CLIMATE TRANSITION, CORPORATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1 October 2024

 

Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan update

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Climate Transition, Corporate and Environmental Services Policy Advisory Committee

1 October 2024

Cabinet

23 October 2024

 

 

Will this be a Key Decision?

 

No

 

Urgency

Not Applicable

Final Decision-Maker

CABINET

Lead Director

Angela Woodhouse Director of Strategy, Communications and Governance

Lead Officer and Report Author

Anna Collier Head of Insight Communities, and Governance

Classification

Public

 

Wards affected

All

 

Executive Summary

This is a report on the implementation of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan. The last update report was published in February 2024.

 

An annual review of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan was planned for September 2024 but this has been postponed till March 2025 alongside a review of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Strategy.  This is to ensure alignment with the new strategic plan and budget following the change in administration.

 

Purpose of Report

 

Noting

 

 

 

This report asks the Climate Transition, Corporate and Environmental Services Policy Advisory Committee to consider the following;

1.   To note the progress on the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action plan and provide feedback to Cabinet.

 

 

 



Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan update

 

1.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

The four Strategic Plan objectives are:

• Embracing Growth and Enabling

Infrastructure

• Safe, Clean and Green

• Homes and Communities

• A Thriving Place

Accepting the recommendations will materially

improve the Council’s ability to achieve all its

priorities.

Anna Collier, Head of Insight, Communities and Governance

Cross Cutting Objectives

The four cross-cutting objectives are:

• Heritage is Respected

• Health Inequalities are Addressed and

Reduced

• Deprivation and Social Mobility is Improved

• Biodiversity and Environmental

Sustainability is respected

 

Delivering the Biodiversity and Climate

Change Action Plan supports the achievement

of the objective ‘Biodiversity and Environmental Sustainability. It also supports cross cutting objectives of Health Inequalities are Addressed and Reduced and Deprivation and Social Mobility is Improved, as delivery of

actions have the opportunity to improve the

health of residents in the longer term and

reduce residents’ energy costs.

Anna Collier, Head of Insight, Communities and Governance

Risk Management

Already covered in the risk section

 

Anna Collier, Head of Insight, Communities and Governance

Financial

The specific costed proposals will be funded

from within existing budgets. Future changes

to policies and strategies will need to be

assessed to understand the impact to ensure

they remain affordable during the year and in

future years as part of the Medium-Term

Financial Strategy

Anna Collier, Head of Insight, Communities and Governance

Staffing

We will deliver the recommendations with our current staffing.

 

Anna Collier, Head of Insight Communities and Governance

Legal

Local authorities have a duty under Section 40

of the Natural Environment and Rural

Communities Act 2006 in exercising their

functions to have regard, so far as is

consistent with the proper exercise of those

functions, to the purpose of conserving

biodiversity. The Council’s Biodiversity and

Climate Action Plan demonstrates compliance

with the statutory duty.

 

Anna Collier, Head of Insight, Communities and Governance

Information Governance

The recommendations do not impact personal information (as defined in UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018) the Council Processes.

Anna Collier, Head of Insight Communities and Governance

Equalities

The recommendations do not propose a change in service therefore will not require an equalities impact assessment

Anna Collier, Head of Insight Communities and Governance

Public Health

 

 

We recognise that the recommendations will have a positive impact on population health or that of individuals.

Anna Collier, Head of Insight Communities and Governance

Crime and Disorder

There are no implications to Crime and Disorder

Anna Collier, Head of Insight Communities and Governance

Procurement

No Implications

Anna Collier, Head of Insight Communities and Governance

Biodiversity and Climate Change

The updates in this report and

recommendations will support the continued

implementation of the Biodiversity and

Climate Change Action Plan.

Anna Collier, Head of Insight Communities and Governance

 

 

2.         INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1     The Policy and Resources Committee adopted the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan on 21st October 2020. The last update was in February 2024, this report presents a further update seven months on.

 

2.2     An annual review of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan was planned for September 2024 but this has been postponed till March 2025 alongside a review of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Strategy.  This is to ensure alignment with the new strategic plan and budget following the change in administration.     

 

2.3     Since the last update report, the former Biodiversity and Climate Change Manager has resigned to pursue another opportunity. An appointment has been made for their replacement and they will take their position in late November.

 

2.4     The current action plan at appendix A has been realigned to the new portfolios and cabinet members were consulted on the 19 September to get feedback on this alignment. 

 

2.5     A summary of status of the 38 actions are shown in the table below.

 

Status

Number of Actions

Action not yet due

2

Delayed

2

Being Investigated

7

Planning and Development

 

Being Implemented

27

Complete and being monitored

 

 

 

2.6     Two actions are delayed.  The first Action 7.3 is the purchase of 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).  This action is delayed because it is cost prohibitive to purchase.  It is likely that this action will be revised in the future.

