Issue - meetings

The Climate Change Manager presented the Climate Change Strategy 2026 - 2031 report.

The proposed strategy sought to update and replace the previous Carbon Reduction Action Plan. Members were advised that the strategy provided a practical and affordable approach to keeping the Council on track to achieve Net Zero by 2040, with an interim target of a 50 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030. This remained aligned with, and ahead of, central Government’s statutory target of Net Zero by 2050.

Members were informed that emissions continued to decline, with Redditch recording 3.5 tonnes of CO? per capita in 2023, a figure below both the regional and national averages.

The Climate Change Manager drew Members’ attention to several key highlights within the report:

• Investment into retrofitting housing stock. £1.81 million had been invested in social housing energy efficiency upgrades, alongside £260,000 for private home retrofits, with further funding streams expected to deliver £4.27 million of improvements to Council housing stock.
• Updates to the Council’s fleet and fuelling options.
• Biodiversity improvements, including revised mowing processes and the introduction of battery-powered equipment.

Members were asked to note that this strategy covered every service area within the Council. Officers provided reassurance that the strategy was sufficiently adaptable to meet the requirements of Local Government Reorganisation and would place the Council on a strong footing ahead of the transition to a unitary authority.

Following the presentation, Members raised the following points:

• Members welcomed the fact that the strategy covered all Council service areas, demonstrating a whole?Council approach to tackling climate change.
• Practical actions had been set out, enabling the Council to contribute proactively to climate change solutions.
• Members emphasised the importance of communicating with residents regarding the importance of Net Zero.
• Members welcomed the long?term commitment to making Redditch a good place to live for future generations.
• Clear targets and outcomes had been established to enable ongoing monitoring of progress.
• A Member welcomed the proposal to install solar panels on commercial buildings; it was expressed that this would avoid disturbance to residential areas and the green belt.
• The commitment to utilising external funding as one of the capital sources to deliver the strategy.
• The positive impact the strategy would have on reducing fuel poverty and making Redditch more self-sufficient in producing its own energy.

RECOMMENDED that

1) The Council’s Climate Change Strategy 2026–2031 be approved; and

2) an annual review of the Climate Change Strategy be reported to Council.