Climate emergency action plan - pathway to net zero

Our Climate Emergency Action Plan: Pathway to Net Zero (CEAP or ‘Pathway’) sets out our aim to achieve the 2030 target by acting holistically as a town, not just as a council working in isolation.

Introduction

Cheltenham Borough Council declared a climate emergency in July 2019 and committed to becoming a net zero council and borough by 2030. This declaration was followed by our Climate Emergency Action Plan: Pathway to Net Zero, published in 2022. In 2024, the progress of the actions listed were reviewed and updated to move forward the delivery of the 2030 targets. You can read the updated action plan in these pages or you can download a PDF of the 2024 update. We have collated our actions based on eight categories to help provide focus to the broad impact of the climate emergency.

We aim to take the annual review of the Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) to the council's overview and scrutiny committee once a year. The scrutiny committee looks at any issues affecting local people and makes recommendations based on evidence, so the annual review of the Pathway and the emerging actions will be of particular interest to the committee.

Quarterly updates are gathered internally and reported back to our climate programme board to monitor and evaluate our progress against the list of actions set out below.

Purpose of the plan

Human activity has already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. 2024 is confirmed by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) to be the warmest year on record globally, and the first calendar year that the average global temperature exceeded 1.5C above its pre-industrial level.

This Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) has been developed as a framework, to help shape the council’s priorities for climate action across the borough for the period 2022-30, it gives us the opportunity to:

Communicate our response to the climate and ecological emergency and share good practice
Influence and shape the development of strategy and policy for climate at county, regional and national levels
Make a positive impact towards the national effort to address climate change
Work in partnership to take forward projects and initiatives that reduce the impacts of climate change
Set an example to other Local Authorities yet to set a goal and pathway for becoming net zero

We believe that building a better future means leaving a legacy of sustainability for future generations. This is the foundation of our ambitions to reduce Cheltenham’s carbon emissions to net zero. The action plan sets out our aim to achieve the 2030 target by working across the organisation and with residents, communities, businesses and public and voluntary organisations. We'll need to reduce our carbon footprint and adapt through improving our infrastructure to achieve a cleaner and greener sustainable environment. This supports our key priority 3 - Reducing carbon, achieving council net zero, creating biodiversity within our coroprate plan.

There will be further developments which we cannot yet foresee, such as changes in government policy, the emergence of new technologies and lessons learned through experience. Therefore, although the main goal of the 2030 CEAP will remain the same, that is to become a net zero council and borough by the year 2030, the action plan will remain flexible and be reviewed and updated, taking account of new research, developments, technologies, community needs, and funding opportunities.

Climate terms explained

Greenhouse gases (GHG)

Greenhouse gases are gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat.

They let sunlight pass through the atmosphere, but they prevent the heat that the sunlight brings from leaving the atmosphere. This warms and creates the ‘greenhouse effect’. The main greenhouse gases are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide. When we measure GHG, we usually refer to them as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) to allow us to easily compare their impact on global warming. Read more about the terms used to talk about greenhouse gases by Ecometrica, experts in climate monitoring and reporting.

Carbon neutral

Carbon neutral means that any carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere from an organisation’s activities is balanced by an equivalent amount being removed. Typically, this would be achieved by determining the organisation’s carbon footprint and deciding how best to counteract these emissions via renewable energy generation or carbon offsetting, and sometimes carbon emissions reductions. An organisation can demonstrate carbon neutrality, whilst still increasing its own carbon emissions.

Net zero

Net zero emissions means not adding any greenhouse gases to the atmosphere through an organisation’s activities. Becoming net zero starts with a plan to rapidly reduce GHG emissions to zero by a specified date. However, most organisations find that some emissions can’t be reduced to zero. These are expected to be small and are usually then offset by initiatives aimed at removing an equivalent amount of GHG from the atmosphere. The UK became the world’s first major economy to set a target of being net zero by 2050. Cheltenham has set a more ambitious target of being net zero by 2030.

In October 2021, the government stated that to reach their net zero target, the task is to “reduce emissions to as close to zero as possible, with the small amount of remaining emissions absorbed through natural carbon sinks like forests, and new technologies like carbon capture.” Read the government's Net Zero Strategy.

Carbon footprint

Carbon footprint is the calculated amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organisation, or community.

