The project
The council has developed a reactive and evolving Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP), which it is reviewing quarterly and refreshing every financial year, to better reflect new opportunities, technologies or changes in circumstances. This ensures that it best reflects present circumstances, whether it is a new barrier or gateway of delivery.
The benefits
The council has shortened the review cycle to a quarterly basis to enable it to adapt to changing circumstances. It is underpinned by the council’s Climate Emergency Strategy and looks to actively evolve and progress actions to ensure that the council can meet its net zero targets through specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART) actions.
Each action has an identified timescale, ambition and an elected member, officer and directorate lead. They will be annually refreshed and improved in consultation with elected members, directorates and action holders. This will ensure that the action plan reflects real delivery options both for the council and the wider district and can adapt to unforeseen circumstances; this is critical as timescales for documents to be prepared and approved can sometimes result in delivering programmes that are not fit for purpose.
The annual review and refresh will permit and evidence an iterative process towards achieving net zero, with adaptability to enhance and develop actions to best fit situations and conditions within the district. The council is aware that successful solutions may need to be innovative and tailored to the character of a rural district. The council will need to be reactive to opportunities that may arise to ensure it can take the right steps to create better and stronger communities. With carbon literacy training for elected members, and through their direct engagement with parish councils and local community groups, it is envisioned that residents will be better enabled to make the adjustments needed to reduce or remove carbon emissions, enhance the wellbeing of communities and support a sustainable and flourishing future.
