Analysis – Current position
In response to the climate emergency, SRBC has already taken the following actions -
1. In July 2019 full Council passed a motion declaring a climate emergency.
2. Since this time the council, through the climate emergency task group, has been working with partners and stakeholders to address the climate emergency. In July 2020, the council published its Climate Emergency Strategy. This committed to a pubic consultation to inform the action plan, setting out those actions we will be taking to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
3. The council has committed £250,000 to implement the action plan and obtained additional external funding to supplement this budget.
4. Through the work of the cross party climate emergency task group, we have -
- installed solar panels to the Civic Centre, reducing our reliance on carbon based fuel
- installed free public electric vehicle charging points at the Civic Centre
- hosting a virtual event for World Environment day 2021, to promote local actions and opportunities
- worked with partners to provide 4 additional EV charging point sites at Leyland, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall and Penwortham – these are due to be installed during 2021
- installed several kilometres of new pathways and cycleways to encourage active transport and reduce reliance on carbon fuelled transport
- started to replace our own fleet with electric vehicles
- started to reduce our use of Single Use Plastics, with a commitment to eliminate them by 2025
- provided secure cycle storage facilities at the Civic Centre, along with improved changing facilities, to encourage staff to cycle or run to work
- via the planning process –
- increased the number of domestic dwellings provided with EV charging points
- increased the number commercial premises providing EV charging points for staff and customers
- increased number of secure cycle storage facilities to encourage active transport within the Borough
- secured £145,000 grant funding to install further solar panels to the Civic Centre, along with installation of LED lighting and a new building management system to improve energy efficiency Incorporated carbon reduction measures into our own new developments, such as the McKenzie Arms development
- undertaken energy audits at six of the biggest energy using buildings in our estate – the Civic Centre, Moss Side depot, Leyland leisure Centre, Penwortham Leisure Centre, Bamber Bridge Leisure centre and the Tennis Centre. The findings of these audits will inform future investment to improve energy efficiency and move to decarbonise energy production on site. In addition to these carbon reduction measures, the council (with the help of our partners and residents) have planted over 62,000 trees across the borough.