Agenda item

To receive an annual report on the delivery of Surrey’s Climate Change Delivery Plan 2021–2025, and Surrey County Council’s 2030 organisational emission target.

Witnesses:

• Marissa Heath, Cabinet Member for Environment
• Simon Crowther, Executive Director - Environment, Property & Growth
• Carolyn McKenzie, Director for Environment
• Katie Sargent, Greener Futures Group Manager
• Cat Halter, Climate Change Strategic Lead
• Paul Millin, Strategic Transport Group Manager

Key points made in the discussion:

1.            The Chair asked which areas of performance caused the greatest concern. In reply, the Greener Futures Group Manager explained that, although they had used grants to support decarbonisation, upcoming projects would be harder and more expensive, and that funding was the biggest challenge moving forward.

2.            The Chair asked about the potential job opportunities in Surrey as the county transitioned to a green economy and tackled climate change. In reply, the Climate Change Strategic Lead noted that job prospects in Surrey's green economy were very good, with 23% more green jobs than the UK average and an expected annual growth rate of 8% until 2030. She also mentioned the potential for SCC to focus on green tech innovation.

3.            A Member asked whether the external funding was costing or saving money in the long term. In reply, the Greener Futures Group Manager explained that grant funding covered 20–25% of the scheme costs, and there was a shift towards using the Facilities Management (FM) budget for financing. She noted that while not all measures might fully pay back, they contributed to revenue and savings.

4.            A Member asked if the funding of £4.7 million is a one-time amount or if it is provided per year, whether the funding could be expected to continue, and if there would be a penalty if SCC did not meet the target. In reply, the Greener Futures Group Manager stated that funding was for decarbonisation over a two-year period. While they have been successful in applying for funding, future opportunities are uncertain. She further clarified that if SCC do not meet the decarbonisation coal, they will need to find ways to offset the shortfall, which could be costly. The Cabinet Member noted that offsetting could be seen as a penalty and emphasized the need to consider its costs versus achieving net-zero.

5.            A Member asked how the skills gap, particularly regarding upskilling professionals, is being addressed and the potential to upskill local authority building control staff to enhance sustainability. In reply, the Climate Change Strategic Lead described efforts to help workers shift to low carbon technologies like heat pumps, noting a successful funding bid of £2 million secured for subsidized training that provided around 500 placements. Although there had been no specific upskilling for building control staff, guidance on low carbon planning policies was developed to help local boroughs meet national standards.

6.            A Member asked, in relation to Green Flag status, how does the County stand in relation to other parts of the country, is SCC exceptional, and is SCC achieving well in terms of progress. In reply, the Cabinet Member said the County ranked higher with 98 schools, with the next closest authority being 69 schools. The Climate Change Strategic Lead added that she worked with 99 local authorities to support eco schools and were making progress in achieving environmental outcomes.

7.            A Member asked about the methods used to measure the impact of cycle and walking training in schools, specifically in relation to how this training affects the way pupils travel to school afterwards. The Strategic Transport Group Manager explained that relevant programmes promoted independence and safety. He noted that they tracked changes in students' transportation habits informally. The training targeted various age groups and involved parents and schools for feedback and recording.

8.            A Member asked if the Council is making meaningful progress in increasing the mileage of cycleways and walkways and is there a noticeable benefit in traffic reduction because of these developments considering these programs for children. The Strategic Transport Group Manager said that highway improvement plans often added walking and cycling features, especially for safety near schools. He offered to share a map of projects to the Committee.

9.            A Member asked if SCC is still on target to install 10,000 EV charging points by 2030. The Cabinet Member highlighted the need for more accessible charging options. She confirmed that various stakeholders were working toward the 10,000 charging points, with the Council responsible for 2,500 and on track to meet this goal. However, she worried that slowing EV sales, influenced by vehicle demand and budget decisions, could affect progress. The Climate Change Strategic Lead explained that the target came from a report estimating the public charging points needed in Surrey by 2030, with half on private land and others in car parks. The program also aimed for 2,000 on-street charging points by 2028.

10.          A Member asked whether the delays in installing electric vehicle charging points were due to the Council or the supplier. The Cabinet Member replied that the slow progress was linked to existing legislation that complicated installations on public land, and she noted that the government aimed to simplify the rules. The Climate Change Strategic Lead explained that the legislation had not originally planned for electric charge points on public land, but the current approach was in response to resident feedback, with acceptance rising from 50% to 75%, and enabling more efficient installations.

