Agenda item

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer referred Members to recent press articles relating to the remit of Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The articles were:

·       Storm Tank aimed at stopping pollution in River Deerness approved – Following several sewer flooding incidents which had polluted the River Deerness and had been connected with the death of cattle from blacks disease, Northumbrian water had approval to install a storm tank.

·       Plans for plastic bottle deposit and return scheme put forward by Government in an bid to cut plastic waste – The move aims to boost recycling rates and cut litter and comes amid increasing concern over the issue of single use plastic waste, much of which ends up as rubbish polluting the countryside and oceans.

·       European partners share energy efficiency ideas – partners across Europe have been sharing ideas on how to promote energy efficiency as part of a five year EU project. The REBUS project sees eight public authorities from countries across Europe come together to exchange ideas and good practice on how to make their buildings more energy efficient. This links to Agenda Item No.7.

Councillor Avery referred to plastic bottle deposits and advised Members that scientists were developing a plastic that would disintegrate. The Chairman responded that it was an enzyme that would break down the plastic but the article also states that the new plastic could not be put into the ocean.

Councillor Brown indicated that the enzyme eats the plastic and a way needed to be found to contain this.

The Chairman indicated that the single use plastics issue had been dealt with at the Council meeting and would come back to this committee in the future.

Resolved: That the presentation be noted.