Climate change strategy action plan updates

Invest in technology to monitor nitrous oxide (NO2) and small particulate matter concentrations (PM2.5), which are harmful to health.

Specific monitoring equipment has been installed at a number of schools. We are currently collating results from the equipment to draw conclusions.

Enforcement on idling vehicle engines within the borough.

There was engagement with schools and we ran an anti-idling campaign.

Reporting on 2 specific AQMA's with aim to reduce levels of NO2.

Once agreed by the council, the Downshire Way AQMA will be revoked as levels of pollutants have consistently fallen below thresholds for the past 4 years at this monitoring station. This will leave the borough with one AQMA in Crowthorne.

The Air Quality Action Plan draft has been out for consultation. Once finalised it will be submitted to DEFRA.

Any improvements to reduce the carbon footprint of our buildings and equipment.

We will be replacing our diesel Toyota Hilux with a new electric Maxus pick-up. This means we now have more electric vehicles in our fleet than diesel or petrol powered.

Monitor the status of priority habitats and species to understand changes that may occur.

We have received annual data from the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre on Local Wildlife Sites in positive conservation management across the borough. This is known as the Single Data List 160 (SDL160). Local authorities are required to report on SDL160 to DEFRA each year as a measure of their success at protecting their local biodiversity.

The figure for Bracknell Forest for 2023 was 58%, an increase of 4% from the previous year. This was due to the number of qualifying sites for the 5 year period increasing from 29 to 31.

Species monitoring highlights

Harvest mouse identified at Frost Folly during mammal surveys. This is the first time a harvest mouse has been found during these surveys which take place at sites across the borough.

Carry out habitat management works to maintain habitats in favourable conservation status.

A project started in February to remove large areas of invasive Rhododendron in the woodland along Nine Mile Ride. Replanting with native species has started (1000 whips planted) and further planting will take place in the autumn.

A similar, smaller project to remove invasive laurel at School Hill is also underway. Native planting (approximately 200 tree whips and 200 whips for hedge) took place at South Hill Park in February. This was to replace the invasive laurel that has been removed in one section of woodland.

Create and enhance more habitats that store carbon and water such as large trees, woodland, meadows and wetlands.

The removal of invasive species and the planning of around 1400 native tree and hedge whips in woodland. This has enhance these habitats to store carbon and water.

Either plant new trees or replace existing with stocks suited to our climate.

3652 trees were planted across various sites in winter 2023 and 2024. Planting comprised of highway trees, native trees within parks, and the replacement of non-native rhododendron along Nine Mile Ride with native woodland planting.

Report on previous calendar year's figures for consumption of water, electricity and gas and compare to prior records with suitable commentary against differences.

CO2e emissions from water and electricity usage in the council's estate has decreased from 4,296 tonnes CO2e in 2019 to 3,611 tonnes CO2e in 2023.

Ongoing production and distribution of 2023 DECs are taking place at present.

A summary of all CO2e reducing projects' progress within the reporting quarter.

Works completed:

• College Town - oil to gas conversion
• Meadow Vale Primary - Solar Photo Voltaics (PV)
• New Scotland Hill Primary - oil to gas conversion
• Wildridings Primary - Building Management System (BMS) upgrade and sensors
• Wooden Hill Primary - BMS upgrade

To be completed:

• Garth Hill - chiller replacement

A summary of all CO2e reducing projects' progress within the reporting quarter.

Works completed:

• Birch Hill community centre and library - solar installation
• Larchwood Respite - solar and LED installation
• Ascot Heath Library - LED replacement
• Open Learning Centre - LED replacement
• Easthampstead and Wildridings community centre - BMS upgrade
• Ascot Heath - BMS upgrade
• Bracknell Leisure Centre - Solar PV PPA

To be completed:

• Great Hollands community centre and library - fabric, solar and heating upgrade
• Waterside Park - solar installation
• Easthampstead and Wildridings Community Centre - solar PV
• Avenue car park - LED upgrade
• Braccan Walk car park - electric vehicles installation
• The Willows Children Centre - heating upgrade
• Coral Reef - BMS upgrade

In design:

• Crematorium - heat recovery
• The Rowans Children Centre - fabric, solar and heating upgrade (Salix Bid)
• Bracknell Leisure Centre - BMS upgrade

Monitor progress on the UK Government ambition for all domestic dwellings to reach band C by 2035.

52% of buildings in the borough have a logged EPC rating of A, B or C.

The Great British Insulation Scheme supports residents who are eligible in the replacement of broken heating systems and upgrading of inefficient heating systems.

Investigating collaboration with a delivery partner to better promote access to these schemes.

