Agenda item

Report of the Director - Neighbourhoods

The Community Development Manager presented an update on the Carbon Management Plan. He explained that carbon emission information was separated into the three categories, being Scope, 1 (direct emissions from the Council’s activity), Scope 2 (indirect emissions, for example from electricity) and Scope 3 (indirect emissions from supply chains and services).

The Community Development Manager explained that the Council had developed a roadmap towards achieving net zero as a business, but that emissions had increased slightly recently due to a variety of factors, including a return to business as usual following the pandemic, the in-sourcing of the Streetwise company and the opening of Rushcliffe Oaks crematorium.

The Community Development Manager said that the Council had also made a commitment, in line with national and international governments, to be Net Zero as a Local authority Area by 2050. He noted that public sector emissions contributed 9% and towards the overall carbon output for the Borough, with the largest contributor being transport at 33%.

The Group was updated on the successful completion of a number of projects, including heat decarbonisation for all non-leisure stock estate, a Swimming Pool Support Fund Award at Cotgrave Leisure Centre, completion of energy mapping work for assets and that the Council was hoping to replace the gas boilers at Sir Julian Cahn pavilion and Gamston community centre with air source heat pumps.

The Group was updated that the Council was mapping its transport and emissions, taking into consideration current technologies and the rural nature of the Borough to inform its vehicle replacement programme. The Community Development Manager said that the Council was also looking at working with Zest Energy regarding installation of EV charge points across the Borough.

In relation to contracts and procurement, the Community Development Manager said that the Council had written policies into its procurement strategy and was considering its supply chains and had employed a new biodiversity net gain (BNG) assistant to support introduction of the new legislation.

In relation to policy and regulation, the Community Development Manager said that the Council was currently reviewing its Review of Air Quality Strategy, had set up a Big Business Carbon Club and had been commended by a recent Peer Review for the work that it had completed to date.

In relation the waste and recycling, the Service Manager Neighbourhoods said that the Council was looking at how it collected waste, in line with expected changes to national guidance, with it likely that weekly food collections would be introduced later in 2027 and kerbside glass collection by 2026 as part of the Smarter Recycling initiative. He said that the Council was collectively working with local authorities across the County to take a whole system approach as much as possible.

The Community Development Manager said that the Council was looking at its data centre emissions, staff travel and had moved to procure its electricity from renewable sources. He said that the Council was also working with RCAN and parish and town councils supporting them with their asset energy audits.

In relation to offsetting, the Group was informed that a carbon sequestration report had been completed for the Borough, which had identified that approximately 46 hectares of tree planting would be required to achieve neutrality by 2030.

The Community Development Manager referred to the carbon neutral 2050 target and said that projects involving Local Authority Delivery Scheme and Home Upgrade Grant funding had been delivered by the Council focusing on improving home insulation and home heating systems and he shared information on two specific projects that had been completed. He added that the Council was also working with Thames Valley Metropolitan Housing (TVMH) regarding decarbonising their housing stock and was looking to develop a county wide solar electric bulk purchase scheme with the County Council and Midlands Net Zero Hub.

The Community Development Manager confirmed that the Council would continue to do outreach with parish councils, supporting carbon reduction innovation and investment and promote the Big Business Carbon Club. He noted that the British Geological Survey were currently digging bore holes into the ground to provide geothermal energy, with potential for this to become a future district heating network within the Borough and to be an exemplar site.

Councillor Parekh asked whether land had been identified for the required 46 hectares of planting and the Community Development Manager said that a report would shortly be presented to Cabinet setting out how the Council could approach acquiring suitable sites, possibly through purchase or long term lease and maximising open spaces. He said that Council had mapped areas of the Borough and was also mindful of the need for trees to become sufficiently mature to absorb carbon

Councillor Barney supported moving towards introducing HVO powered refuse vehicles but cautioned the need to monitor where the HVO was sourced from and the Community Development Manager confirmed that the Council was mindful of this factor and said that HVO was only a step in the Council’s transition away from diesel.

