Issue - meetings

To receive an update report on Telford and Wrekin becoming carbon neutral and plastic free update.

The Team Leader: Climate Change & Sustainability presented the report which gave details regarding the Council becoming Carbon Neutral and Plastic free.

Tackling climate change was one of five priorities set out in the current Council Plan with the Council making a commitment to reduce its carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.  An interim target of 70% by 2027 had been set as a priority in the Corporate Delivery Plan. 

Through its partnerships, the Council was also playing a part in helping the wider borough achieve the same target.  A commitment had also been made to remove single-use plastics from the Council's operations and replacing them with sustainable alternatives.

The Council had achieved an overall reduction of 60% in CO2 emissions from a baseline of 2018/19. This was considerably ahead of the 36% reduction based on a straight-line year on year reduction.  Particular highlights included an overall reduction of 14% in gas usage across the Council’s operational estate, the awarding of £683,370 from the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), On-Street Residential Charge Point (ORCS) fund for the installation of 70 EV charge points across 21 Council car parks.  In addition, the borough had been awarded an indicative amount (£1,020,000) by OZEV to increase the number of on-street EV charge points. The Council continues to switch to low emission vehicles across its fleet. An additional 6 electric vehicles for the Highways and Enforcement Team, two electric minibuses for Arthog (funded through our municipal investment) and a vehicle for Libraries. The publication of the Council’s Climate Change supplementary planning document (SPD) setting out guidance on sustainable new build for developers had also taken place since the last update to Audit Committee.

Environment Scrutiny Committee had recently met to look at how to manage and mitigate the impact of climate change such as flooding, heatwaves and extreme events and how it could support the emergency planning process.

During the debate, some Members welcomed the report.  It was asked if the Council was looking at carbon emissions as a total and did that include the Council’s sub-contractors.  Other Members raised whether there was any work ongoing, in conjunction with developers within the borough, on retrofitting or installing green saving devices in developments.

The Team Leader: Climate Change & Sustainability explained that fleet and business mileage was being considered and that it was important to consider how every pound was spent and how major contracts could become more sustainable.  He confirmed that the adopted supplementary planning document looked at the installation of solar panels and ev charging points on new buildings.  Work was being undertaken with local developers on the local plan process.

RESOLVED that update on Telford and Wrekin Council Becoming Carbon Neutral and Plastic Free be noted.