Cabinet_Report

Work programme review

8. Updates on projects in the Climate Emergency Work Programme are given below

	Project	Progress	Budget	Original Proposed Timeline (March 2020)	Status
Items postponed from March Climate Emergency Advisory Committee
1	Define the scope of carbon emissions across the District to be included in the Climate Emergency target. Establish a baseline of district wide energy consumption and CO₂e emissions	Aether have completed a report reviewing the potential scope of emissions to be included within our district wide target. Aether’s methodology and recommendations are summarised in a presentation, which was due to be presented to the CEAC on 18 March. The presentation also includes draft baseline data based upon the recommended scope. The scope of emissions requires input from the CEAC, and this piece of work is still outstanding however forms part of the agenda for the virtual South CEAC meeting on 08 June 2020.	2019/20 budget	March/ April 2020	In progress
2	Creation of a vision for a future low carbon South Oxfordshire	On 4 March, a CEAC Task and Finish Group meeting was held to draft a South Oxfordshire Climate Emergency Vision based on Bioregional’s One Planet principles. The draft Vision was due to be reviewed and ratified at the CEAC meeting on 18 March, so this piece of work is still outstanding. In the meantime, Bioregional have commenced the process of mapping the South Climate Emergency Work Programme onto the Vision and carrying out a gap analysis.	2019/20 budget	March/April 2020	Paused
Completed reports
3	South Oxfordshire Greenhouse Gas Emissions report 2018/19	The Greenhouse Gas Emissions report for South Oxfordshire District Council 2018/19 has been completed and uploaded onto the council’s website. This report would normally be published in August each year. This is the first year that the Insight and Policy Service have taken over responsibility for this work, and it has taken more time than usual to finalise and check data and review the report.	Existing resources	n/a	Completed
4	Baseline review of council energy consumption and CO₂e emissions	Concept Energy have completed a review of the council’s Carbon Footprint Data Collection Processes and submitted a report. The main conclusion is that our system of compiling energy data is unfortunately not sufficiently robust now we are looking to increase and enhance the monitoring of this data in light of the Climate Emergency. A key issue to be addressed is the establishment of an audit trail, especially when we are receiving data from contractors, when meter readings are taken and when units are converted. Insight and Policy will prepare an action plan to take this forward.	2019/20 budget	March/April 2020	In progress
5	Heating options appraisal for Faringdon Leisure Centre	This is a Vale of White Horse District Council project but could be of interest to South Oxfordshire in line with our intention to identify opportunities for renewable energy in council buildings. The gas boilers in the Faringdon Leisure Centre dry side are in urgent need of replacement, hence this project has been initiated in advance of the main review of the council estate. A report has been received from Concept Energy and is currently being reviewed by the Leisure Team.	Vale project	April 2020	In progress
New Projects
6	Oxfordshire Tree Mapping project	The council will be participating in a project to produce a tree-planting opportunities map for the County. The ‘Tree Opportunity Map’ will show where tree cover might be increased, assessing a range of current land uses and habitats such as existing woodland, arable and pastureland or parks and golf courses. This map can then be used as a basis for the formation of public policy and strategy, and to guide individual plantings. In order to ensure that the recommendations of the map are as widely adopted as possible, a wide range of groups will be engaged in its formation. The Tree Mapping project is led by a management group including Oxfordshire County Council, the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE), Nicholson’s Foresters, Oxford University Environmental Change Institute and Oxford Friends of the Earth and is also supported by Cherwell and Oxford City Councils.	£1,000	Project due to commence June 2020 and be completed by December 2020	In progress, (however timescale may be impacted by Covid-19 response)
7	Identify opportunities to invest in solar energy off site	This project will review opportunities to invest in solar energy offsite in Oxfordshire and produce a business case. The aim of this work would be to generate renewable electricity that could then be matched to the council’s electricity demand through a commercial Power Purchase Agreement, reducing our carbon emissions. This is also a revenue generation opportunity for the council. The project specification has been finalised and reviewed by the Procurement and Legal teams. A quotation to deliver this work has been received from the Low Carbon Hub. We aim to complete project sign off as soon as possible. Timescale of sign-off is dependent on key officer capacity and pending advice from Legal on the appropriate level of authorised sign-off.	£2,500	April/May 2020	In progress
