Agenda item

Climate Delivery Plans 2025 - 2027

To receive a report from the Corporate Director, Place.

Decision:

Resolved:

Cabinet is asked:

1. To note the conclusions of the review of the Climate Strategy Delivery Plan 2022/24 and the Carbon Neutral Council Plan 2022-24

2. To note and endorse the draft Climate Delivery Plan 2025, to be approved by the Corporate Director, Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Waste and Environment.

Reason for Decision:

To provide Cabinet with a concluding review report in relation to the Climate Delivery Plans, for the period 2022-24.

To introduce the draft Climate Delivery Plan for 2025, and to provide an opportunity for Cabinet to comment on the draft, with any necessary adjustments made before final approval.

Minutes:

Cllr Dominic Muns, Cabinet member for Waste and Environment presented a report which introduced the proposed new Climate Delivery Plan for 2025.

Cllr Muns reported that the existing plans - ‘Wiltshire Climate Strategy Climate Delivery Plan 2022-2024’ and the ‘Carbon Neutral Council Plan 2022-24’ were approved in September 2022. The proposed Plan identifies the action the council is taking to tackle the climate emergency, and prioritises actions based on the impact it can have, and the role and influence the council has. Action will be focused towards the most meaningful activities to reduce carbon emissions and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change. The Plan has reviewed the areas of focus of the Climate Strategy, in order to simplify and clarify action and governance and builds on the progress to date, and the foundation laid in key areas such as county-wide retrofit, and decarbonisation of the council’s buildings and fleet.

Cllr Muns thanked all officers involved in the Plan’s preparation and the contributions from Councillors and the Climate Emergency Task group

The Leader commented on UK scorecards, areas of focus and their delivery, the need for national Key Performance Indicators, the Council’s approach being evidence based and financially sensible, savings to be achieved year on year and the reduction on emissions.

Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Highways, Street Scene and Flooding thanked Cllr Muns for referencing the decarbonisation of the Council’s fleet, which will have a significant impact on the reduction in emissions.

Andrew Nicolson paid tribute to the Climate Team for their dedication and hard work. He welcomed the consultation with stakeholders in the preparation of the Plan and called for the introduction of Key Performance Indicators for the schemes built. He further spoke on commitment to reach net zero by 2030 and the importance of engaging all Councillors.

Cllr Muns commented on the importance of being agile in relation to the delivery of schemes and referenced the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans as an example – where the Council provides the detailed document or creates the framework and then works with the local community to deliver the scheme either through the Area Board or the Parish Council. He noted that of the 200 schemes, 150 have been progressed, 10 were repurposed and 15 to be started. He welcomed the comment from Andrew Nicolson about the importance of all Councillors engaging in the process, expected that all Councillors would ‘carry the baton’ for residents.

Cllr Graham Wright, Chairman of the Climate Emergency Task Group reported that he was concerned the Task Group meeting planned for 8 January 2025 was cancelled as the draft report was not available for the Task Group to consider, and the Task Group lost the opportunity to contribute to the Plan. He asked Cabinet to consider how Scrutiny could be involved at an earlier stage, although he was aware that scrutiny can be retrospective. Cllr Muns and the Leader assured Cllr Wright that Scrutiny played an important role in the development of Plans and Strategies in addition to the review of existing Plans and Strategies. It is essential that Scrutiny had an opportunity to comment on Cabinet reports prior to the Cabinet meeting.

Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, thanked Cllr Muns for the report and the achievements to date. He also thanked Andrew Nicolson for his commitment in attending Cabinet meetings and asking the hard questions. Cllr Thorn asked about how the Council can engage further with partners and encourage them to consider net zero policies, how we reach the wider public, the availability of training for members on Carbon Literacy. Cllr Muns referred to X4 and X5 areas of focus about engagement with stakeholder and community action as examples of working with communities, G1 and G3 areas of focus about upskilling and green skills the Council is actively participating in, training on Carbon Literacy is available for members and a number of members had started the training.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling noted that Area Boards were a vital place for communities to engage and contribute to climate issues, as the Area Boards continue to align objectives with Council priorities.

Cllr Richard Budden thanked everyone involved in contributing to the report and Plan. He thanked Cllr Holder in relation to the Decarbonisation of the Council’s Fleet and the comments on Scope 1 and 2 emissions of vehicles owned by the Council. He also mentioned his disappointment that the reduction of Scope 3 emissions – household waste management was not included in the Council’s plans, although he was aware of the financial challenges for Scope 3 emissions.