Issue - meetings

Report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations

That Cabinet:

1. Notes the key achievements and progress made as detailed in Appendix 1 and section 2 of this report.

2. Approves the 2026/27 Climate Change Action Plan proposed in Appendix 2.

3. Delegates the specification, procurement, contract award and subsequent delivery  ...  view the full agenda text for item 155

Consideration was given to the report which outlined the progress of the 2025/26 Climate Emergency Action Plan to the end of December 2025 and proposed an action plan for the 2026/27 Municipal Year. Programmes for corporate property decarbonisation and electric vehicle infrastructure (EVI) were presented at Appendix 3a and 3b,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 155

Report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations

That Cabinet:

1. Notes the key achievements and progress made as detailed in Appendix 1 and section 2 of this report.

2. Approves the 2026/27 Climate Change Action Plan proposed in Appendix 2.

3. Delegates the specification, procurement, contract award and subsequent delivery of (i) the Corporate Property Decarbonisation Programme, Appendix 3a, (ii) the EV Infrastructure Programme, Appendix 3b and (iii) works referenced under the Energy section of the Climate Change Action Plan 2026-2027, Appendix 2, as well as any changes to these programmes and works, to the Service Director of Property and Facilities Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy.

4. Delegates allocation of the Council’s Capital Decarbonisation Budget and EV Infrastructure Capital Budget and the acceptance of any available funding streams such as from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), Great British Energy or other Government schemes for delivery as per Appendices 3a and 3b to the Service Director of Property and Facilities Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy.

5. Approves an amendment to the £1m renewable energy pilot project approved by Cabinet on 15 February 2021, to deliver instead an invest-to-save renewable energy scheme comprising rooftop or car park canopy solar PV, as detailed in Appendix 4 and section 2.20 below; and also delegates authority for site selection, procurement and delivery of the amended scheme to the Service Director of Property and Facilities Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy.

At the Chair’s invitation the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment, Andrew Bramidge, reported that the annual climate change report set out the Council’s work to address climate change, including progress against agreed targets for the Council’s own emissions to reach net zero by 2030 and for borough?wide emissions to reach net zero by 2040.

The report outlined activity across seven thematic areas: monitoring and measurement, energy, housing, transport, waste, the built and natural environment, and influencing and engagement. Members were asked to note the achievements delivered through the 2025–26 Climate Change Action Plan and to approve the proposed activity for 2026–27.

The report also sought delegated authority for the allocation of funding to specific projects within corporate property and electric vehicle infrastructure, to be exercised jointly by the relevant Cabinet Member and Service Director. In addition, approval was requested to reallocate £1m previously assigned to a renewable energy project that was no longer proceeding, to support the development of rooftop and car?park solar schemes in line with a motion approved by Council in January of the previous year.

The Chair invited members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) to raise questions and queries.

Councillor Tinsley began by asking about whether the 2030 target for achieving net zero emissions for the Council remained realistic, particularly given current challenges with decarbonising the vehicle fleet. It was noted that suitable electric technology was not yet available for some larger operational vehicles, such as refuse collection vehicles, and clarification was sought on whether the target should be reviewed.

The Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment acknowledged that the 2030 target for achieving net zero emissions was extremely challenging, due in part to factors outside the Council’s control, including slower?than?anticipated decarbonisation of the national electricity grid. It was noted that current indications suggested full grid decarbonisation was more likely to be achieved around 2032–33.

It was explained that, while the Council continued to take action within its control, overall progress was dependent on national developments. During the current financial year, further analysis would be undertaken to assess projected emissions by 2030, alongside accelerated work to support the transition to electric vehicles as part of the procurement plan.

It was stated that a further report would be brought back to Cabinet in the next financial year, setting out a detailed assessment of progress and proposing whether the current targets remained realistic or required revision.

Councillor McKiernan raised concerns that a number of actions within the climate change action plan had been delayed across several areas, including where delays were not solely attributable to external factors. It was questioned whether the Council was taking delivery of the programme as seriously as required and whether sufficient urgency was being applied given the scale and breadth of the delays identified.

It was stated that the Council was taking climate change action seriously, with strong internal governance through an established Climate Change Board and committed officer involvement. Specific delays, particularly in relation to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 133