Carbon offsetting

Carbon offsetting is the action or process of compensating for the CO2 emissions arising from an organisation’s or individual’s activity by participating in schemes designed to make equivalent reductions of CO2 in the atmosphere. It is suggested that CO2 has the same impact on the climate no matter where it is emitted and, therefore, it is considered that a tonne of CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere in one part of the world, through carbon capture or tree planting, for example, can cancel out a tonne of CO2 emitted in another.

Scope 1 emissions

Scope 1 emissions cover an organisation’s GHG emissions which are produced directly by their activities. This is usually through the burning of fossil fuels, whilst running gas boilers or diesel vehicles, for instance.

Scope 2 emissions

Scope 2 emissions cover GHG emissions produced indirectly by an organisation, for example the electricity used to heat a building which has been produced by burning fossil fuels elsewhere.

Scope 3 emissions

Scope 3 emissions include all other indirect emissions that are produced by an organisation’s activities, such as the disposal of waste, employee commuting and the supply chain.

1 - Leading by example

We strongly believe that in order to ask others to make the necessary changes to their organisations and lives, we must be seen to be leading on making these changes ourselves. By seeking to set ever higher standards, we can offer advice and share best practice to make it easier for others to follow, signposting to other leaders along the way.

Delivery update and future areas of focus

Carbon footprint and emission reduction pathway

Scope and accuracy continue to improve which has tended to increase the emissions that we count. However, the 2022/23 report shows a continued progress towards our internal targets for scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions against an agreed baseline
Looking ahead: Continuing to cut emissions at our current rate will become more challenging over time. To make sure we achieve our goals, we'll need a clear plan which includes costs and milestones to measure our success. Plans are being developed for each of the council’s key buildings as an essential first step during 2024.

Training

In 2022, carbon literacy training was introduced across the council, including councillors, with good attendance. Cheltenham Borough Council directors attended a senior leaders training event, and our learning and development team delivered a range of training sessions to a cross section of officers
Looking ahead: Working with learning and development, we plan to:
- include climate change as part of our induction process and
- provide targeted training interventions/modules to officers and elected members when gaps are identified

Best practice case studies

Using our own impact assessment to prioritise and focus on sustainability, the CO2e emissions associated with the ice rink event were reduced by 98.7 percent.
Looking ahead: We're working on a Cheltenham events strategy to improve the sustainability of festivals and events held across the borough

Proposed actions

2020-2023

Report our carbon footprint annually and encourage others to follow suit. Endeavour to be more thorough and precise over time and include more of our impact year on year. (Internal)

Commit to lobbying higher levels of government for stronger climate action and greater support to local authorities to help them make a difference. (Internal)

Introduce compulsory ‘carbon literacy' training to the council and partners and commit to 100 percent of the council’s officers, staff and elected members gaining a carbon literacy certification. (Internal)

Develop case studies to share our experience in implementing climate initiatives. Sharing lessons learned and success stories will help others learn from our actions, replicate or ideally do better. (Internal)

2024-2026

Use our position as ‘The Festival Town’ to drive change through the development of a more sustainable and carbon friendly events strategy. (External)

2 - Decision making, policies, plans and strategies

We know there is a need for the climate agenda to be a strong policy thread across the council. Without climate being a focus for all our officers and members, woven through each of our departments, we will fail to embed a net zero culture. We will ensure all our decisions help to meet national and local net zero carbon targets, improve air quality and protect and restore nature.

Delivery update and future areas of focus

Leadership & accountability

A Councillor at cabinet level has been in place since 2020, with a lead officer in place since 2021.
Looking ahead: The organisation structure and expertise required to deliver against the emission reduction targets is currently being reviewed. Specific climate objectives will be set across service delivery teams to support delivery.

Climate SPD

The Climate SPD was implemented in 2022 and has delivered early results. Because of the SPD, an additional 265 houses will be built using low carbon heat technologies, rather than gas boilers.
Looking ahead: We are reviewing the effectiveness of the Climate SPD to date, to improve effectiveness and support development of effective Net Zero planning policies within the Strategic Local Plan. We are increasingly monitoring Council’s own regeneration investment through this lens.

Climate impact assessment

The Climate Tool is routinely used to inform major decisions in the Council It has been used as best practice case study by the Local Government Association.
Looking Ahead: The Climate Impact Assessment is being reviewed to maximise effectiveness and inform further development of the tool.

