Agenda item

Report attached.

The Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Stephen Button, Chair of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, setting out a recommendation of that committee that, during planning for the Council’s budget for 2026-27, Cabinet give consideration to extending the Council’s Climate budget in order to facilitate the Council’s ability to achieve its net zero targets.

Councillor Button provided a short introduction to the report, in which he outlined the information provided to the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, including the significant progess made to date in meeting the Council’s net zero targets, but highlighting that progress had now slowed as much of the initial funding had now been used up.

Councillor Brerton thanked the Committee for its recommendation.  He had attended that meeting and the debate had been very positive, recognising the Council’s achievements so far.  Some large projects had already been completed and the authority was widely regarded ‘as punching above its weight’.  The funding question could not be answered today, as there was a lengthy Budget process to go through.  However, the suggestion would be considered positively at the appropriate time.  Councillor Alexander thanked Councillor Button for his report and provided an assurance that the proposal would be on the table during the Cabinet’s Budget deliberations.

Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

A Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been held on 14^th July 2025 and had been consulted on the ‘Draft Climate Strategy and Action Plan’ and updated on the Hyndburn wide CO₂ emissions and the Council’s transition to Carbon Net Zero.  The Committee had been informed of the importance of limiting global warming to 1.5°c or staying well below 2°c to try to achieve pre-industrial levels and to achieve a 7.6% annual reduction in carbon emissions that would be required to achieve net zero targets.  The Committee considered that further funding would be required to achieve its net zero targets and had made a recommendation that Cabinet give consideration to providing additional funding for the Climate Action Fund during its budget planning process.

In September 2019 Hyndburn Borough Council had declared a climate emergency and had committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2030.  This pledge comprised a series of recommendations to help limit global warming.

One Carbon World had carried out a carbon footprint study between 2020 and 2023 and an initial review had indicated the Council’s buildings were responsible for some 75% of its operational carbon emissions and the highest priority was to decarbonise energy usage, particularly from gas.  The Council had set aside a £1m climate reserve pot to help to achieve Hyndburn’s target to make the Council’s activities net zero carbon by 2030.  The Council had been very proactive and had made great advances in reducing the Borough’s carbon emissions.  Since 2019 carbon emissions had been reduced by 55% by decarbonising the Council’s building stock, procuring renewable energy tariffs, replacing diesel within the vehicle fleet with hydro veg oil and working towards sustainability, carbon capture and offsetting and habitat creation through various projects.

The climate reserve pot had also been used to appoint two officers, a Home Energy Reduction Officer and a Natural Spaces Project Officer over a 3 year period and both had contributed to the Council’s successes in reducing or offsetting carbon emissions.

However, there had been a plateauing in the reduction of carbon emissions and without further funding the Council would be limited in how much more it could achieve and it might not be able to meet the 2030 net zero target.  The Council had completed much of its work in decarbonising its Council buildings and many of the natural solution programmes delivered by external organisations were due to be completed within the next couple of years.  As such, there was going to be a greater reliance on working towards net zero though a range of new smaller projects.

The Council’s vision for a sustainable future was identified within the Corporate Strategy and focused on:  Making the Council’s Activities and Operations Net Zero by 2030, reducing fuel poverty – Home Energy Efficiency and Green Open Spaces and the Natural Environment to balance growth with sustainability.

Alternative Options considered and Reasons for Rejection

The Council could decide to provide no additional funding, but this would limit the Council’s ability to achieve its target of net zero by 2030.

Resolved                                    -    That Cabinet notes the recommendation of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee that it should consider additional funding for the Climate Action Fund as part of its preparations for the 2026/27 Budget.