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Appendix 1: CSPAC Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan Implementation Status
Action |
Portfolio Holder and PAC |
Responsible Officer(s) |
February 2024 Update |
Key Performance Indicator |
Likely Start Date |
Likely Completion Date |
Progress |
Active Travel and Green Transportation |
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Action 1.4 Deliver Policy that ensures sustainable travel, such as bike racks, pool cars, electric vehicle charging, active travel, is integrated into all Maidstone Borough Council construction of new buildings (offices, housing, leisure facilities) and building acquisitions.
|
Councillor John Perry
Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee |
Mark Green
Katie Exon
|
Officers are investigating standardising policy for MBC developments to incorporate where possible, sustainable travel initiatives. |
NA |
2024 |
Across timeline to 2030 |
On track |
Adapting to Climate Change |
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Action 5.3 Conduct Borough Climate Impact Assessment and (i) Identify natural flood management (nature-based solutions and sustainable urban drainage), (ii) Build local communities’ resilience, (iii) Support business continuity management, and (iv) Priorities and strengthen power and water supply and other critical infrastructure ensuring more resilient communities.
|
Councillor John Perry
Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee
And
Councillor Claudine Russell
Communities, Leisure and Arts Policy Advisory Committee |
James Wilderspin
Gemma Bailey |
Officers continue to seek partnerships on tree planting and nature-based solutions with private landowners of flood elevation efforts.
Communications and projects such as the Maidstone Eco Hub comprise climate adaptation information and awareness raising of climate impacts to raise awareness throughout the community and local businesses.
Officers are investigating Local Energy Action Plans (LEAPs) which are strategic documents developed by local authorities and other relevant stakeholders to outline their approach to sustainable energy management and the transition to low-carbon, renewable energy sources at the local level. Costing approximate £120k for a full LAEP. Due to the size of Kent, it would need to be sub-divided into 2-3 LAEP areas and Districts are being encouraged to work together to develop LEAPs. Folkestone are currently undergoing a pilot and planning to share their experience developing a LEAP. Swale are likely to be interested partnership with Maidstone. |
NA |
2023 |
Across timeline to 2030 |
On track |
Enhancing and Increasing Biodiversity |
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Action 6.8 Review Maidstone Borough Council non-operational land to assess potential for enhancing biodiversity including allowing community groups to take responsibility for management.
|
Councillor John Perry
Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee |
James Wilderspin
|
Officers continue to investigate the viability of biodiversity enhancing projects on MBC land. Two previously identified sites are being considered for BNG offsite provision and an assessment in collaboration with Kent Wildlife Trust will be undertaken in spring 2024 to develop the projects and align with mandatory BNG. |
NA |
2022 |
Across timeline to 2030 |
On track |
Making our Estate Carbon Neutral |
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Action 7.1 Deliver Maidstone Borough Council 2030 Net Zero Commitment, by: (i) Decarbonising the councils’ buildings through low carbon heating, LEDs, insulation and smart controls, (ii) decarbonising the council’s fleet to fully EV, (iii) investing in renewable energy generation, (iv) incorporating energy saving principles into office strategies, and (v) supporting staff to shift to electric/ultra-low emission vehicles, public transportation and more flexible working. |
Councillor John Perry
Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee
And
Councillor Claudine Russell
Communities, Leisure and Arts Policy Advisory Committee |
James Wilderspin
Mark Green
Katie Exon
Darren Guess
|
16% of the MBC fleet have now been upgrade to EV's (11 of 65 vehicles total), with a further x2 EVs on order for 2024. There are now a total of 31 plug in charging points installed at the depot.
4 buildings have been fully upgraded to LEDs.
Preplanning advise is currently being sought for a solar canopy car port project in Mote Park Car Park, to be private wired to the leisure centre to reduce its operational costs and carbon emissions.
On November 7th 2023, officers submitted a largescale bid for Phase 3c of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) for £3,126,536 to retrofit Maidstone House. Included in the bid were provisions for developing detailed designs, upgrading the heating system, replacing the glazing, fully insulating the building, upgrading all the lights to LED, and installing Solar PV on the Link business terrace roof. The preparation of this bid included a complex and technical set of documents and schematics, energy saving calculations, costing and quotes evidence, project management programme, and risks register. The submission of the bid is a first come first serve organised by Salix, where applicants need to submit a bid a soon as the portal opens to be in for a chance to be considered. On the 7th of November, officers were able to submit the application in under 4 minutes and are currently waiting to be notified if the bid is successful.