8	Oxfordshire Greentech	The council wishes to enter into a contract to become a member of Oxfordshire Greentech, Oxfordshire’s network for low carbon and cleantech companies, to develop a comprehensive support package for growing the low carbon economy in South Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Greentech is the only local business network of its nature therefore we are seeking an exemption from the council’s procurement rules as a Specialist Contract. The necessary paperwork has been approved by the council’s Procurement Officer and is currently under review by the Legal Team. The membership of Oxfordshire Greentech would be led by the Economic Development Team.	£2,500	April/May 2020	Paused (Economic development team fully committed with Covid-19 business support activities)
9	Staff intranet page on the Climate Emergency General public information on the Climate Emergency including retrofitting for residents Policy and Strategy review and workshop	Quotations for these pieces of work have been received from Bioregional and are to be delivered as part of the One Planet Oxfordshire project, using match funding from the KR Foundation. The KR Foundation is a not for profit grant giving body that awards grants to address the root causes of climate change and environmental degradation As these projects have attracted 50 per cent match funding, we are seeking an exemption from the council’s procurement rules as a Specialist Contract. The necessary paperwork is being completed	£375 £1,000 £1,200	May/June 2020	In progress
Ongoing projects
10	Grounds Maintenance and Public Toilet Cleaning services	Feedback has been provided to the Technical Services Team relating to the potential insourcing of these services.	Existing resources	Ongoing	In progress
11	Crowmarsh offices	The council is engaging with the Greater South East Energy Hub (GSEEH) to review the plans for the new council offices and identify any funding opportunities. GSEEH and the Public Sector Energy Efficiency team within the Government department BEIS are also keen to promote this as a Flagship Public Sector Estate Project, including to other countries as part of COP 20, the United Nations Climate Change Conference.	Existing resources	Ongoing	In progress
12	Oxfordshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy	The Oxfordshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy Project Board met on 2 April 2020 and agreed the project Scope and Vision document, and Governance and Terms of Reference.	Existing resources	Ongoing	In progress
13	Park and Charge	This project aims to ensure that those people who live in houses with no access to off street parking have access to electric vehicle charging points. Hubs are being established within suitable car parks, both owned by the district council and by other organisations. The Technical Services Team have identified a number of our car parks suitable for this project. A pilot car park in Cherwell district will test out the Oxfordshire-wide project. Installation of this pilot is planned for July 2020. Once a short evaluation has been undertaken, car parks through the district will have EV chargers installed over the next nine to 12 months.	Innovate UK funding	Ongoing	In progress
14	Planning Design Guide	This project is being led by the Specialist Planning team; a GW1 form for the project has been submitted to SMT and approved, a GW2 form will be submitted mid-June. It is anticipated that this project will have an 18-month timeline, with delivery of the project being in September 2021. It is suggested that a CEAC Task and Finish Group session is held to support the establishment of the guide’s principles in respect of addressing the climate emergency, before a draft of the guide is reviewed at a future CEAC meeting. Further, Planning Policy have produced two documents that outline current planning policies that seek to address climate change, and these are being reviewed by Specialist Officers within the planning team and Heather Saunders in order to identify where the gaps may be.	Existing resources	Ongoing	In progress
Communications and Engagement
15	Engagement with residents, parish councils and community groups Support town councils in delivering Climate Emergency plans and projects Residents’ survey on climate change	In January we wrote to parish councils and community groups informing them of our Climate Emergency work and invited them to respond with any suggestions on how we can work together to help tackle climate change. We also approached residents as part of the Turn It Off campaign flier sent out with the annual council tax. Twenty-three responses have so far been received. As the information for residents accompanied the Turn It Off campaign, there was a focus on transport related themes in the responses, including requests for more electric vehicle charge points and safe cycle lanes. Another key theme was the request for solar panels on all new buildings, as well as heat pumps where appropriate.	Existing resources 2019/20 budget Existing resources (scoping of survey options)	Review March/April 2020	Paused – Towns, Parishes and community groups directly supporting Covid-19 efforts
