Agenda and minutes
Environment Committee - Thursday 2 July 2015 10.00 am

To receive any apologies for absence and any announcements from the Chair.

1.1  Apologies for absence were received from Nicky Gavron AM and Stephen Knight AM.

1.2  During the course of the meeting the Chair welcomed to the public gallery pupils from Dorothy Barley Junior Academy, Dagenham.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  Ed Wise, [email protected];  020 7983 4619

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note the list of offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, as disclosable pecuniary interests;

(b)  Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any disclosable pecuniary interests in specific items listed on the agenda and the necessary action taken by the Member(s) regarding withdrawal following such declaration(s); and

(c)  Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any other interests deemed to be relevant (including any interests arising from gifts and hospitality received which are not at the time of the meeting reflected on the Authority’s register of gifts and hospitality, and noting also the advice from the GLA’s Monitoring Officer set out at Agenda Item 2) and to note any necessary action taken by the Member(s) following such declaration(s).

2.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

2.2  Resolved:

That the list of offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, be noted as disclosable pecuniary interests.

The Committee is recommended to confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 4 June 2015 to be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

3.1  Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2015 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  Ed Wise, [email protected];  020 7983 4619

The Committee is recommended to note the completed and outstanding actions arising from a previous meeting.

4.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

4.2  Resolved:

That the outstanding actions arising from a previous meeting of the Committee be noted.

4.3  In accordance with Standing Order 2.2D, the Chair decided to take the next four items in a different order than that set out on the agenda.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for Thursday, 3 September 2015 at 10.00 am in Committee Room 5, City Hall.

5.1  The date of the next meeting of the Committee was scheduled for Thursday, 3 September 2015 at 10.00 am in Committee Room 5, City Hall.

6.1  There were no items of business that the Chair considered to be urgent.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact: Alexandra Beer, [email protected]; 020 7983 4947

The Committee is recommended to note the report as background to putting questions to invited guests on solar energy, and note the subsequent discussion. 

7.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat as background to putting questions on solar energy from London’s homes to the following invited guests:

·  James Hardy, Principal Policy and Programme Officer (Energy), Greater London Authority (GLA);

·  Kore Mason, RE:NEW Programme Manager, GLA;

·  Leonie Greene, Head of Public Affairs, Solar Trade Association;

·  Afsheen Rashid, Chief Operating Officer, Repowering London;

·  Brian Horne, Knowledge Manager, Energy Saving Trust;

·  Seb Berry, Head of Public Affairs, Solarcentury; and

·  Judith Page, Director of Property Services, Ascham Homes.

7.2  A transcript of the discussion is attached at Appendix 1.

7.3  At 10.20am the Chair adjourned the meeting for one minute to allow a technical problem with the Chamber’s microphones to be resolved.

7.4  Resolved:

That the report and discussion be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact: Ian Williamson, [email protected]; 020 7983 6541

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note its work programme for the remainder of the 2015/16 Assembly year; and

(b)  Delegate authority to the Chair, in consultation with Lead Members, to agree the scope and terms of reference for the Committee’s investigation into the environmental pressures from London’s growth.

8.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

8.2  Before taking a decision on the first recommendation at Agenda Item 6, the Deputy Chair advocated, in light of the publication of the final report of the Airports Commission, that the work programme be amended to allow the Committee to review the Commission’s recommendations as they relate to the environmental impact of aircraft noise and air quality at Heathrow Airport. 

8.3  The Chair thanked the Deputy Chair for his contribution and proposed that Members of the Committee and officers hold an informal discussion about using one of the Committee’s unassigned meeting slots later in the Assembly year to discuss the Commission’s recommendations.

8.4  Resolved:

(a)  That, subject to the proposed amendments set out at paragraphs 8.2 and 8.3 above, the work programme for the remainder of the 2015/16 Assembly year, be noted.

(b)  That authority be delegated to the Chair, in consultation with party Group Lead Members, to agree the scope and terms of reference for the Committee’s investigation into the environmental pressures from London’s growth.

9.1  The meeting ended at 12.23 pm.