Proposed Actions

Priority in 2021-23

Identify both a councillor at cabinet level and a lead officer as Climate Champions, who are required to publish an annual public report on progress against meeting the targets set out in the CEAP
Issue a new climate-focused Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) that addresses the limitations within the existing Local Plan and Joint Core Strategy. This will set a new ‘Cheltenham Standard’ for developers and aid our planners in their decision making. The SPD may include the necessity to develop using Natural Flood Management (NFM) techniques, the requirement to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain, installing sustainable energy solutions, driving adoption of the ‘Building with Nature’ benchmark and the use of Passivhaus standards
Introduce a tool to ensure that climate implications are adequately considered at the early stages of each project, initiative or decision. This tool should be used to develop initiatives that the lowest possible impact on the environment whilst still meeting the needs of the council

Priority in 2024-26

Annually review the existing and additional workforce needed to deliver the actions set out in this pathway and swiftly prioritise the decisions and investment needed to recruit the necessary capacity and expertise
Align our council statutory and non-statutory plans, policies and guidance with our climate, nature and green economy goals, including corporate areas such as procurement and infrastructure development

3 - Finance, funding, and procurement

Both public and private investment is crucial to the success of reaching our targets for 2030. Our purchasing decisions across the borough can have a significant benefit, both in reducing our own scope 3 supply chain emissions, alongside reducing borough wide emissions.

Delivery update and future areas of focus

Cheltenham’s Green Deal

We published our Climate Change Investment Strategy, known as Cheltenham’s Green Deal, in the summer of 2022. The Green Deal enables the council to invest up to £10m in climate related projects providing they meet certain investment criteria. Officers have used the strategy to deliver £170k investment to drive emission reduction. The Green Deal ensures we are well placed to take forward the decarbonisation opportunities that are identified. It also provides a vital tool to support the wider objective for a clean and green borough
Looking ahead: Plans are being developed for each of the council’s key buildings as an essential first step during the first quarter of 2024. These will likely use the Green Deal to deliver emission reduction.

Climate Community Fund

The Climate Community Fund has made £100,000 available to support decarbonisation across the borough over 2 financial years
Looking ahead: During 2024 we will continue to make funds available to support community decarbonisation projects

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) projects

Funding has been provided for climate related projects through the CIL board. This has included new planting in Pittville, an air quality project in Benhall and a project to include some honey on the Honeybourne Line.

4 - Buildings and energy

Heating for homes and workspaces currently makes up almost a third of all UK carbon emissions and 42 per cent of borough-wide emissions, according to the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Improvements drastically need to be made with the energy efficiency of housing and non-domestic properties. This will ensure they need less energy to heat, making them cheaper to run and more comfortable to live and work in, whilst reducing our dependence on imported energy. This needs to apply to both new and existing housing stock. We aim to tackle fuel poverty which will improve the health and well being of residents, particularly during the winter months.

Delivery update and future areas of focus

Energy strategy and emission reduction internally

We have spent £130k across our own key buildings alongside a wider programme of measures to improve efficient energy use
Looking ahead: During 2024, we are putting together a costed emission reduction plan for key buildings and assets across CBC

Social housing retrofit

Retrofit is challenging, requiring long term planning. We already have a costed programme of planned investment to deliver and exceed government efficiency targets by 2030. During 2023, £800k Wave 1 funding delivered fabric improvements to 34 homes and fabric improvements together with installation of ground source heat pumps (GSHP) for space heating at a 25 unit sheltered scheme. Wave 2.1 will deliver £2.2m grant funding over 2 years between 2023/24 towards the fabric improvement of 175 homes with a further 12 homes identified to receive air source heat pumps (ASHPs)
Looking ahead: An outline decarbonisation plan has been drawn up, but delivering net zero retrofit across our 4,500 houses will cost approximately 4 times the available funding. Therefore, retrofit will be accelerated as funding becomes available

New build social housing

We are working towards the delivery of net zero across our development portfolio, where this is technically and economically feasible.

