This is the performance update for quarter 4, 2024 to 2025.
Each of the reported actions that remains in progress at the reporting date has a green, amber or red status. Otherwise it is marked as completed.
The colours represent the progress made in relation to each action. Green indicates that progress is being made as per our planned schedule. The numbers represent how many actions have been allocated that status.
Status
Green
4
Amber
2
Red
0
Completed
9
Action details
Select an action to learn more about what we've been doing.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
Projects and campaigns completed in line with overall corporate requirements including:
- active travel
- tree planting
- Eco Rewards
- biodiversity and wildlife initiatives
Internal work was also completed on litter and waste campaigns and launching new climate change training for all staff.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The Engagement team continues to work with and support the Climate Change team in developing opportunities to improve and encourage community engagement with climate change.
A number of engagement activities have been undertaken and further activities are planned and will be promoted at the next Bracknell Forest Community Day Culture and Community Day on Saturday 19 July 2025.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 December 2024
Percentage complete: 45%
Status: Green
Comments:
The Community Climate Emergency Strategy is still on course to be presented at the Bracknell Forest Community Climate Action group's climate change summits in July 2025. The action is therefore to be carried forwards to 2025 to 2026.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 December 2024
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
A refreshed climate change has been taken through Cabinet following public consultation updates generated between December 2024 and January 2025 and 2025 to 2026 budget approvals in February 2025. The strategy is due for final approval, adoption and publication by Council on 23 April 2025.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 50%
Status: Green
Comments:
Work is ongoing in relation to announcements from government in late 2024. Discussions with our contractors and other partnership councils has continued throughout the quarter to narrow down possible options which will meet the legislation requirements.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The tool is now being used to record Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) information as part of business-as-usual activity.
Monitoring BNG will take place over many years, with the tool supporting the complexity of information relating to BNG. The product is now in the day-to-day running of the business and this project is now complete.
Directorate: People
Stage: Completed
Due date: 30 September 2024
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The next climate conferences for Bracknell's primary and secondary schools is due to take place in the autumn term of 2025 and initial planning has begun to take place.
On the 6 March, leaders from Bracknell Forest primary and secondary schools were invited to a Climate Action Plan Workshop, led by Gemma Bailey, Climate Ambassador South-East Hub Manager from the University of Reading. The workshop was attended by 24 schools. Participants explored each of the 4 areas of the climate action plans required by the Department for Education:
- decarbonisation
- adaptation and resilience
- biodiversity
- climate education and green skills
Schools have been signposted to additional support from a climate ambassador and have been provided with templates and additional resources to support their climate action planning. The event was very well received, and included a presentation by the Education Climate Working Group, encouraging schools to join to support joint climate action and the sharing of good practice.
Directorate: Resources
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 50%
Status: Amber
Comments:
The first step was to agree a capital programme including schemes that can potentially be funded by a climate bond or similar instrument, which has now been completed.
Efforts are now focusing on potential returns from approved projects to understand the financial impact of alternative funding approaches.
Directorate: Resources
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 60%
Status: Green
Comments:
A new staff benefit for the leasing of electric vehicles has been established for introduction in April 2025. The will support the climate change agenda together with providing a new staff benefit which will compliment our recruitment and retention strategies.
A review of the essential car user allowance will be undertaken to make sure those staff in receipt of the allowance continue to match the scheme criteria.
Directorate: Place
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 December 2024
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
Responsible Body Status granted on 4 April 2024. Action completed.
Directorate: Place
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 52%
Status: Amber
Comments:
Following a delay to progress on this action up until quarter 3, a potential partner Responsible Body (RB) has now gained RB status and we are working actively on partnership arrangements. This will involve legal work in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding, setting the ground rules for the partnership and entering into a Conservation Covenant for the first BNG offset site. We will then be in a position to apply for site registration with Natural England.
Directorate: Place
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The council was successful in securing an additional £254,172 towards revenue and capital spend which will go towards developing schemes within the Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan. The funds will go towards initiatives such as:
- Love to Ride platform continuation
- Walk to School week resources
- Modeshift STARS for schools
- Dr Bike events
- obstacle course at Summer of Fun events
- My Journey merchandise
- staff costs to develop schemes and additional vegetation clearance
Directorate: Place
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The council repeated its popular free bus promotion on the weekends in December leading up to Christmas Day. Free trips on Thames Valley and Reading Buses starting in the borough on both Saturday and Sunday were well received by both residents and retailers in the town centre. The number of trips on the supported services on Sundays were double what they were in 2023 for the same period.
The council were notified of a significant Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding allocation for the 2025 to 2026 year and have been working with operators to develop a range of service improvements which will come into effect in April 2025.
Directorate: Place
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 95%
Status: Green
Comments:
The final draft Local Transport Plan (LTP4) will be considered for approval by Cabinet at their meeting on 29 April 2025.
Directorate: Place
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
Officers continued to work on a funding application which will provide seed funding to attract a commercial partner to install EV charge points at scale in residential areas without access to off-street parking.
The existing chargepoints in council-owned car parks outside the town centre continued to be well-used with over 1,700 charging events in quarter 4, the highest quarter this year. This was despite the charge points in Birch Hill car park continuing to be offline due to grid connection issues following an upgrade.