Issue - meetings

In giving consideration to the annual update report regarding the Environment and Sustainability Action Plan, Members were played a short video, introduced by Councillor Stephen Bunney, Chairman of the Environment & Sustainability Working Group, and featuring Councillors from around the district. This summarised the actions which had been put in place since the previous annual report, and where impact had been targeted. It also covered information such as who to contact for assistance with warm home grants, or how to get involved in volunteer groups.

The Chairman thanked the Policy and Strategy Officer - Climate and Sustainable Environment, and all Officers and Members involved, for the video introduction, acknowledging the breadth of information covered. Members echoed her sentiments and praised the innovative method of information sharing.

During the course of debate, Members enquired as to public engagement and whether there was scope to work with local experts to involve local communities in all possible areas. Examples were provided of other authorities providing free trees to people for planting, and committing to planting a tree per resident, as well as schemes of work being undertaken by schools and community groups which would benefit from cross-working with the council. Additionally, Members enquired as to the planning process and whether environmentally sustainable housing was being championed in the district, alongside the advice to homeowners for improving energy efficiency of their homes.

Members were advised that public involvement had been a key focus since the inception of the strategy in 2021 which followed a period of public consultation. Officers were also focusing on an increased presence online, providing interactive tools and using methods such as the video to increase awareness and engagement. It was also explained that planning applications under the revised Local Plan were beginning to be seen. With regard to working with homeowners, Members heard that West Lindsey had the largest uptake of air source heat pumps in the country, and in working with Lincolnshire County Council, there had been over 300 enquiries for the installation of solar panels, with over 50 applications since September 2025.

Members of the Committee highlighted the need to communicate other avenues, such as green burial spaces where, for example, ashes could be interred in public access orchards, as well as raising public awareness of the waste cycles, and where and how residents’ waste was processed. The upcoming food waste collections were referenced, with details given of the site at Hemswell Cliff, where waste would be processed and the produced energy and bio-fertiliser would be used locally.

In response to a question regarding the earmarked reserves and ensuring monies were spent for the benefit of the district as a whole, it was explained there was to be a grants programme launched to enable community based schemes to benefit from funding. Members would be informed of the details in due course and were requested to share details and encourage applications within their wards.

Final comments from the Committee highlighted the success of mapping tools used by other organisations, with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31