Sustainability design code for Golden Valley

The Golden Valley supplementary planning document (SPD) was also put in place to deliver high levels of sustainability
Looking ahead: The development of the project against these stringent goals will continue to be reviewed alongside the regeneration team as the project is developed

Supporting retrofit for homes across Cheltenham

We are currently in the process of running a pilot project to deliver information and support around energy saving and retrofit in Cheltenham, empowering and enabling residents across 50 homes to act to future-proof their homes
Looking ahead: This project will support development of the council’s wider strategy around homes retrofit alongside the development of green skills

Low carbon heat network development

Cheltenham Borough Council took part in the government's heat networks zone pilot during 2022-23 to identify suitable locations for heating zones within Cheltenham, due for implementation in 2025
Looking ahead: We are carrying out a detailed heat network feasibility study during 2024. Legislation is being put in place via the Energy Act that will require connection to a network unless developers are able to demonstrate an alternative net zero option or exemptions apply

Energy generation

The first of two studies has been produced for the Strategic Local Plan to identify suitable locations for renewable development. The council purchased 100 percent renewable energy across its key assets. The Climate SPD provides a signal to developers to commit to renewable energy
Looking ahead: We will consider recruiting an energy officer to support local area energy strategy and delivery

Ongoing and completed

In spring 2021, Cheltenham Borough Council was awarded over £380k to install a utility metering platform. The platform brings together all the available energy and water data for some of our biggest buildings, via mechanisms such as a network of sub-meters providing real time data on energy usage. The data will inform a programme of behavioural change, enabling us to reduce energy waste in these buildings.

This project has also generated a decarbonisation plan for each of the identified buildings, such as Leisure at Cheltenham and the Pittville Pump Rooms, which have considered the viability of removing gas heating and cooking elements from each building and explored the required funding and permissions necessary for the council to proceed with such actions.

A ‘fabric-first’ approach is being taken with the existing social homes that we manage which include the council housing stock of around 4,500 dwellings. Many of these homes are heated by GHG emitting gas boilers. Improving the insulation and reviewing low carbon heating options will ensure that the homes are as energy efficient as possible. We have already been successful in a bid to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) for a deep retrofit scheme. This will demonstrate the potential of our existing homes in becoming energy efficient through fabric improvements and low carbon heating. We continue to bid for future waves of these funds and, where beneficial, strengthen bids through partnerships with other local authorities.

New social housing developments in Cheltenham will seek to achieve the very highest standards of energy efficiency. We are working to regenerate existing redundant sites, as part of the commitment to provide 500 affordable homes delivered or in the pipeline by 2026. This has been made possible by our £180m investment to provide quality homes and support thriving communities. The work is a direct delivery of our key priority to increase the supply of housing and investment to build resilient communities and to provide great homes to make Cheltenham a better place to live. We will also strive to make the best use of land in the interests of enhancing biodiversity performance, with insightful design for long-term ecological impact. The development of 320 Swindon Road is an early example.

Actions

Priority in 2021-23

Measure the energy usage of Cheltenham Borough Council owned properties and develop a heating and energy efficiency strategy to set out actions needed to actively reduce energy consumption and move away from the use of fossil fuels. Introduce behaviour change programmes to reduce energy consumption in council owned buildings. Support businesses and residents to similarly reduce their consumption
Retrofit council-owned social housing, focusing first on the homes most at risk of fuel poverty
Develop a new ‘Sustainability Design Code’ for the Golden Valley Development, as a vision for integrated living in West Cheltenham that promotes a low carbon lifestyle. Our aspiration is for this thinking to then be replicated across the town, or within other districts and regions
Explore the viability of a shared low-carbon heat network, to help reduce borough-wide emissions

Priority in 2024-26

Retrofit council-owned properties with sustainable, energy-efficient solutions where feasible
Help owner-occupiers to create more energy efficient homes. For example, by supporting energy companies to provide fuel-poor or vulnerable households with insulation, or by helping influence the retrofit market to ensure there is effective demand for energy efficient measures by those that are classified as “able to pay”. This may include supporting the provision of skills-training for local workers, actively encouraging applications for new installations, and facilitating the applications of funding bids from home owners
Seek to invest in renewable energy generation by identifying suitable areas in the future Planning Policy documents, such as the Cheltenham Plan and Joint Core Strategy. Review the feasibility of alternative energy sources, new technologies and
innovations and the potential to be a net contributor
Commit to using 100 percent renewable electricity across council owned assets, including those operated by key partners. Support businesses and residents to do the same. Encourage developers to commit to renewable energy by stipulating requirements in a new Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

