Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings of the
Council held on 28 April, 2021 and 29 April, 2021.

To receive questions from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order No. 12.

Question submitted by Dr Dawn Ward:

What financial and informative support do the council plan to offer to home owners to enable them to make the necessary steps needed to allow the LA area and the UK as a whole to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, such as taking steps to ensure home owners are aware they could also qualify for free external insulation if they are on streets which have LA homes undergoing the same?

Question submitted by Darryl Cowley:

The government statistics suggest that Chesterfield Borough’s carbon emissions (within the scope of influence of the Local Authority) were 417 million tonnes in 2019, 8% lower than 2018).  What is the council’s estimate of how much of this carbon will be reduced by the full implementation of the Council’s Climate Action Plan, and how much carbon has been reduced as a result of the Plan since it was passed in March 2020?

Question submitted by Stephanie Futcher:

We have seen during the Covid crisis how willing people are to change their behaviour and work together for the public good if they have a clear understanding of the threats, the science and the what is required of them in an unprecedented situation. Two years on from your declaration of a climate emergency what steps have the council taken to assess public awareness of the dangers of the climate crisis and what key messages are you putting across to explain the science and harness residents' goodwill and cooperation in transforming their lives in this even greater crisis? 

Question submitted by Greg Hewitt:

In this crucial year for climate action with COP26 international climate talks coming up, other than the council magazine and social media, what will the council be doing to raise awareness, inspire and mobilise the Chesterfield public and businesses into taking action to reduce their carbon emissions?

Question submitted by Margaret Hersee:

Council members and officers have a central role in the life of Chesterfield residents and are therefore in a unique position to raise the level of debate in the community on climate issues.  This could be through daily interactions with the public and, in addition, through the potential of holding and contributing towards local community events.

The Council’s Climate Action Plan states it will “Leverage internal communications and engagement channels to bring council officers and members on board and considering effect on climate in all that they do”.  One way of effectively helping to deliver this aim would be for Chesterfield Borough Councillors to undergo Carbon Literacy training.  As of end June 2021, how many Chesterfield Borough Councillors have undergone Carbon Literacy training and by which date do you expect that all Councillors will have undergone such training?

Question submitted by Transition Chesterfield:

Road transport (mainly cars) is one of the biggest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions in the borough and emissions have flatlined in recent years. The Committee  ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

To consider the motion submitted by Councillor Fordham in accordance with Standing Order No. 21:

Chesterfield Bus and Coach Services

This Council:

1. Notes and understands that the Pandemic has caused disruption and subsequent adjustment to many local and regional services

2. Regrets that much of the specific information for individual bus
stops across the Borough and at Chesterfield Coach Station have
been removed and not replaced and that responsibility for
commissioning lies with DCC.

3. Understands that the coach station information centre has limited access under Covid-19, that most service information has gone on-line only and this has led to increased passenger frustration.

4. Understands that there is growing concern over the Bus Transport nationally in the context of Covid-19 and hears the Government urging people to avoid closed space public transport, whilst requiring buses and services to continue running.

5. Notes that the Climate Change Action Plan recommendation 15
“Raise with DCC and neighbouring districts options regarding local
bus service regulation” reports “No progress to date”.

The council therefore commits to:

a. Encourage and enable residents across the Borough to feed in
their experience of service issues, so problems can be identified
and addressed

b. Establish a Transport Partnership with DCC and neighbouring
authorities to identify and resolve longer term issues with bus and
coach services including addressing the commissioning of specific
services.

c. Work with DCC and all bus and coach companies that serve the
Borough to map and detail quite simply what bus and coach stops
where and when and make this immediately available at each
appropriate stop.

d. To make information on which services go to and from the
Borough available on the CBC website and to enable on-line
signposting to correct and up-to-date coach and bus services

To move “That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act".

Part 2 (Non-Public Information)

To move “That after the consideration of an item containing exempt information the public be re-admitted to the meeting”.

Part 1 (Public Information)

To receive for information the Minutes of the following meetings:-

· Appeals and Regulatory Committee
· Licensing Committee
· Planning Committee
· Standards and Audit Committee

To receive questions from Councillors in accordance with Standing Order No.19.

Question submitted by Councillor Fordham:

“To ask what engagement plans the Council has with regards to the Landscapes Review (lead by Julian Glover) and how might this be used to ensure our ambitions to be the Gateway to the Peak District are addressed and met?”

Question submitted by Councillor Fordham:

“To ask how much progress has been made on the declared ambition to have segregated or separated rubbish bins to ensure greater recycling of plastic and glass across the Borough and in particular in residential streets and housing estates?”

To consider the motion submitted by Councillor Serjeant in accordance with Standing Order No. 21:

Universal Credit 

The Chancellor has extended the £20 uplift to Universal Credit for six months in his March budget.  Unemployment is expected to continue to rise into the new year.

The UK has one of the weakest welfare safety nets in Europe which has been cruelly exposed by the pandemic – and it would be wrong morally and financially to end the £20 uplift in the future.

The total number of households on Universal Credit across the Borough of Chesterfield is now over 6708. The removal of the £20 increase would cast many more into poverty. 

The Derbyshire Unemployed Workers’ Centres notes the permanent increase in UC would not only give a financial boost to some of the county’s most deprived families, but would have a positive impact on the local economy – and, therefore, strong reasons for local councils to put pressure on the chancellor.

We call on the Chesterfield Borough Council through the Leader of the Council to:

·      Write to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak demanding that the £20 increase to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on legacy benefits

·      Urge the government to end the five week wait for Universal Credit by converting advances into grants instead of loans.

·      Continue to work alongside partner organisations to provide help and assistance wherever possible to all those struggling during these difficult times.