|
Percentage Change of Carbon Emissions from MBC Buildings, Fleet, Contracts (ie Scope 1, 2) |
2022 |
2030 |
On track |
Action 7.2 Measure the Council’s carbon footprint each year and report findings to relevant committees and the public. |
Councillor David Burton
And
Councillor John Perry
Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee |
James Wilderspin
Katie Exon |
There has been a 10% carbon reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions between 2021/22 and 2022/23. |
Carbon Footprint Dashboard
Percentage Change of Carbon Emissions from MBC Buildings, Fleet, Contracts (ie Scope 1, 2 and 3) |
2022 |
Across timeline to 2023 |
On track |
Action 7.3 Purchase 100% renewable energy for our buildings and operations where we control the supply (market dependant with maximum 10% offset) and investigate Public Energy Partnership Power Purchase Agreement (PEPPPA). |
Councillor John Perry
Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee |
Mark green
James Wilderspin
Katie Exon |
As stated in the July update REGO rates continue to rise for costs for renewable. (Please see July 2023 report for further detail of REGO schemes). In the meantime alternative approaches are being explored.
Officers have identified seven potential solar PV projects on Council buildings to maximise the renewable energy generated on these buildings for direct use by the Council cutting utility bills and reducing the Council’s carbon emissions with a relatively fast payback period for investment (outline in Appendix 2 of the July 2023 Action Plan Update report).
|
NA |
2022 |
Across timeline to 2023 |
Delayed due to finding alternative to REGO |
Action 7.5 Improve data management on all property including leased buildings and prioritise decarbonisation actions and improve EPC ratings. |
Councillor John Perry
Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee
And
Councillor Claudine Russell
Communities, Leisure and Arts Policy Advisory Committee |
Katie Exon
James Wilderspin |
Officers continue to improve Data Management for MBC key buildings, and work with Laser Energy and Fidums to monitor consumption.
Officers are still working to improve leased data management, particularly for the temporary housing stock. |
Percentage change/ reduction in Utility costs/KWh for Gas, Electricity, Water usage at leased assets. |
2023 |
Across the timeline to 2030 |
On track |
Sustainable Decision-Making Processes and Governance |
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Action 9.2 Ensure service plans consider biodiversity and climate change and monitor with performance indicators, so that managers plan their services to ensure opportunities for enhancing biodiversity and mitigating and adapting to climate change are taken.
|
Councillor John Perry
Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee
|
Carly Benville
Anna Collier
James Wilderspin
|
Next refresh and update of the Carbon dashboard is planned in 2024.
24/25 KPIs are in the process of being developed and brought to members in Jan/Feb 2024 PACs.
The next round of service planning is in earl 2024.
Refresh of dashboard will next be by 31 January 2024.
New KPIs will be in place and agreed for 1st April 2024. |
NA |
2023 |
Across the timeline to 2030 |
On track |
Action 9.3 Deliver Policy that ensures sustainability criteria is used for all Maidstone Borough Council construction of new buildings (offices, housing, leisure facilities) and sustainability criteria is part of decision-making process for all Maidstone Borough Council building acquisitions, to ensure buildings owned by the council are sustainable, future proofed, and align with our net zero commitment.
|
Councillor John Perry
Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee
|
Mark Green
Adrian Lovegrove
|
Officers are currently developing SV measures that are suitable for MBC. Updated Sustainability framework to be shared with WLT in February 2024, there has been a short delay due to agenda timetables. |
NA |
2023 |
2024 |
Short delay due to agenda timetables |
Action 9.4 Establish criteria for investment in climate change and biodiversity and invest to save schemes (e.g. renewables, heat networks). These will consider relative impact in terms of carbon reduction and ease of delivery, such that expenditure is focused on deliverable, affordable initiatives that maximise impact on the carbon reduction targets.
|
Councillor David Burton
And
Councillor John Perry
Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee |
James Wilderspin |
Officers are also supporting heat network policy development and feasibility in Maidstone. |
NA |
Due to start in late 2024 |
2025
|
Not due yet |
Action 9.5 Deliver corporate policy and sustainable procurement approach to reduce (Scope 3) MBC carbon footprint from contracts and services and ensure a ‘carbon cost’ is part of procurement and decision making. |
Councillor John Perry
Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee
|
Dan Hutchins
Adrian Lovegrove
James Wilderspin |
Please see Action 9.3 update.
Officers will also investigate how to calculate scope 3 emissions with suppliers and contracts in 2024. |
Carbon footprint dashboard |
Due to start in late 2024
|
2025 |
On track |