Priority in 2027-28

Engage with landlords to improve energy efficiency of homes in the private rented sector and commercial properties and encourage them to achieve good insulation
Look for potential to align conservation area policies with climate emergency goals

5 - Transport, travel, and air quality

A modal shift to more active transport can reduce emissions from privately owned vehicles. An estimated 70 percent of car journeys within Cheltenham are under 2km. Many of these journeys could be made on foot or by bicycle. For those unable to make these journeys without a vehicle, public transport needs to become a more attractive option. Policies such as this will lead will help to improve Cheltenham’s air quality with positive health impacts.

Delivery update and future areas of focus

Safe cycle hubs

£100k funding has been secured to invest in creating a safe and secure cycle hub within the town centre during 2024

Electric car charging

We are currently working through the implementation of phase 1 of the council’s own electric vehichle (EV) charging plan to install approximately 40 chargers across five car parks during 2024.
Looking ahead: The aim would be to deliver over 200 chargers by 2029, within an incremental annual programme

Taxi policy

In April 2023, a policy was put in place implementing our ambition to operate a fully net zero carbon fleet by 2030 in stages. This focuses on phasing out the most polluting vehicles as an essential first step.

Vehicle decarbonisation transition plan

Starting with Ubico, we are working towards replacing all vehicles in its fleet under 3.5 tonnes with electric over time, subject to the charging infrastructure being available. The grounds maintenance team and the facilities cleaning team have been using two electric vehicles for over 18 months

Sustainable work and travel policies internally

Alongside the Cycle to Work scheme and car sharing initiative, we have a fully flexible home working policy. We also provide bicycles that officers can use, where practical, to carry out their roles
Looking ahead: The number of electric bikes will be increased

Gloucestershire County Council and countywide action

Alongside continuation of the e-scooter trial to 2026, in January 2023 all seven Gloucestershire authorities signed a Statement of Shared Intent (SoSI) to work together to reduce Gloucestershire transport related carbon emissions. As the lead authority, Gloucestershire County Council is co-ordinating efforts enable sustainable neighbourhoods, deliver a modal shift and reduce road related emissions

Planning policy and enabling sustainable transport

The Climate SPD includes measures to ensure that new developments consider and enable active transport and provide safe bike storage for residents
Looking ahead: Our Strategic local plan (SLP) provides an opportunity to support this approach more widely and has within its core objectives ‘Prioritising sustainable transport and active travel'

Air quality action plan (AQAP)

The link between air quality and health is clear. There is simply no safe level of pollution. As part of our responsibilities under local air quality management we developed an air quality action plan (AQAP) consisting of a comprehensive set of measures to improve local air quality. The plan was accepted by Defra in February 2024
Looking ahead: We will strive to meet the actions outlined in the AQAP by 2030, working closely with Gloucestershire County Council in their role as lead transport authority

Ongoing and completed actions

Priority in 2021-23

Work with Gloucestershire County Council to prioritise transport investment in cycling and walking. Priorities will be installing segregated cycleways, increasing space for pedestrians and introducing a 20mph speed limit in urban areas. Seek to safeguard routes for a future mass transport system to enhance and improve the sustainability of Cheltenham’s public transport offering
Introduce new ‘safe cycle hubs’ across the town, working with businesses to help facilitate these, as well as installing more cycle racks, wherever it is suitable and safe to do so
Enable a shift to electric vehicles by installing electric vehicle charging points in council owned car parks. Support Gloucestershire County Council with the delivery of their Local Transport Plan (LTP)
Deliver a policy that will require all taxis to be electric, or another form of zero carbon as technology evolves, and support the provision of required infrastructure

Priority in 2024-26

Transition the council’s own fleet to electric vehicles. Explore interim measures such as the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel in place of traditional diesel in instances where electrification is not yet a viable option, particularly for the council’s heavy goods vehicles delivering environmental services across the borough
Reduce the use of private vehicles used for commuting by council officers through a reinvigorated green staff travel strategy, including progressive flexible and home-working options
Reduce car use through measures available to the borough such as promoting car-sharing schemes, supporting the continuation of the county e-scooter trial, introducing staff incentive schemes such as ‘Cycle to Work’ and reducing or removing direct car parking benefits
Work with Gloucestershire County Council to develop and implement a “last mile” strategy that encourages greener deliveries across the area by setting up an area-wide distribution centre. This will help remove large delivery vehicles from the central road network and facilitate the introduction of efficient cargo bikes to Cheltenham, whilst creating new jobs and economic growth

