Held the council’s first Climate Change Summit with 130 attendees.
What we've done in the last year
Here are some of the things we've done between 31 March 2023 to 1 April 2024.
Partnerships, engagement and collaboration
Launched the Joint Climate Action Board and 10 working groups to create a Community Climate Emergency Strategy.
Domestic energy efficiency
135 households installed solar panels, battery storage and EV charging through Solar Together.
Supported 51 households with energy efficiency upgrades through Warm, Safe and Well and Home Upgrade Grant funding.
Property services
Delivered energy efficiency and renewable energy retrofit works to 7 council properties.
Incorporated energy saving and greening elements into the Commercial Centre development.
Submitted a planning pre-application for an EV charging hub.
Waste and recycling
Recycled 55.7% of waste, with only 8% going to landfill.
Collected 5,169 tonnes of food waste.
Launched a soft plastic recycling collection trial for 10,000 households.
Transport
Grand total of 52 council-provided EV sockets now in place.
25% of council-owned or leased vehicles now electric or hybrid.
342,651 sustainable miles logged through the Eco Rewards and Love to Ride schemes this year.
Bikeability training delivered to almost 950 school children.
Built pedestrian crossings on key routes to 4 schools.
Boosted Christmas bus use by 10% through a free trips promotion.
Over 400 residents registered on the My Journey app.
Introduced new low-emission buses.
Biodiversity and countryside management
Planted 5,339 new trees.
Improved local woodlands and created hedgerows to support wildlife.
Started development of a new Biodiversity Action Plan.
Created fencing and hedgerows using sustainable methods.
Other areas of work
Promoted sustainable development through the Local Plan.
Improved council Climate Action Scorecard results by 6%
312 council employees completed a climate change online module.
Promoted climate change initiatives through internal and external news channels, social media, campaigns, and networks.