Climate Change is an international issue, but as we think global we must act local. Bassetlaw District Council is keen to play their part and ensure climate action is delivered at the local level through the dedicated Climate Change team. The team is responsible for the Council’s climate action, which is separated in two forms; adaptation and mitigation. Climate adaptation primarily refers to planning and investment related activities, ensuring Bassetlaw residents can live safely and happily in the district even with the changes in the coming years. Climate mitigation are the actions that directly and immediately reduce ongoing carbon emissions, primarily from electrification or reducing energy consumption.
The Council’s Climate Change team has been primarily responsible for mitigation activities, focused on decarbonisation of assets and identifying invest to save opportunities. This is achieved through the delivery of central Government funded projects and internal investment. There has also been an evolution of wider support for district stakeholders as well, such as retrofit of the private housing sector and decarbonisation support for SMEs. Projects delivered and those currently underway are below, with additional detail for landmark programmes:
- Awarded over £1.04m from PSDS 3 to fully decarbonise the Council’s principal office block, Queens Building
- Upwards of 150tCO2/annum saved for final project (~7% of 2018/19 carbon footprint baseline)
- Awarded £0.319m from PSDS 1 to carry out a whole house retrofit of the Kilton Forest Golf Club House and replacement of oil boiler with heat pumps
- 36tCO2/annum saved – removed the dirtiest heating system from the council’s commercial assets
- Facilitated over £1.2m from LAD and HUG funding to support the retrofit of private housing stock across the District
- 71 properties from SWC –varying from EWI, loft, cavity and solar (and a mix)
- 39 properties from LAD 2 -6 EWI and 33 Solar PV
- Installed over 100 kW capacity of Solar PV on council assets
- Established the Council’s first EV Charging points
- VMD 84k kWh elec or 24tCO2/year to be saved (Planned/Upcoming works)
- LED replacements for end-of-life street lighting in strategic locations
- Halved the energy requirement and reduced running costs by 50%
- Awarded £3.9m from HUG 2 to deliver 2 years of domestic retrofit support
- To improve the energy performance of off-gas properties
- Residents can find out more about the scheme and how to apply here
- Development of a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) – a district wide strategy to support to a net zero future
- Delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund E29: Supporting Decarbonisation within local SMEs
- To produce a heat decarbonisation plan and obtain fabric measures to improve energy efficiency
- Carbon Strategy – dedicated stepwise/scientific pathway to guide investment to get council operations to carbon neutrality
- Supporting green and blue infrastructure in Bassetlaw. View supporting evidence.
Bassetlaw District Council commits to Net Zero operations target by 2030
Councillors at Bassetlaw District Council have unanimously committed to reducing council operations to Net Zero by 2030, following a motion to Council on Thursday 21st September 2023.
This means that by 2030, the Council’s operations should achieve a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere, and the carbon removed from it.
The motion, proposed by Cllr Darrell Pulk, Cabinet Member for Environment and Energy resolved to:
- Become a member of the UK100 network of local leaders pledging to lead a rapid transition to Net Zero
- Agree to the UK100 Net Zero Pledge
- To meet Net Zero council operations by 2030
- To meet Net Zero areawide emissions by 2045
- To report carbon emissions annually for both council emissions and areawide emissions
- Limit the use of carbon offsets, and if they are used, then these must be as local as possible
Cllr Darrell Pulk, Cabinet Member for Environment and Energy said:
“I am delighted that the motion to join UK100 was passed unanimously and shows that Councillors are committed to achieving Net Zero for Council operations by 2030.
“We need to take action now if we are to create a better future for both families and future generations across Bassetlaw.
“Net Zero can be a driver for new jobs and industry and can be a catalyst for stimulating local economic growth. It can support residents to reduce energy bills, deliver cleaner air and greener communities.”
The full text of the motion is as follows:
Proposed by Councillor D. Pulk and seconded by Councillor R. Carrington - Wilde:
“This Council notes that UK100 is a network of local leaders who have pledged to lead a rapid transition to Net Zero with Clean Air in their communities ahead of the government’s legal target.
To accelerate action, UK100 believes in bringing together influential leaders across the country to learn together and agree on priorities for legislative and regulatory change while empowering them to engage with national decision-makers. It provides a network with the knowledge, tools and connections to make this happen.
This Council resolves to approach UK100 about becoming a member and, in doing so, agrees to the UK100 Net Zero Pledge (noted below). It also resolves as part of this Pledge to meet Net Zero council operations by 2030; to meet Net Zero areawide emissions by 2045; to report carbon emissions annually for council emissions and areawide emissions; and to limit the use of offsets, and if used, for these to be as local as possible.
For noting:
What is the UK100 Net Zero Pledge?
As local leaders across the UK, we recognise our responsibility to tackle the climate emergency and take bold action towards Net Zero.
We will continue to lead the UK’s response to climate change, acting sooner than the government’s goal by making substantial progress within the next decade to deliver Net Zero.
We will use our experience and achievements to advocate to the UK government in order to accelerate the delivery of ambitious local climate action. With greater powers and funding, we would go further.
We commit to do everything within our power and influence to rapidly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and work with our residents and businesses to bring our wider communities’ emissions in line with Net Zero as soon as possible.
We pledge to understand our impact on climate change, prioritise where action needs to be taken and monitor progress towards our goals. We will reduce our emissions at source and limit the use of carbon offsets as part of the global effort to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
We are closer to the people who live and work in our communities, so we have a better understanding of their needs. This means we can collaborate with them to build consensus for the solutions we need to transition to a Net Zero society that delivers multiple benefits and is fair, just and works for everyone.”
September 2023.
Last Updated on Thursday, November 14, 2024