Priority in 2027-28

Review our existing car parking strategy. We will continue to explore ways to ensure alternative travel options to car use are viable and seen to be more favourable than driving. Town centre parking charges will need to reflect this policy choice. Repurposing some car parking spaces (for example by creating urban gardens or for car share schemes) will be necessary to demonstrate the council’s ambition to remove priority for privately-owned vehicles and to amplify services and support for active travellers
Reduce the need to own and use a car by requiring that the location and design of new developments means they are demonstrably accessible by safe cycling, walking routes and good quality public transport and situated close to essential services
Explore the feasibility of introducing Clean Air Zones within Cheltenham town centre, similar to schemes recently introduced in other areas such as Bath and Birmingham

6 - Nature and biodiversity

We are experiencing an ecological crisis, alongside climate change. Our wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystems are at risk if action is not taken. Planting more trees to provide shade; protecting and extending wild spaces for nature; increasing biodiversity; restoring our land to isolate carbon; and building our resilience to flooding, will all contribute to reduce climate change impacts. Improving the quality of our natural spaces across the borough will also lead to better health and wellbeing.

Delivery update and future areas of focus

Increasing treecover

1000 trees were planted during 2023, and support has been secured from Gloucestershire County Council to plant a further 600. These were a mix of native and non-native species, large and small, short- and long-lived, with both insect and wind pollinated species. Increasing the diversity of tree species grown in Cheltenham is a key adaptation strategy for building resilience to climate change-related threats.
Looking ahead: we will evaluate the contribution our tree-planting makes to offsetting our carbon emissions in a robust and rigorous way

Managing council owned land to increase biodiversity

Our green spaces team provide a comprehensive annual summary to pick out the wide range of activities carried out to improve biodiversity across the borough. This has included the implementation of no-mow May policy across a range of sites, alongside perennial and wildflower planting and work to reduce invasive Himalayan Balsam
A seedbank of local wildflower species has been collected from north-facing grassland on Leckhampton Hill, to support wider replanting schemes across the borough

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Gloucestershire Local Nature Partnership (GLNP)

The council worked with GLNP on their natural capital mapping project and we are developing our approach to BNG
Looking ahead: We have appointed an ecologist to support the development of our approach to BNG, alongside its inclusion within the Strategic Local Plan and work being carried out to develop habitat banks

Natural flood management (NFM)

Cheltenham Borough Council worked with the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT) to implement a swale (drainage ditch) for natural flood management at Naunton Park. GWT have recently completed a scheme at Warden Hill to create roof and roadside rain gardens. These measures will slow the flow of surface water runoff and help to prevent drainage networks and rivers downstream becomeing overloaded. The rain gardens will improve biodiversity and improve water quality by allowing contaminants to breakdown naturally before they enter watercourses
Looking ahead: Cheltenham Borough Council are also working with Gloucestershire County Council on their scheme to install roadside rain gardens in Oakley. We are part of the new Gloucestershire NFM delivery group, which aims to increase rural NFM schemes upstream of the urban area

Allotments and community green spaces

Existing allotments are being actively managed to ensure they're being used. Additional sites have been identified in new developments such as Elms Park and in the west of Cheltenham
Looking ahead: The team will actively identify new sites and ensure that green space commitments are honoured through the planning process

Urban greening

The EU funding secured in 2019 was spent on a range of urban greening projects. The green space team have built on these projects across the borough to improve the quality of urban spaces
Looking ahead: The development of Strategic Local Plan policies will provide further opportunity to encourage urban greening

Ongoing and completed actions

Priority in 2021-23

Update local planning strategies and work closely with other authorities, including Gloucestershire County Council, to significantly increase tree cover across the borough and ensure existing trees are properly protected, to store carbon, support nature, aid flood protection and deliver health and wellbeing benefits. Increased canopy cover can also provide shade for people and buildings, cooling the air and ground temperatures in extreme heat
Manage council-owned land to increase biodiversity and reduce carbon pollution, for example through reduced pesticide use and mowing and increased planting of wildflowers and perennials

