Issue - meetings

To update elected members and officers on the contents of the Carbon Reduction Plan and the recommendation as per Policy Development Panel (report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory which provided an update on the contents of the Carbon Reduction Plan and the recommendation from the Policy Development Panel.

The report was presented by the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Conservation and Heritage, and Tourism.

Background

·       Work had been underway with consultants WSP for around a year.

·       The initial phase was primarily data gathering to create the baseline carbon footprint. This was based on data from financial year 2023/2024

·       That element of the work was completed a while ago and the final version of the carbon reduction plan had now been received.

·       A workshop was held on 27 November 2024 to discuss initial findings and provided everyone the opportunity to give feedback.

·       The Carbon Reduction Plan document was presented to Policy Development Panel on 11 February 2025 which generated a healthy level of discussion and was well received.

·       The work undertaken brought SHDC in line with similar work already carried out at ELDC and BBC.

·       The overall carbon footprint for 2023/2024 for SHDC’s operational emissions was 10536 tCO2e.

·       For comparison, the footprint for SHDC compared well with ELDC/BBC.

Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP)

·       The CRP was an overarching high-level document and the final version had now been received.

·       The idea of the plan was to look at what our pathway to Net Zero might be however it did not cover every possible action/opportunity.

·       Once agreed, the next steps would be to produce a detailed action plan including relevant timescales/costs for those projects highlighted to take forward.  This would look at the most practicable projects for implementation.  First steps had already been taken to get this work underway

·       Key areas of the plan included the examples below. Short/medium and long-term proposals

1.    Fleet - alternative fuels, electrification of fleet vehicles.

2.    Council owned leased commercial buildings. Identify and focus on lower performing buildings.

3.    Solar PV feasibility study for SHDC buildings.

4.    Retrofit council properties to meet existing energy standards.

5.    Behavioural – encourage and enable energy saving and improve environmental practices (recycling etc) and behaviours amongst council staff

·       It was important to note that some projects could be discounted, and others identified as the process progressed. The list of recommendations was not exhaustive.

·       All would be worked through with the relevant stakeholders/portfolio holder and service leads.

·       It was important to note that approval of this plan did not commit the council to any specific financial commitments at this point. All projects to be taken forward would be subject to robust business cases being put forward and decisions made on a case-by-case basis

·       As with ELDC/BBC – it was likely that plan delivery would require external funding to be sourced, and this plan was the first step in ensuring we were able to bid for funding when available.

Net Zero Target

·       SHDC had signed up to the Partnership’s Climate Change Strategy committing to be Net Zero in advance of the UK government target (2050)

·       WSP modelled various  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87

To update elected members and officers on the contents of the Carbon Reduction Plan and the associated recommendations (report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory which updated elected members and officers on the contents of the Carbon Reduction Plan and the associated recommendations.

The Group Manager - Climate Change and Environment and the Sustainable Development Officer introduced the report and stated that:

• 78% of carbon emissions within South Holland came from the housing stock and taking that away brought South Holland into line with Boston and East Lindsey.
• The overarching document presented was in draft form and the focus was for the Panel to choose a net zero pathway.
• Key areas included within the plan were fleet vehicles, council owned buildings, solar panel feasibility for council owned buildings and energy saving behaviours amongst council staff.
• The plan didn’t commit the council to any financial commitments.
• The report outlined three options for the Panel to choose from.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members commented that with the upcoming Local Government Reorganisation it seemed unrealistic to look at targets.
  • The Sustainable Development Officer stated that upcoming LGR shouldn’t prevent the Council from planning for the future and by having a plan in place, South Holland could influence other Councils.

• Members asked whether the plan would assist in stopping solar farms being placed on agricultural land.
  • The Sustainable Development Officer confirmed that an aim of the plan was to look at the placement of solar panels on Council owned buildings.
  • The Group Manager - Climate Change and Environment added that the next step would be to produce a detailed action plan of how to deliver this and influence corporate activity.
  • She stated that the housing stock lent itself to easily reducing carbon emissions as retrofit work was taking place to properties to increase their EPC ratings.

• Members queried whether the Council did enough to encourage recycling within the office spaces.
  • The Sustainable Development Officer responded that it was an important part of the plan to encourage a changing of behaviours among council staff.
  • He added that the Sustainable Products Policy was already in place with the aim of reducing single waste plastics.

• Members questioned whether the Council could install more combined recycling and general waste bins.
  • The Sustainable Development Officer commented that nothing should be ruled out. A feasibility study would need to be carried out to determine whether this was practical and any financial implications.

• Members asked whether the simplest thing to do for the housing stock would be to put solar panels on all roofs.
  • The Assistant Director – Housing commented that the Council was awaiting the outcome of a bid worth £18m to complete efficiency works on properties that currently had an EPC D rating.
  • He also commented that to put solar panels on every property would be extremely expensive. There were many other options, such as new windows and external wall insulation, that should also be considered.
  • The Group Manager - Climate Change and Environment stated that this sort of idea was unviable at this point in time  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78