Issue - meetings

The Communities Manager introduced the Carbon Management Plan Update report and said that this was the fifth year of presenting an update to Scrutiny. He noted that the report covered activity between 2024 and April 2025 due to when national data was released.

The Team Manager for Environment gave a detailed presentation to the Group and said that significant progress had been made towards the Council’s 2030 net?zero target and the Government’s 2050 UK target. He highlighted a number of key projects that the Council had achieved, being:

·       Rushcliffe Arena Solar Project

·       Cotgrave Leisure Centre, Sir Julien Cahn and Gamston Community Hall decarbonation Projects

·       90% reduction in fleet emissions

·       Offsetting - £860k of Grants from Trees for Carbon fund granted for planting and managing trees cover at Wolds Wood and Rushcliffe Woods

·       Warm Homes: Local Grant and Energy Company Obligation 4 across East Leake and Borough wide.

·       EV Charge Points at Nursery and Bridgford Road Carparks

·       Home Energy Advice Team 2

·       Facilitating Ethical Solar Loans at Railway Heritage Centre Ruddington

The Team Manager for Environment explained that the Council had achieved a reduction in carbon emissions equivalent to removing five Cotgrave Leisure Centres, or 124 properties from the national grid.

The Communities Manager provided an update in relation to the Council’s offsetting strategy. He explained that following review of the Council’s land holdings, which were limited, and open spaces and also consideration of working with partner agencies, Cabinet had agreed to proceed with acquisition of land within the Borough, of grade 3 agricultural land value or below. He explained that suitable land had been identified and purchased at Rushcliffe Wood (Upper Broughton) which had a brook running through it and Wolds Woods (near Kinoulton) which was formerly a woodland. He said that these two sites would provide 123% against the Council’s identified sequestration offset requirement and so provided some flexibility for the Council. He said that deer and rabbit fencing would be installed to help protect the planting initially and added that the Council had secured £860k of grant funding which covered the cost of all the tree planting and 15 years of maintenance for both sites.

The Team Manager for Environment informed the Group about the Council’s key projects for 2026-27, being:

·       Gresham Sports Pavillion - install solar PV and improved water management system 

·       Edwalton Golf Course Refurbishment – including energy measures and adding solar PV to roof 

·       Streetwise Solar – solar electric scheme on the roof to supplement EV charge bays installed last year

·       Hound Lodge Energy Efficiency – development of implementation of insulation programme

·       Develop a Scope 3 (supply chain emissions) monitoring and reporting mechanism for all RBC operations to support mapping and maximising efficiencies.

The Team Manager for Environment also highlighted the Council’s future pipeline projectto decarbonise the whole of Rushcliffe Arena and said that the Council would explore future funding schemes to decarbonise heating as the current gas boilers/combined heating powerplant came to the end of their life.

The Team Manager for Environment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17