Priority in 2024-26

Focus on nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation. For example, work with a range of partners to develop opportunities for Natural Flood Management (NFM) schemes across the borough to help mitigate flooding and adapt to climate change, using nature to hold and slow water run-off
Seek to actively restore and expand ecosystems in line with the Environment Act 2021, with a focus on enhancing biodiversity and natural carbon sinks. This could be through market based mechanisms that improve and safeguard our natural environment, for example the development of a habitat bank for biodiversity net gain credits
Work with the Gloucestershire Local Nature Partnership and their Natural Capital mapping project to help identify nature and ecosystem restoration opportunities across Cheltenham, to reverse and restore habitats, support species and promote ecosystem quality and function

Priority in 2027-28

Encourage and influence the uptake of green roofs on roof tops with green roof potential to help support urban greening in the community
Identify demand for allotments with a view to increasing allotment use and developing land for community spaces and provide opportunities for those that may not have access to their own garden

7 - Water and waste

Water is often a forgotten limited resource in the UK, with easy access via our taps for a seemingly endless supply as and when we need it. However, climate change affects water management in multiple ways, including changes to seasonal and annual patterns of floods and droughts which can affect water quality and availability. This can have related impacts on our health, economic activities and on freshwater dependent ecosystems. Discarded plastic and other pollutants, along with an over-use of herbicides and pesticides, are also damaging the environment and reducing biodiversity across land and sea. The Environment Act 2021 is driving new business behaviour for waste and recycling. We will continue to work with the business community and residents to move towards a circular economy and improved resource efficiency.

Delivery update and future areas of focus

Food waste

Home composting is promoted on our website and we have continued to promote food waste reduction using adverts on our vehicles, and through social media and other communication with residents, alongside working with the BID and the Chamber of Commerce to encourage food waste reduction in businesses. The new material sales contract donates food items to food banks in Cheltenham linked to our recycling rate and continues to promote food banks. Food waste is disposed of sustainably via the Gloucestershire County Council contract with Andigestion
Looking ahead: We are exploring the case to roll out a communal food waste scheme to communal properties

Community reuse and sharing

Freegle is active in the area alongside Vision 21 Reclaim and Reuse initiatives
Looking ahead: greater promotion of reuse planned for 24/25

Enacting environment act provisions for recycling

We have improved the range of recycling available in our offices, and food waste will be home composted by a hot bin at the Swindon Road depot for the council itself and Ubico staff by April 2024
Looking ahead: We are exploring the potential to expand on-the-go recycling with the replacement of existing town centre litter bins

Leveraging supplementary planning documents around waste

Both the Golden Valley SPD and the Climate SPD do cover waste. Planning proposals are assessed against these benchmarks, though they don’t provide the required level of detail
Looking ahead: Potential for a separate Waste SPD is being explored

Ubico vehicle decarbonisation and Swindon Road infrastructure

Alternative fuels for the heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) have been put in place. As a transitional option, the majority of HGVs within Ubico have now been operating on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for over a year with significant emission benefits. A long-term fuel solution is required, as technology develops. Our 3.5T and under fleet is gradually being replaced by electric vehicles, where possible
Looking ahead: We need to develop a long term decarbonisation costed plan. This will support vehicle transition and essential infrastructure at the depot. A new depot, operated by Ubico, to enable this infrastructure is likely to play a key role in this transition. We are working closely with Gloucestershire County Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council to deliver this within available resources

Ongoing and completed actions

Priority in 2021-23

Continue to work with communities and businesses to promote food waste reduction, local food sourcing, sharing of unwanted good to eat food within the community. Continue to promote home composting and sustainable food waste
Promote community sharing and reuse to reduce waste and unnecessary consumption, including water
Develop an incentive strategy for all staff, including our partners, to help drive down energy consumption and waste across our buildings
Reduce the use of single-use plastic in council offices and premises and work with local businesses to help influence reduction in their plastic use and waste

