Agenda item

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 options in terms of which Net Zero target would be appropriate for SHDC to pursue, and following on from discussion and subsequent approval from Policy Development Panel, members were invited to consider and approve their recommendation (second recommendation within the report).

Consideration was given to the report and the following issues were raised:

·       The graph at Figure 4.1 of the CRP reflected that there was a long way to go to achieve Net Zero by the target of 2040, and it would be costly.  However, there was general support for the proposals. 

DECISION:

1)    That the Carbon Reduction Plan be adopted; and

2)    That, as recommended by the Policy Development Panel, the Net Zero by 2040 target be adopted as the carbon reduction pathway.

(Other options considered:

·       Do nothing has not been considered due to the obligations of the amended Climate Change Act 2008;

·       The 2030 pathway was considered but dismissed as it would be much more challenging to achieve;

Reasons for decision:

·       To demonstrate South Holland District Council is committed to meet the challenges of its Climate Change and Environmental commitments under the sub-regional strategy.  The recommended pathway would bring South Holland in line with targets set by both East Lindsey District Council and Boston Borough Council).

(The Assistant Director – Regulatory and the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Conservation and Heritage, and Tourism left the meeting following discussion of this item).