Poor climate plan ranking missed recent action plans says Stratford District Council - The Stratford Observer

Poor climate plan ranking missed recent action plans says Stratford District Council

Stratford Editorial 10th Feb, 2022   0

A NATIONAL ranking of council climate plans which scored Stratford district poorly missed out on the authority’s more recent plans.

So says Stratford District Council (SDC) after pressure group Climate Emergency UK (CE UK) – which collects information on councils’ actions to help them work together – released findings comparing local authorities after assessing climate actions plans published by local authorities up to September 20 last year.

SDC received a total score of 33 per cent.

But the research was undertaken last October, which did not take into account the Climate Change Action Programme SDC adopted, along with Warwick District Council, on November 1.




Dave Barber, SDC programme director for climate change, said: “The work Climate Emergency UK have done is welcome and provides us with the opportunity to learn from other councils that have scored better in their assessment.

“However, the timing of their research was unfortunate for Stratford District Council in that it didn’t reflect the action programme we have subsequently adopted.


“We are therefore optimistic, that when Climate Emergency UK revisit their scorecards we will see a significant improvement for Stratford district.”

Examples of the Climate Change Action Programme include a plan to reduce carbon emissions, exploring renewable and locally generated electricity, ensuring the six council fleet vehicles were 100 per cent EV by the end of 2022 – or hybrid where not possible, and preparing a South Warwickshire EV charging strategy.

The programme also includes an e-Cargo bike scheme due to launch in April, investigating sustainable transport options for Long Marston Airfield, further grant bids for retrofitting homes (Sustainable Warmth Fund), and developing a series of net zero webinars for businesses in South Warwickshire.

It will also see the council seek a partner in a funding bid to plant more trees, together with a trial of the Giki Zero scheme – a carbon footprint calculator tool – which is being carried out by district council staff.

Liberal Democrat leader Susan Juned said: “The Climate Emergency UK Scorecard shows that, along with many councils, Stratford District Council needs to be doing much more to address the climate emergency.

“I chaired the task and finish group, which requested an action plan and as a result, we welcomed the adoption of the council’s Climate Change Action Programme in November and recognise that since then real progress has been made.

“However, we will continue to encourage the council to deliver against its ambitions and will continue to make the case for more to be done, more quickly. Our ambition is for this district to be amongst the best in the country in tackling climate change.”

Visit www.stratford.gov.uk/environment/climate-change.cfm for more information on the council’s efforts to tackle global warming.

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