Priority in 2024-26

Encourage businesses and other organisations within the borough to seek waste and recycling solutions which send zero waste to landfill
Following the new requirements set out within the Environment Act 2021, ensure adequate recycling and food waste facilities are provided across all Council-owned and operated buildings and community centres. Support small businesses to recycle, as well as seeking to expand the ‘on the go’ recycling bin provision across our public realm
Reduce water consumption at CBC owned sites
Leverage the new climate-focussed Supplementary Planning Document to encourage the provision of better waste and recycling facilities in developments. Continue to look to the future for innovative ways of dealing with our waste collections such as underground bins to maximise land use and provide more opportunities for biodiversity

Priority in 2027-28

Adopt circular-economy waste policies in relevant plans and contracts
Work with Gloucestershire County Council and other partners to increase the uptake of water butts and grey water recycling in new and existing homes and non-domestic properties as well as continue to promote sustainable food waste disposal across the county as part of Gloucestershire County Council’s contract arrangement for anaerobic digestion

8 - Collective action

Cheltenham Borough Council knows it cannot achieve the 2030 target alone. By working in partnership with organisations and residents across the borough, we can have greater power to bring about the necessary changes and action needed to achieve our collective global goal.

Delivery update and future areas of focus

Cheltenham Zero

The Cheltenham Zero initiative is our main vehicle for addressing borough-wide business and community group emissions. It now has 164 members and over 60 active carbon reduction plans included on the zellar platform designed to support businesses in calculating emissions and putting in place plans to reduce these. Further practical energy efficiency and emission reduction support is available via the Growth Hub
We have made £100k available to support emission reduction across community groups since 2021, supporting a range of projects to decarbonise
Looking ahead: During 2024, we are focusing on delivering £100,000 of grant funding alongside practical support and tools to help business across the borough to reduce their emissions via the Cheltenham Zero initiative, working with Vision 21. We are using this programme of support to inform our strategy to deliver improve energy efficiency and drive down carbon emissions to meet our 2030 target

Climate Champions

Working with Planet Cheltenham, our local zero carbon hub, we provided funding and support for the Climate Change Makers. The aim of this scheme is to empower and enable people to act in their communities, and it brought together 11 residents from across the town on a peer-led learning journey around climate change and local solutions
Looking ahead: We will work within our communities to support decarbonisation, particularly focused around driving down emissions associated with domestic heat and energy use to maximise the impact on borough wide emissions

Communication and toolkits

Alongside the practical support we provide for businesses via the Cheltenham Zero initiative, we have made toolkits available on our website for community groups, individuals and families. The toolkits give information on the actions people can take at a personal level to drive down energy bills, reduce waste, foster nature recovery and support emission reduction

Wider engagement and education

Working with partners like Planet Cheltenham, we provide outreach into schools and community groups to build understanding and insight around climate change and sustainability
Looking ahead: As a festival town, we will use our events strategy to ensure events in our borough are more sustainable

Ongoing and completed actions

Priority in 2021-23

Drive the wider adoption of the Cheltenham Zero Partnership across businesses, communities and residents, influencing behaviour change, collaboration and the sharing information and best practice
Establish ‘Climate Champions’ among our communities, schools and businesses – building capacity for local people to be involved in
helping meet our climate targets, inspiring communities and enterprises to find and implement solutions. Climate Champions will also be established within CBC and our key partner organisations to drive change from within
Through mechanisms such as the CheltenhamZero Partnership, provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises, working closely with partners such as GFirst LEP, to access funds and expertise, so that they are able to contribute to carbon reduction and nature restoration plans
Explore partnership opportunities for setting up ‘zero carbon hubs’ – decentralised futureproof centres promoting zero emission lifestyles, that help to educate, inform and advise on ‘all things climate’ for individuals and communities. We continue to support the Planet Cheltenham26 initiative in their fight against climate change and social inequality
Regularly update the council’s web content27 to ensure the most relevant and up to date information is available to the public
Create or signpost to toolkits available for businesses, community groups, individuals and families, relating to topics such as energy, transport, waste reduction and children’s climate education activities
Work closely with the University of Gloucestershire to help support local climate-based research, which not only helps to identify opportunities for the Council and the Borough, but also develops the skills needed for our future workforce, enhancing student experience and employability

Priority in 2024-26

Use our influence with others, such as schools and other private businesses and organisations, to help ensure their buildings are zero-carbon, their purchasing is green and they support nature wherever possible
Work with businesses to introduce local incentive schemes that may help influence visitor and resident behaviour change towards more sustainable lifestyles, such as walking and cycling, reduced waste and healthier eating