The warm, safe and well scheme provides £54,000 per year for 2 years. Funding is for home insulation schemes for eligible residents.

£95,000 of funding has been secured for 2024 to 2025. Eligibility changes have been made to enable target marketing in Q1.

Group buying for solar PV and battery storage systems. 

Awaiting the end of the 2023 to 2024 scheme report. Bracknell Forest was on target for 122 homes to benefit from solar PV, battery storage and/or EV charging installations.

New planning related targets are to be generated in alignment with the new Local Plan and the emerging Climate Change Strategy.

Use the procurement register to capture climate change strategies of our suppliers.

Climate change objectives have been included within the council's Social Value Policy and Matrix. This has proceeded through Member and Executive briefings and is scheduled to be ratified on 23 April 2024.

Where possible replace with electric vehicles (EVs) or reduce the size of the fleet.

25% of council-owned or leased fleet vehicles are electric or hybrid fuelled. 52 new charging sockets were installed in 2023 to 2024.

To record annual (calendar) mileage per owned or leased vehicle for calculating emissions purposes.

In 2023, emissions from council-owned and leased fleet vehicles accounted for 38.12 tonnes of CO2e.

We are working in partnership with Eco Rewards to promote a sustainable travel incentives scheme.

There are now 18 schools taking part and over 130 locations where you can record your green journeys.

An Eco Rewards smart-phone app is available as an alternative way of logging sustainable journeys. There have been over 500 app downloads.

Electric vehicles (EV) charge point project and Sustainable Modes Strategy.

1668 charging events recorded at the ORCS-funded charge points during !4 - a 25% increase compared to Q3.

Officers working with other colleagues and suppliers to increase the number of charge points (including a rapid charger) at Birch Hill and Bay Road.

Officers continue to work on submission to the LEVI fund for roll out of charge points at a greater scale across the borough.

Travel Plans and Travel Information for Workplaces and work to support the Bracknell BID (Business Improvement District).

We have contributed a portion of Active Travel England funding to Bracknell BID to support the launch of a shared cycle scheme launching in Q1 2024 to 2025.

This includes Bikeability Cycle Training and promoting initiatives such as Bike to School day.

290 children received Bikeability training in Q4 including a holiday course during February half term. There was also specialist one-to-one training for a pupil with additional needs.

Additional funding has been secured to provide more training to pupils with SEND.

Get more people in residential and business areas walking, cycling or using public transport, particularly where census or public health data suggests uptake is low but could be higher. LCWIP and Emergency Active Travel Measures, work with BID to promote and increase sustainable modes of travel in business areas.

This is historically a quieter quarter for the promotion of active and sustainable travel initiatives.

Work has mainly involved planning for future events such as:

• Walk to School Week in May
• Love to Ride Bike Month
• business engagement
• work towards the revised Local Transport Plan and Bus Service Improvement Plan

The use of low emission vehicles on Home to School transport contracts will be factored into the next round of tenders. 

No real action can be taken before 2026 as the framework is already in place.

Identifying incentives and alternatives to reduce numbers requiring car transit.

Under the SEND improvement action plan there is a requirement for travel training to be introduced. This, alongside, a coproduced and robust Post 16 transport policy, will reduce contracted travel in the medium to long term.

The concept of independent travel training being “an offer of transport assistance” will require:

• a significant amendment to our Post 16 transport policy
• coproduction
• a public consultation
• the creation of a training team

This is being costed out but will likely require £150k funding each year.  However, in the long term this will bring significant savings as well as climate change positives.

Reduce the percentage of overall waste going to landfill.

The provisional landfill rate figure for 2023 to 2024 is 8% which is a slight decrease on 2023 to 2023.

Increase the percentage of recycling.

Provisional full year recycling rate for 2023 to 2024 is 56% which is an increase on 2022 to 2023.

The high level of garden waste helped boost the recycling rate this year compared to last year. This was despite the levels of dry recycling in blue bins and food waste dropping slightly.

Decrease the total waste per household in kilograms. This includes all types of waste.

891kg was produced through 2023 too 2024 - this is down on previous years.

Overall waste has been higher than the previous year. Garden waste and refuse being the materials that have increased the most.

Seek to measure emissions, and encourage reductions, in the environmental impact of waste contractors’ vehicles.

The waste service runs with a diesel-powered fleet, the service and rounds are settled now following the major service change in 2021 so there is minimal change from month to month.

428,319kg of CO2e was emitted by the waste collection trucks during 2022 to 2023, this is 4000kg CO2e down on the previous full year.

Over the year 2022 to 2023 the average CO2 emitted per mile was 2.69kg which is the same as the previous year.