11.          A Member asked how we can determine the number of installed EV charging points that are underutilized, as well as how many of these points are currently operational or not operational. In reply, the Cabinet Member reported that the number of charging points grew from 6 to 196 since 2020, with 486 more planned and 500 scheduled for next year. The Climate Change Strategic Lead noted that usage more than doubled in the last 15 months. She would send related data to the Committee for review.

12.          A Member asked how the Council is addressing the carbon footprint of its transport fleet, given that there is no direct budget for the EV charging on the Council estate. In reply, the Greener Futures Group Manager explained that fleet emissions made up about 6% of total emissions and were part of the goal to reduce carbon by 2030. However, progress was slow because there was not enough infrastructure for electric vehicle charging.

13.          A Member asked if officers believed that the Council had a compelling engagement plan to implement the reported Engagement Strategy. In reply, the Climate Change Strategic Lead said the Greener Future initiative's Engagement Plan was strong and could succeed if fully implemented. She noted the challenge of scaling efforts with fewer resources and need for targeted actions.

14.          A Member asked what resources the Council plans to allocate to volunteering and engagement plans in the future and whether the volunteering network is expected to become self-sustaining in the future. In reply, the Cabinet Member said that they had five staff members working on engagement. She explained that they were creating a plan for environmental volunteering to make opportunities clearer. The Climate Change Strategic Lead added that several projects had been started as part of these opportunities. She was unsure if the volunteering networks could support themselves, but she pointed out the need for a framework and future planning for them.

15.          A Member asked about the funding sources for the Together for Surrey project, wondering if it came mainly from the University of Surrey or the Council, and if there was a risk of losing funding as the project progressed. The Climate Change Strategic Lead confirmed that funding for the Together for Surrey project was secured, with money from SCC and support from the University of Surrey. The project was planned to run for four years.

16.          A Member asked about the involvement of parish councils in local environmental initiatives, specifically regarding net zero and decarbonization efforts. The Climate Change Strategic Lead explained that the team worked with six parishes to resolve challenges in starting local climate action, such as lack of knowledge and limited engagement with the public. The project will now help six to eight parishes create climate plans, build skills, and share knowledge through a peer network. A toolkit would also be introduced at the South Conference in November 2024.

17.          The Chair asked if the officers could suggest recommendations that the Committee could make that would help the Service stay on track. The Cabinet Member suggested the Select Committee's support in reaffirming the commitment to the 2030 net zero goals. She urged the Committee to advocate for increased government support and address funding issues while promoting clarity in solar energy projects to identify weaknesses in their strategy. She emphasized the challenges faced by districts and boroughs and called for a collective approach to ensure success. The Director for Environment supported bringing the five-year plan forward and supported discussion within the Council to integrate net zero goals across all Departments, highlighting the need for a coordinated approach to community and growth plans.

18.          A Member asked about the alignment of the new facilities contractor's low carbon ambitions with those of the Council. The Greener Futures Group Manager said that the procurement process for the new provider intentionally embedded the Council's net zero requirements into the service specifications and key performance indicators (KPIs).

19.          A Member asked about the apparent increase in carbon emissions from electricity consumption despite the Council being on a renewable tariff. The Climate Change Strategic Lead explained that renewable tariffs could not count in greenhouse gas reports unless connected to renewable sources, which is why carbon emissions stayed high.

20.          A Member asked about the plan for addressing the reduction in resources for green skills in the Service amid the recruitment freeze. The Climate Change Strategic Lead responded that, although the dedicated Green Skills Officer role ended due to funding constraints, the team established a strong foundation, and the focus shifted to integrating green skills into the future economic growth strategy.

Conclusion:

RESOLVED, that the Communities Environment and Highways Select Committee,

1. Welcomes the framework that facilitates the Council to remain on track with the 2030 and 2050 net zero carbon targets.

2. Requests that the Cabinet reconfirms the commitment to the targets for 2030 and 2050.

3. Encourages the Cabinet to secure more resources from central government to meet these targets.

4. Considers that engaging children and young people in green initiatives is crucial and recognises the high performance by Surrey in its schools’ engagement.

5. Recommends continued work with parish councils, volunteers and engagement with the public.

6. Requests that the Cabinet brings forward the second five-year Climate Change Plan and delivers a draft by mid-2025.

7. Recommends that the Council supports the Department with funding and takes a whole Council approach that integrates green targets across all services; this includes cycleways and walkways.

Actions and requests for further information:

• Climate Change Strategic Lead: Provide data on the number of installed EV charge points, how many are currently underutilised, and how many are non-operational.

• Strategic Transport Group Manager: Provide an update the Local Cycling & Walking Implementation Plans.