Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence has been received from Councillors Ross Melton and Laura Janes.

If a Councillor has a disclosable pecuniary interest in a particular item, whether or not it is entered in the Authority’s register of interests, or any other significant interest which they consider should be declared in the public interest, they should declare the existence and, unless it is a sensitive interest as defined in the Member Code of Conduct, the nature of the interest at the commencement of the consideration of that item or as soon as it becomes apparent.

Where Members of the public are not allowed to be in attendance and speak, then the Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest should withdraw from the meeting whilst the matter is under consideration. Councillors who have declared other significant interests should also withdraw from the meeting if they consider their continued participation in the matter would not be reasonable in the circumstances and may give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest.

Councillors are not obliged to withdraw from the meeting where a dispensation to that effect has been obtained from the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting and note any outstanding actions.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28^th March 2023 were agreed as an accurate record.

This report outlines new supplementary planning guides to help ensure new homes and development are more friendly to the environment. The new ‘Supplementary Planning Document’ offers guidance to developers, landowners, homeowners, planning officers and other interested parties when preparing and assessing planning applications.

The new supplementary policies would apply to all new build homes, extensions and retrofitting of homes, non-domestic and mixed-use developments.

David Gawthorpe (Team Leader, Planning and Economic Development) provided a presentation on the Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which helped ensure new homes and developments were more friendly to the environment. The new SPD offered guidance to developers, landowners, homeowners, planning officers and other interested parties when preparing and assessing planning applications. He showed slides which covered the following aspects:

• Climate change and planning
• The policy background.
• The key aims and structure of the guidance.
• The key principles of the policy
• The public consultation feedback
• The delivery timeline and next steps

Councillor Jose Afonso asked for further clarification to be provided on the main issues surrounding homes with older windows within conservation areas. David Gawthorpe noted that planners were keen to replace the traditional timber sash windows or replicate them with a modern alternative to ensure that the property was being conserved in the best way possible.

The Chair enquired if there was an opportunity for pre application discussions to be held with developers and homeowners to either build or extend their properties prior to a Planning Committee. In response David Gawthorpe explained that some preapplication discussions were held, particularly with developers. He felt that these were beneficial to encourage the use of better products and offer advice on how properties could be developed in an environmentally friendly way.

In relation to the adaptability of buildings, Councillor Stala Antoniades suggested that it would be useful include a stipulation for the requirement of balconies for commercial buildings to improve natural ventilation and the wellbeing of employees through their working environment. In response David Gawthorpe thanked Councillor Stala Antoniades for her suggestion and noted that this could be considered as part of the new policy for the local plan. He explained that further discussions would be held with specialist team members to ascertain if this could also be included in the SPD.

Action: David Gawthorpe

Councillor Stala Antoniades queried if there was any scope to future proof buildings to accommodate the fitting of air source heat pumps. David Gawthorpe said that officers were striving to achieve this by encouraging new renewables on properties. Officers would ensure that there was good practice available outside of the planning remit for residents to follow and implement.

Councillor Stala Antoniades also requested that the SPD be updated with some guidance around more affordable alternative options to double glazed sash windows such as secondary glazing, curtains, and thermal blinds for housing within the conservation areas.

Action; David Gawthorpe

The Chair queried if there was any plans for the government to introduce improved guidelines for conservation areas. In response David Gawthorpe explained that conservation areas currently did not have permitted development rights. The government was frequently updating their development rights policy, however he felt that for now it was likely that they would continue to recommend that conservation areas followed the planning process.

David Woodward (Planning Officer, Planning and Economic Development) explained that officers responded to all government consultations submitted to the Council. Therefore, this issue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The report gives a comprehensive overview of the Council’s work on solar power and community energy, and the role it plays in delivering the Council’s target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the borough by 2030.

Tim Pryce (Climate Emergency- Energy Lead) and Mark Thomlinson (Climate Engagement Lead) gave a presentation of the Council’s work on solar power and community energy, and the role it played delivering the Council’s target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the borough by 2030. They showed slides which covered the following aspects.

• Most of the borough’s emissions came from energy used in buildings.
• Details of the net zero energy roadmap
• Benefits of solar photovoltaics and solar thermal
• Actions to grow solar energy within the borough (projects and polices)
• Details on solar energy on housing, corporate assets, and schools
• An overview of solar re-use and recycling, and related policy development
• How community energy can engage the public in the green transition

Etta Dale (Solar Development Manager, Repowering London) gave a presentation which provided an overview of the Council’s partnership with Repowering London to establish the borough’s first community energy group, Hammersmith & Fulham Community Energy (HFCE), which enabled residents to become involved in solar schemes across the borough. These community energy schemes stretched beyond reducing carbon emissions, with examples from elsewhere in England showing they could tackle fuel poverty, generate wider interest in climate action, and build resilience by strengthening the sense of community among residents.

Repowering London currently had eight established community energy co-operatives across London involving more than 650 investors and 60 local volunteers and directors reaching hundreds of children and young adults each year. They also offered training, mentoring and work experience opportunities that empowered the residents of London to become active and engaged citizens. Thus, they were helping to build both an energy and a social infrastructure.

Councillor Stala Antoniades thanked Etta Dale for her presentation, noting that this was a great cause being put forward.  She asked for further details to be provided on the progress of the Energy Local Roupell Park (ELRP) project in Brixton. In response Etta Dale explained that this was a new initiative available to residents living on Roupell Park Estate in Brixton. This was an opportunity to save money on your electricity bill while supporting clean solar energy generated on the rooftops of Roupell Park Estate. She noted that Repowering London had an ongoing partnership with Octopus energy and provided an outline of how the traffic and charges for electricity were applied.

Relating to the social housing retrofit strategy, Councillor Jose Afonso queried if there was scope to offer this as a trial on a specific estate within the borough for those residents to benefit from this initiative. Tim Pryce (Climate Emergency- Energy Lead) said that this could be considered as part of the wider retrofit social housing strategy. He outlined the limitations the Council faced, noting that there was currently no mechanism to sell electricity directly to residents.

The Chair asked how Repowering London was positioned within the larger industry for solar panels where rogue trading was still a cause for concern. Etta Dale felt that the industry had improved in the more recent years, however there were still many  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To note the dates of future meetings:

·       21 November 2023

·       6 February 2024

·       23 April 2024

The next meeting will take place on 21^st November 2023

The Chair noted that she would request an update and presentation on food waste recycling for the next meeting and noted that if there were any further requests to contact the Chair and Amrita White.