 

2.7     Second Action 9.3 to deliver a 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.  This action has been delayed due to the resignation of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Manager.  Once the new appointee takes their post work will resume.

 

2.8     Key Highlights from the Action Plan are summarised below.

 

Maidstone House Decarbonisation Project

 

2.9     The Maidstone House Decarbonisation Project is well under way utilising the Salix PSDS 3c grant of £3.1 awarded in early 2024.  The final stages of preliminary design & development has been reached and the Salix PSDS grant of £3.1m is on track to be spent in full by 31st March 2025. The full scope of the project has been realised and costs have increased to incorporate other compulsory repairs and maintenance that were identified. Once completed circa September 2025 the project aims to reduce the Councils total carbon by approximately 361.8 tCO2e per year equivalent to a fifth of the Council’s total emissions. Further examined calculations of direct and indirect carbon savings and other product recycling at end-of-life calculations are underway.

 

2.10  It was raised at the Climate Transition, Corporate and Environmental Services Policy Advisory Committee and Cabinet in July 2024 that full information of the materials lifespan, particularly in the case of Solar Photovoltaic Panels should be made available and considered as part of the full initiative.  These facts will be produced as well as details regarding ethical considerations in respect of Modern Slavery.

 

2.11  During detailed project planning, a decision was reached to expand the Decarbonisation Project into a Decarbonisation Programme incorporating four other projects. 

 

·        Project 2- Installation of Solar PV & Green Roof Renewal at The Link,

·        Project 3- Maidstone House 4th Floor Refit,

·        Project 4- Decant of Occupants at Maidstone House & The Link,

·        Project 5- LED and car park upgrade at Maidstone House.

 

Recycling Maidstone Offices

 

2.12  Currently only Paper/Card is recycled in the Council offices.  Officers are also investigating contract terms for recycling at Maidstone House, with plans to conduct a waste audit, survey for staff, and communications to start recycling at the office.

 

Solar Projects

 

2.13  Three large scale Solar Projects on Council sites were approved to go forward by Cabinet 24-8-24. The proposed projects encompass the Lockmeadow Entertainment Complex, the Parkwood Depot, and Mote Park and the Leisure Centre.  Collectively, these projects represent a total potential investment of £960,000. The combined solar PV capacity of these installations could reach up to 945 kWp, with the potential to offset between 108 tCO2e annually. The projects offer significant financial benefits, with estimated annual savings of £110,000 and payback in an average of 7.6 years average over all three projects. 

 

Other work

 

2.14  Work has begun on scoping an Integrated Sustainable Transport Strategy

 

2.15  Offsite Provision for Biodiversity Net Gain report went to Climate Transition, Corporate and Environmental Services Policy Advisory Committee on the 8 July 2024, and more information was sought by members. The report will go back to PAC once wider aspects of off-site BNG, and an examination of current MBC landholdings of mature woodland condition.

 

2.16  Work is underway planning the Council’s next Eco Hub.  This year there will be a greater focus on business and employment alongside the usual activities, running green information sessions for a range of business, advice on grants and working with Mid Kent College to provide advice on green careers. 

 

 

3.   AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1     The Policy Advisory Committee could recommend to Cabinet to continue to receive update every six months to ensure ongoing progress towards tackling net zero borough wide.

 

3.2     The Policy Advisory Committee could recommend to Cabinet that they receive an update more or less frequently. However, this is not recommended as less frequently wouldn’t offer the oversight and more regular updates wouldn’t allow sufficient time for substantial work to be undertaken.

 

 

4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

4.1     That Cabinet continue to receive these updates every six months and are recommended to note updates on implementation to ensure ongoing progress towards tackling net zero borough wide.

 

 

5.       RISK

5.1    Responding to the climate emergency is a key corporate risk. Ongoing monitoring of the delivery of the Action plan is a key mitigation as the annual review of the action plan ensures continued accountability. Understanding the costs associated with achieving net-zero and allocate resources effectively, prioritise initiatives, putting appropriate capacity to seek funding, and set realistic targets and timelines.

 

6.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

6.1     The Policy and Resources Committee adopted the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan on 21st October 2020 following development by a cross-party working group. Progress has been regularly reported to Policy Advisory Committees and the Cabinet, with the outcome of the consideration of this report to be reported to the Cabinet ahead of the meeting.

 

 

7.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

7.1     Work will continue on delivery of the action plan, once the strategic plan is further developed, officers will begin to engage with Cabinet on the review and development of a new Strategy and Action Plan towards 2030. 

 

 

 

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the

report:

 

• Appendix 1: Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan Implementation

Status

 

 

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

N/A