Issue - meetings

To receive an update on the Council’s progress to becoming Carbon Neutral.

The Interim Service Manager: Community Services informed Members that tackling climate change was one of five priorities set out in the Council Plan. In July 2019, the Council declared a climate change emergency and made a commitment to reduce its carbon emissions to net zero by 2030. Members heard that through the support of a borough partnership the council was also playing a key part in helping the wider borough achieve the same target.

The Project Support Officer: Climate Change & Sustainability explained that the Climate Change team had been working closely with the Council's biT services on leisure centre updates totalling to a £1.1 million investment to improve energy efficiency. In addition, Members heard that the Council had undertaken a wide range of activities across its functions, including providing direct grants to residents who were in fuel poverty and support to those residents who can self-fund to install renewable technologies to their own properties, through NuPlace, building more energy efficiency homes and continuing to improve the walking and cycling routes in the borough. There had also been further delivery of Electric Vehicle charging points across the Borough and the introduction of a car club for staff to reduce the council’s business mileage emissions. The Committee were advised that as a result of the Council's efforts, in 2023/24 the Council achieved an overall reduction of 61% in CO2e emissions from a baseline of 2018/19. Members were ask to note that this was ahead of the 16% reduction based on a straight-line year on year reduction.

Members expressed their appreciation for the update and the efforts of the team and the significant commitment to reducing carbon emissions across the Council's services. Members noted the increased interest from businesses in these initiatives and echoed the need to promote eco-friendly practices and aligning business interests with the Council's environmental goals. However, the Committee requested greater clarity on how specific actions contribute to CO? reduction and associated costs and more information regarding the EV charge point rollout. The Interim Service Manager: Community Services advised that this was still under consideration and that it was to be addressed in a future report to the Committee.

Members noted the update.