Wiltshire Council leading the race net zero
The council is doing 'better than most'
Wiltshire Council is doing better than most local authorities in reaching its net zero targets, according to a new report published this week.
The second edition of the Council Climate Action Scorecards from Climate Emergency UK found that only 62 per cent of the UK’s local and combined authorities scored more than 50 per cent overall against a set of 90 criteria.
Up to thirty per cent of the UK’s transition to net zero is within the influence of local councils.
The results, said Climate Emergency UK, showed that most local authorities were not on track to meet their net-zero targets by 2030.
It is the second time that Climate Emergency UK has undertaken its ‘holistic assessment’ of what councils are doing for climate action, providing insight on what they can do to lower carbon emissions, cut residents’ energy bills, protect green spaces and provide better public transport.
Isaac Beevor, partnerships director at Climate Emergency UK, said: “The UK Government must make climate action a fully-funded legal duty for all UK councils to remove the national barriers councils face.
“This would support councils to step up their climate action by more than six percentage points over almost two years and at the emergency pace needed by providing increased funding, powers, and guidance to cash-strapped councils to tackle the climate and cost of living crisis.”
Wiltshire Council conservative group leader, Richard Clewer, who sits on the Advisory Group to create the Action Scorecards and was leader of the council when the statistics that made up the report were collated, said: “The Government may have a target for net zero by 2050, but these Scorecards results show that they are not doing enough to support communities and councils across the UK with sorely needed funding and powers to deliver the change needed, such as cheaper and frequent public transport, well-insulated homes and affordable local food and rent.”
With an average score of 53 per cent against a national average of 40 per cent, Wiltshire Council was ranked 32nd out of 391 councils.
The council scored well for the action taken on buildings and heating is, which is one of the biggest sectors of carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.
Covering public buildings and social housing, the authority scored 82 per cent – up 10 per cent and better than the 54 per cent average.
However, when it came to the other big contributor of greenhouse gas emissions – transport – Wiltshire Council fared less well. When it came to the action Wiltshire Council had taken to reduce car use and encourage sustainable transport, the authority secured by 13 per cent, up three per cent on the last report, but still half the UK average.
When it came to collaboration, the council did well with a score of 76 per cent – up one per cent on last time and well above the national average of 54 per cent.
It also scored well in planning and land use (77 per cent), and improving biodiversity (up 19 percent to 50 per cent against a national average of 32 per cent).
The council’s lowest score was in waste reduction and food, where it achieved a meagre seven per cent – down 12 per cent – against a UK average of 43 per cent.
The section looks at the influencing role councils can play in supporting sustainable food production on their land and in their schools, and circular economy initiatives locally.
The statistics that made up the report were collated before the local council elections saw a change of administration at County Hall.
Cllr Paul Sample, cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, said, “We are pleased that Wiltshire Council is in the top 10 per cent of councils overall – 32nd of 391 councils
“It was particularly pleasing that for buildings and heating, we are a top-performing council, and we hope the work we are doing and the example we set in this area inspire individuals and businesses to do more.
“We have also seen a big improvement in the area of planning and land use, and overall, we are above average in many of the categories we are scored in.
“There is always more we can do, though. We are in the process of negotiating a new waste collection contract, which will see a weekly food waste collection introduced in 2027 alongside flexible plastic collections and a new three-stream recycling collection service, which will enhance our performance in this area.
“Our goals over the next four years, include reducing car travel, enhancing public transport, and promoting walking and cycling. Last year, the council released an updated Local Transport Plan and increased investment in the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.
“We are committed to promoting the use of electric bikes to decrease the number of short car journeys. Additionally, we will explore the possibility of the council taking control of bus services to better serve local communities, as permitted under the Better Buses Bill. We will also collaborate with town and parish councils to develop and maintain new walking and cycling routes.
“This weekend we are co-hosting the inaugural Wiltshire Climate and Environment Summit, and this will bring community groups and organisations together so that we can share ideas through networking, talks, workshops, and exhibitions. It promises to be a very worthwhile event.”