Councillor Report - February 2023

24 February 2023

Council rejects plan for more funding for insulation

At a Council meeting last year I put forward a motion asking the Council to seek additional funding from Government for home insulation to both help residents with heating bills and cut the amount of carbon being generated.

This council believes that:

• Everyone has the right to a warm home that is affordable to heat;

• Improving energy efficiency is central to tackling the energy crisis and cost of living crisis;

• Fossil fuels should be left in the ground, and investment in energy supply should instead be targeted at renewables;

• All new homes and workplaces should be built to the highest possible energy efficiency standards.

The council notes that:

• Stafford Borough Council declared a climate emergency in 2019.

• Buildings account for 23% of UK greenhouse gas emissions;

• Stafford Borough Council needs far more support from central government to help families and businesses improve energy efficiency

• Current UK government investment in energy efficiency is nowhere near the level required to address fuel poverty or meet our legally binding UK climate targets.

The council therefore calls on the executive to write to the Prime Minister and to the Borough MPs to call for:

• Additional financial support to help people to manage the cost of living crisis, with most support provided to low income households;

• A fully funded nationwide action plan to insulate all homes and businesses as quickly as possible to improve energy efficiency and reduce bills;

• A commitment to keep fossil fuels in the ground, and to invest instead

in developing the renewable energy technologies and businesses that are essential for our future energy security

The Conservatives did not speak against it but voted it down.

Merger of council staff

Both Cannock Chase District Council and Stafford Borough have agreed on the merger with a joint appointment committee to appoint staff to the new structure.

Budget approved

The Borough Council budget involves cuts of £876k this year and  £1.7m next.The largest ‘saving’ is from the merger of council staff - £544k in a full year. £233 is to be gained by leasing out more of the Civic offices. One of the cuts is the removal of free parking at certain times in the run up to Christmas. Labour proposed this be reinstated but this was lost.

I spoke about the absence of any provision in the budget for tackling the climate and biodiversity emergency and the fact that although I had proposed the Council make such provision, under new rules, this was referred to the Cabinet without debate but has never been discussed by the Cabinet.

Station Gateway plan

There has been a report setting out the responses to the consultation. It is clear that over 50% of those responding were unhappy with the proposals whereas only around a third supported them. The main issue is the loss of biodiversity. The only response to this is the promise that there will be a 10% net gain in biodiversity – but this is now a legal obligation anyway. The other ‘concession’ was to appoint consultants to advise on biodiversity issues. I also raised the issue that many respondents had regarding the provision for new office premises when there are so many empty ones in the town centre. Even one of the Tory cabinet members agreed this was an issue.

Proposed flats in Castletown

I have called in an application to build a block of 5 flats in a very small space at the end of a row of terraced houses in Castletown. The site would accommodate one normal house and the building proposed is totally out of keeping with the Victorian terrace next to it.

With regard to the proposed shop and housing on the former Three Tuns site, put forward by those running the nearby shop, it seems the Planning Dept were thinking of turning down the plan – the owners of the existing shop are opposing it and it is considered too intensive. The proposers have made changes so it may mean that the new plan will have to go through the whole process from the beginning.

Neighbourhood Nature project in Doxey

This project is really taking off. A well-attended public meeting was held in Doxey School and Stafford Castle Rotary Club have since prepared a detailed report on the site. Based on the plan discussed at the public meeting, it sets out what might be done to bring the scheme to fruition. They are also offering to help fund the work needed. Colas is a company which has the contract for maintaining the M6 motorway and have offered to provide support in carrying out some clearance work. We have representation from the police, the Wildlife Trust, the Borough Council, the Church, the Parish Council and County Council with a number of local residents. The next meeting will see a formal organisation set up. In the meantime, work is going ahead to install a gate at the main entrance and investigations will be made about creating a second and maybe a third access.

Tony

Cllr Tony Pearce

 

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