Decision details

To provide the Councillors with an update on progress of the delivery of the Council’s Climate Strategy and Action Plan since its adoption in February 2023

The Cabinet

(a)  commented on the delivery of the Climate Action Plan for 2024-25;

(b)  noted the progress made by the Council and its partners towards achieving Carbon Net Zero by 2040; and

(c)  commented on and approved the updated Climate Action plan as shown in Appendix 6 and note the amendment of actions in Appendix 7.

N/A

The delivery of the Climate Action Plan, Climate Strategy and carbon-reducing actions in the Corporate Plan is supported by a Climate Coordinator and a Project Support Officer. The Climate Coordinator leads on the Climate Conversation, collaborates with Council services to support their climate actions and develop new ones, reports progress across the Council against the Climate Action Plan, reviews benchmarking and opportunities and supports officers directly engaged in climate work such as the Biodiversity for All project and Home Energy.

The climate budget for 2023-2024 was £150,000 to support Council services to accelerate the development and delivery of priority climate actions. Services have and will continue to use this funding to develop businesses cases, provide energy strategies, offer in-house e-learning training on climate and contributing to facility upgrades on HDC sites such as roof surveys. Services are then able to apply for evidence-based investment in transformational projects such as accelerating solar or transitioning from fossil fuels through the transformation budgets or medium-term financial planning process. An example of where the funding has been used to unlock further investment in the Council is looking to hire a Waste Reduction Engagement Officer, which will be essential in ensuring successful participation among domestic properties receiving communal waste collections in the district.