Agenda item

To receive a report from the Climate and Sustainability Specialist on the Councils Carbon Footprint 2024-2025.

The Cabinet had before it and NOTED a report * from the Climate and Sustainability Specialist on the Councils Carbon Footprint.

The Cabinet had before it and NOTED a report * from the Climate and Sustainability Specialist on the Council’s Carbon Footprint.

The Cabinet Member for Parish and Community Engagement outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

• The result 2% higher than the 2023-2024 carbon footprint. That increase was down to the climate change impact linked to spending, and the rise in construction spending had the most effect.
• The Council had successfully cut emissions by investing in decarbonising the Tiverton and Crediton Leisure Centres and social housing and by doing this the Council had significantly lowered it’s carbon footprint.
• In the Council’s Climate Change Strategy: the focus had been on the elements in their control; acting on opportunities to invest; and acting to influence those that the Council did business with.
• The net emissions for elements in the Council’s direct control (comprising Council offices and facilities; transport; and offsets) contributed to just under 9% of the 2024/25 overall total footprint.
• The 1,589 tCO₂e figure for 2024/25 was circa 35% lower than the 2,427 tCO₂e figure for the 2018/19 baseline year. (Almost 840 tCO₂e less.)
• Reductions since 2018/19 came from Council offices and facilities (from 1,098 to 705 tCO₂e); and offsets (from 0 to -420 tCO₂e). 
• Since 2018/19 fleet impacts had hardly changed, although the Council now served circa 2,500 more households (from 35,650 up to 38,150).
• The team had made rapid progress to replace old social housing with 48 net-zero new-build homes. The procurement relating to those construction projects would show on the Council’s 2025-2026 carbon footprint (Scope 3 indirect i.e. supply chain). However, that investment would reduce the annual carbon footprint, in Scope 1 and Scope 2, by approximately 136 tonnes per year.

Discussion took place regarding:

• How the electric vehicles worked operationally and what was the availability? It was explained that vehicles could be charged whilst officers were on call out which would then provide enough charge to get officers to where they would need to be.
• Whether a hybrid vehicle would be more suitable for that line of work? It was explained that this may be a suitable option but that it would also depend on the emissions used and the reduction in the carbon footprint.
• Did the Council have any data from other authorities to compare on the reduction in emissions? It was explained that due to the difference in the operations day to day it would be difficult to compare.
• The purchasing of the Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers and for those to be installed through a trained electrician that worked for the Council. It was explained that challenges may occur as some homes may have complications when installing an EV Charger.
• How were the Council performing in regard to solar panels and air source heat pumps? It was explained that the Council were liaising through the appropriate channels to meet the Council targets.
• The Council was in the top 20% - how many other Council’s were part of this?
• Were the electric vehicle serviced locally? It was confirmed that they were serviced locally.

Reason for Decision:

The Council’s environmental sustainability duties are underpinned by legislation e.g. Environment Act 2021. All local authorities have obligations under the Climate Change Act 2008 with regard to climate change adaptation (resilience) and mitigation (emission reductions). Full Council declared a Climate Emergency in June 2019.

Note: * Report previously circulated.