The minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 April 2024 were approved as a correct record subject to the following amendment:-

Minute number 18/24 bullet point 3 regarding Sustainable Travel  “Brian highlighted a number of possible projects suggested by the Sustainable Transport Officer” should read “Brian highlighted a number of possible projects suggested by the Sustainable Travel Officer”.

There was no urgent business.

To note any questions or to receive any statements, representations, deputations and petitions which relate to the published reports on Part A of the Agenda.

No members of the public had given notice to make representations at the meeting.

Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary, personal or prejudicial interests they may have in relation to items on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no delcarations of interest.

The Head of People Management was present to answer questions relating to this report.

It was noted that this report is 6 months old.  The purpose of this report is to provide assurance that Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management and Performance is satisfactory through 2023-24 and that there are effective systems in place following on from the organisation restructure in 2023.

A question was asked relating to the statistics for school visits and visitor accidents and how these get recorded on the register.  These accidents get recorded when they are reported to a member of staff who then documents the event.  This will then be forwarded to the relevant officers and also the Legal Team is informed. 

A query was raised as to the difference between an “incident” and an “accident” and to what had taken place at Fairholmes and North Lees Campsite.  Members were concerned about staff safety. The Head of People Management will report back to committee members about the difference between incident and accident.

The relatively low response rate of volunteers to the workforce survey was discussed and questions were asked regarding how accessible the survey is to the volunteers.  The survey was only available to volunteers for completion on-line via Better Impact/My Impact and a number of reminders did get issued to volunteers.  Dave Cramp also promoted the survey on the Volunteer Days.  There was a suggestion that perhaps paper copies should be made available to volunteers. 

The results of the survey were discussed along with what lessons have been learnt from the results and how the information has been captured. 

It was noted that all volunteers have a nominated supervisor and are made aware that their health and well-being  is important and that they know to raise any concerns at their briefings. The Health, Safety and Wellbeing sub-group have volunteers as members and the Volunteer Voice group have quarterly meetings with the Head of People Management, the Chief Executive and the Volunteer Manager.

The Health, Safety and Wellbeing Group is now an accountable and operational group as well as being consultative.  It was questioned whether this could be a conflict of interest but on reflection noted that this group now took ownership of all matters relating to Health, Safety and Wellbeing and the balance was now right.

It was noted that now that more reporting of incidents and accidents is being encouraged there would be an increase in the figures.

The two recommendations as set out in the report were moved, seconded, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

1.    To note the Occupational Safety and Health annual report 2023-24.

2.    To approve the Health, Safety and Wellbeing objectives for 2024-25.

The Strategy and Performance Manager was in attendance to answer Members questions relating to the report on the Climate Change Aim overview.  The report reiterated the issues around climate change and gave an update on the current situation.  The new government is reviewing the climate change agenda and there may be a number of different reporting layers along with possible regulation change. 

There is much information to navigate through and climate change has a higher priority than previously.  Colleagues from across the Protected Landscape family  are working together to develop and share best practice. 

Members mentioned that the Adaptation Workshop was very helpful and thought provoking and asked what are the follow-up points from this training – hopefully there will be a report available at the end of September summarising the proposed way we will move forward with regard to Resisting, Accepting and Directing change to National Park features in response to Climate Change, this will be used to inform work with staff, members and partners over the next 18 months.  

There was a question regarding the Targets and Outcomes Framework (TOF) , in particular, reference to Target 8 relating to “increase tree canopy and woodland cover” and whether the Ash Dieback losses have been taken into account and the resultant impact this will have on the targets.  It was noted that workshops and information sessions on the TOF were underway. The issues of local losses and local scale information was on the agenda for these sessions.

There was a question asking if there is a clear methodology for scope 3 emissions reduction in relation to the Carbon Management Plan referenced in paragraph 3.14 of the report and this would be covered under the next item on the agenda.

It was noted that there is a platform based Race to Zero disclosure report and the recommendations generated by this will be brought back to Members.  This should be a useful lever for future action.

The recommendations as set out in the report were proposed, seconded, voted on and carried.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the progress report in delivering to the National Park Management Plan and Authority Plan climate change aims and targets be noted.

2.    That the development wok to assist the Authority in meeting net zero, climate change reporting and developing the approach to climate change adaptation for the Authority and National Park be noted.

The Corporate Property Team Manager attended the meeting to answer questions relating to the Carbon Management Plan Progress Report 2023/24 and the operational conditions and progress to Net Zero as an organisation. 

Members questioned if there is a sound methodology for reporting on Scope 3 – “emissions arising from business travel in private cars and on public transport”?  Officers are currently reviewing the emissions included within the scope of this performance reporting and hope to be able to reflect advances in reporting data that will allow more scope 3 emissions to be reported.  It is hoped that the next annual report will include the following information pertaining to scope 3 emissions:

·       Goods and services purchased by the Authority

·       Employee commuting

·       Home working

Appendix 1 showed the scope of the Authority carbon footprint and advances in technology will continue to progress reducing the Authority emissions.  Where a building is refurbished renewables will be used.  It will get harder to reduce emissions over time and will become more costly.  Achieving Net Zero for the Authority will come at a cost.

Scope 2  was discussed and a question asked about how confident are we that the energy being used is renewable energy?  The current situation reflects the guidance on carbon reporting and so it is considered to be zero emissions.  The drive to Net Zero should not stop other activities taking place at sites and does not affect the decision making process. 

Emissions from Authority properties were discussed with regard to Scope 3.  New tenancies  are tending to be of lower agricultural intensity and therefore have lower emissions.  The four older tenancies that the Authority has inherited cannot be altered at the moment and make up 30-40% of the total estate.  When these leases come up for renewal then it will be possible to look at the conditions of the lease and make changes accordingly.  It was noted that the Warslow tenancies have a significantly higher carbon footprint compared to the other tenancies.

Now that there is data available it can be integrated into the decision making process.  Members asked what support is given to the current tenancies in order to help them reduce emissions.  The key support is in providing information in order to guide decisions around how land is being used e.g. trees/ wild-flower meadows/ intensive grazing.  The carbon workshop looked at the National Park as a whole and how to reduce spikes in emission as much as possible by rationalising spikes in some areas against other areas.  It is a balancing act  across the park and comes with cost implications, it was recognised that it is necessary to grow crops to produce food and an example would be to plant trees in areas where crops cannot be grown. It is a matter of the right tree, in the right place, for the right reason and this needs to be properly managed. 

The target is to get to zero emissions by 2050 and there will be interim targets set by Race  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28/24

Draft motion:

That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of agenda items 10 and 11 to avoid the disclosure of Exempt Information under S100 (A) (4) Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A paragraph 3 “information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information)”.

RESOLVED:

That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of agenda items No’s 10 and 11 to avoid the disclosure of Exempt Information under S100 (A) (4) Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, paragraph 1 “information relating to any individual’ and paragraph 3 “information relating to the financial of business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)”.

The exempt minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 April 2024 were approved as a correct record. 

The following item was considered in PART B of the meeting, full details of which are contained in the exempt minutes:

31/24 INSURANCE CONTRACTS