Consultations
16	Oxfordshire Pension Fund Consultation on Investment Strategy Statement	Councillors were invited to a Climate Change Policy Workshop held by the Oxfordshire Pension Fund back in November 2019. Oxfordshire County Council have now commenced a consultation on the Oxfordshire Pension Fund Investment Strategy Statement including Climate Change Policy. On 8 April this consultation was circulated to councillors for their comments and responses were due by Friday 15 May 2020.	Existing resources	Initiated externally	In progress
Further work
17	Recruit Climate Change Lead	The 2020/21 budget for the Climate Emergency includes the provision of a Climate Change Lead post for 12 months, shared jointly with the Vale of White Horse. A job evaluation has been requested for this post.	£31,798	March 2020	Ongoing (Job evaluation required before being advertised)
18	Launch work programme	Internal ‘low key’ launch of year one work programme through a workshop/session with internal stakeholders	Existing resources	April 2020	Paused
19	Electric pool vehicles for staff business travel. Initial pilot for testing and evaluation	A Gateway 1 form will be drafted to initiate this project	£5,000	Initiation (GW1) April 2020 Delivery March 2021	Initiation scheduled to start Q1, year 2020/21
20	Low carbon council estate work package including energy saving opportunities and renewable energy in council buildings	An Invitation to Quote and project specification will be drafted to initiate this project	£7,880	Procurement initiation April/May 2020	Scheduled to start Q1
21	Council reports	Council reporting and decision-making templates to include climate and biodiversity impacts section	Existing resources	April 2020	Paused -Democratic Services directly supporting establishing virtual meeting protocols
22	Biodiversity theme projects	Specialist Planning Officer to provide project plan	£22,000 + Existing resources	Initiation April 2020 Delivery March 2021	Paused
23	Business breakfast event	An event to support and inspire local business to act in respect of the climate emergency; a project plan will be drafted by the Economic Development Team	£2,000	April/May 2020	Paused
24	Conference	Full day conference for officers and members on the subject of climate change; a CEAC task and finish group was held 17 January 2020 to discuss the desired outcomes for the event and capture speaker/subject ideas from South and Vale CEAC members	2019/20 budget	June 2020	Paused
25	Green travel plan	Implement a green travel plan for officers and members (support established from Milton Park Sustainable Travel Advisor)	Cost not yet available but expected within existing resources	Initiation June 2020 Draft Plan Sept	Paused
26	Electric vehicles for council fleet	Project plan will be drafted in line with carbon neutral target (2025)	Cost not yet available	Initiation June 2020 Delivery Feb 2021	Paused
27	South grants programme	Refocus of the grants programme to support community led initiatives which address climate change and review the previous year’s scheme with a case study impact report on the addition of energy points	Existing resources	July 2020	Paused
28	Officer training	Training for officers on South Oxfordshire’s target and work to address the climate emergency	2019/20 budget	Initiation August 2020 Delivery October 2020	Scheduled Q2
29	Cosy Homes (Oxfordshire retrofitting scheme)	Officers to review the scheme and assess referral confidence prior to promotion of the Cosy Homes	Existing resources	September 2020	Scheduled Q2
30	Single use plastic Plant based diets	‘Single-use plastic free’ pledge and action plan Promotion of low carbon (plant based) diets within council facilities and buildings, and action plan	£2,250 £2,250	One project in October 2020 and one in January 2021	Scheduled Q3 and Q4
31	Town-based energy data	Provision of summary data on energy use for towns in the district, including maps	£3,340	October/ November 2020	Scheduled Q3
32	District wide emissions model	Development of a model to estimate how future district-wide carbon emissions will reduce on implementation of range of projects, demonstrating how South Oxfordshire can move towards the adopted district-wide target	£12,500	Review October 2020	Scheduled Q3
33	Electric vehicle hire facility	Feasibility study	Not yet available	November 2020	Scheduled Q3
34	Enforcement officer	Enforcement of minimum energy standards for private rented homes	£30,000	To be confirmed by Private Sector Housing	Paused

Conclusion

This report gives an overview of key activities that have been progressed, and those that have been paused largely due to the Councils’ essential refocus on the Covid-19 response, since the most recent Climate Emergency Advisory Committee meeting on 28 January 2020.

Climate Emergency Work Programme update

Recommendation(s)

Purpose of Report

Strategic Objectives

Background

Work programme review

Conclusion