District'.

The key issues identified for investigation were:

• Enforcement powers of the council
• Types of land covered by the council's statutory duties (agricultural, back alley, commercial/industrial, council, footpath/bridleway, highway, private land, railway, watercourse)
• Public information and education
• Dog fouling
• Fly tipping
• Litter

The committee previously agreed the following recommendations:

1. That the council undertakes a piece of work, led by the Assistant Director of Streetscene, Community Safety and Enforcement, to explore alternative ways of working to improve the level and effectiveness of environmental enforcement activity across Bolsover District.
2. That the council targets fly-tipping hotspots (such as top 5 most frequently visited from 2023/24 including Outgang Lane in Pleasley, Wood Lane in Shirebrook, and Talbot Street in Pinxton), through targeted patrols and installation of surveillance cameras where appropriate.
3. That the council prioritises completing the installation of the 15 metal signs and place additional signage in high-risk areas (such Outgang Lane in Pleasley, Wood Lane in Shirebrook, and Talbot Street in Pinxton) in lay-bys and secluded spots.
4. That the council explores options for CCTV surveillance in fly-tipping hotspots.
5. That the council reintroduces regular quarterly meetings of the Corporate Enforcement Group (Streetscene, the Enforcement Team and Environmental Health).
6. That the council develops a clear process for evidence collection for fly-tipping sites that ensures evidence is properly managed.
7. That the council organises joint training sessions for the Enforcement team, Streetscene workers and Environmental Health that focuses on improving understanding of each team's roles; as well as bi-annual training for evidence collection, ensuring there is a specific process for collecting physical evidence.
8. That the council delivers public awareness campaigns to educate residents about the risks of hiring unlicensed waste collectors and provides clear, accessible guidance on how to verify waste carrier licences.
9. That the council enhances public information on fly-tipping and littering by regularly featuring updates on enforcement actions and responsible bulky waste removal options through existing communication channels and the newly established social media platforms, including the Bolsover District Council Facebook page.
10. That the council enhances transparency by publishing meaningful data and information on fly-tipping activities on the website and through social media, that demonstrate what the council is doing to tackle environmental despoilment.

Appendix 1 details the Executive's response to the review's recommendations.

Review of Energy in Local Housing

The committee will be presented with the second interim post-scrutiny monitoring report assessing progress against the recommendations made for the Review of the Council's Energy Policy for Local Housing.

The committee previously made five recommendations to assist the council in improving policies and standards for energy in local housing stock.

The report pack states that, to date, three out of five recommendations have been achieved, one was achieved behind the original target date, and two have been extended and are expected to be completed within the next six months.

Key achievements noted in the report are:

• Savills have concluded the Stock Conditions Survey access gained 92.7%.
• The council was successfully awarded 40% of the funding from the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund¹ which will enable the council to improve energy efficiencies at 100 identified properties over three years.
• Information regarding energy grants has been published on the council website under Energy Advice.

Reasons for non-implementation of recommendations:

• Implementation of the Stock Condition Survey / Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard² (MEES) has been delayed due to extended timescales for verifying survey data and awaiting the outcome of the government's MEES consultation.
• Implementation of the EV Education / Strategy has been deferred as EV education is scheduled to be incorporated into the forthcoming Climate Change Strategy (2026).

Carbon Reduction Plan

The committee will be discussing the draft actions of the Carbon Reduction Plan.

Work Programme 2025/26

The committee will be reviewing the meeting programme and planned agenda items for 2025/26.

The following items are scheduled:

• 23 June 2025
  • Community Outreach Programme – Member Update
  • Review of Council's Approach to Carbon Reduction – Post-Scrutiny Monitoring and update from the Climate Change Officer
  • Review of the Council's Approach to Environmental Despoilment Education and Enforcement – Formal Approval by Committee
  • Agreement of Work Programme 2024/25
• 8 October 2025
  • Carbon Reduction Plan: Draft Actions
  • Review of the Council's Energy Policy for Local Housing – Post Scrutiny Monitoring Report (Second Interim Report)
  • Review of the Council's Approach to Environmental Despoilment Education and Enforcement – Executive Response
  • Work Programme 2024/25
• 3 February 2026
  • Health and Wellbeing Strategy – Monitoring Update
  • Review of Council's Approach to Carbon Reduction – Post-Scrutiny Monitoring
  • Preparation for Annual Review of the Community Safety Partnership
  • Work Programme 2024/25
• 14 April 2026
  • Review of the Council's Approach to Environmental Despoilment Education and Enforcement – Interim Post Scrutiny Monitoring Report
  • Review of the Council's Energy Policy for Local Housing – Post Scrutiny Monitoring Report (Third Interim Report – if necessary)
  • Annual Review of the Community Safety Partnership
  • Work Programme 2024/25

Minutes

The committee will be asked to consider the minutes of the Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 23 June 2025. The minutes include a discussion of the Community Outreach Service, delivered by the Environmental Health Team. The Service Manager (Environmental Health) presented a report noting that the service aims to assist residents to live or remain in a safe and healthy home, and to assist their overall health and wellbeing. The service delivery focuses on:

• Support to ensure residents are receiving any financial help available
• Help with budgeting to reflect residents' individual circumstances
• Referral to debt advice agencies
• Support in tackling food and fuel poverty
• Help to deal with letters and forms
• Referral to specialist agencies to meet the resident's needs
• Help with improving physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Close working with partner agencies to support families in need of additional support
• Interventions

The minutes note that in the 2024/25 financial year, the service received approximately 13 cases per week, between 2 FTEs. The most frequent interventions included:

• Benefit checks
• Discretionary Housing Payment applications
• Council Tax
• Financial advice referral
• Housing applications
• Payment Plans
• Pension Credit
• PIP & Disability Living Allowance
• Housing Benefit & Universal Credit
• Housing issues
• Assisting customers completing forms

The minutes also record that Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, meets with the Climate Change Officer monthly, and that considerations are being made for Local Government Reorganisation and the Council's future corporate plans.

List of Key Decisions and Items to be Considered in Private

The Committee will be asked to consider the List of Key Decisions and Items. The list includes the following key decisions relating to the environment:

• Environmental Enforcement, scheduled to be taken by the Executive on 3 November 2025.
• Introduction of separate weekly food waste collections, scheduled to be taken by the Executive between 8 September 2025 and 1 December 2025.