Councillor Barney also noted that technology was changing rapidly and bringing economies of scale and that it was important to be open to future developments and transparent about the costs involved. The Community Development Manager referred to Appendix 2 of the report which provided a breakdown of expenditure.

Councillor Mallender asked about the PFI agreement with Veolia and the Service Manager Neighbourhoods said that this would likely end around 2029 and said that there was Nottinghamshire wide group which was looking to take a County wide approach to waste and recycling collection, which was currently being discussed at County level.

Councillor Mallender asked about education around waste reduction as well as waste mangement. The Community Development Manager agreed that waste reduction was an important factor of the waste management strategy and that once plans were confirmed the Council would look to hold roadshows and promote communications to towns and parishes and the community.

Councillor Wells asked how many homes had received solid wall insulation and the Community Development Manager said that he would report back to Group with information on the number and age of the properties.

Councillor Plant referred to domestic housing accounting for 24% of carbon emissions for Borough and thought that funding was required to enable households to make modifications to increase the energy efficiency of their homes. The Community Development Manager said that a big challenge was retrofit of older housing and that work was taking place looking at promoting schemes and bulk buying to bring in economies of scale.

Councillor Fletcher asked about communications with town and parish councils and the Community Development Manager said that they would be welcome to contact the Team Manager for Environment directly and that he would share his contact information with the Group.

The Chair asked whether the hand tools used by Streetwise were electric and the Community Development Manager said that the Council was learning from the Friends of Rushcliffe Country Park who were currently using electric tools for their smaller scale works. The Streetwise Manager said that the Team were using a mixture of petrol and electric machines depending on how long they needed to be used for and that Streetwise had bought additional batteries to facilitate electric tools being used for longer works where possible.

The Chair referred to EV charging points in car parks and asked whether it would be possible to expand installation. The Community Development Manager said that the Council had provided EV charging points through the Pulse scheme at all sites that qualified through that scheme, which were usually near trunk roads. He said that the Council was now working with Zest to look at other possible sites, although this was challenging in more rural locations. traffic. It was noted that whilst East Leake had qualified as a site initially it had ultimately not been deemed suitable due to impacting factors, which could include power supply. The Group was informed that the Council was also reviewing options for domestic on-street charging for homes without drives.

The Chair asked about housing developments and biodiversity net gain offset and whether it would be possible for the Council to condition for elements, such as tree planting, to be the made at the outset of the development. The Community Development Manager said that he would report back to the Group with information about delivery and triggers for when developers could be made to deliver biodiversity net gain measures.

Members of the Group asked about social housing providers in the Borough and their carbon management plans. The Community Development Manager confirmed that the Council was working with its housing providers regarding their decarbonisation plans and said that he would report back to the Group with a list of all housing providers in the Borough and any known information about decarbonisation.

Councillor Parekh asked how many swimming pools there were within the Borough and how many had gas boilers and the Community Development Manager said that there were five Leisure Centres and that Cotgrave was the first to receive a new air source heat pump and that Bingham Leisure Centre’s gas boiler was 82% more efficient than traditional gas boilers.

In relation to education, Councillor Parekh asked whether the Council had plans to work with secondary schools. The Community Development Manager said that the Council was keen to work with partners and had found climate change engagement well embedded within the young generation.

Councillor Matthews asked about EV charging points and returns on investment from those in the Borough. The Community Development Manager explained that installation had been in partnership with Pulse and through grant funding. The Service Manager Neighbourhoods said that the Council was a host site and did not receive income from them.

The Chair confirmed that an update on the Carbon Management Plan would be reported to Scrutiny annually and the Community Development Manager said that the Team would be happy to respond to questions from Members throughout the year.

It was RESOLVED that the Communities Scrutiny Group:

a)    considered the progress to date of the adopted carbon management action plan; and

b)    contributed towards the emerging carbon management actions for 2024/25.