(September 2019 version)

Climate Emergency Rapid Action Plan

January 2020

Cabinet Lead: Cllr Chris McFarling Joint Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Planning Policy,
Performance and Shared Working and Climate Emergency

Lead Officer: Alastair Chapman Sustainability Team Leader

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Contents
1.

What’s our plan? ......................................................................................................................... 3

2.

The Purpose of this Rapid Action Plan (RAP) .............................................................................. 33.

Size of the challenge ................................................................................................................... 3

4.

How the RAP developed ............................................................................................................. 55.

2019 Evidence gathering and foundation works ........................................................................ 76.

Key messages .............................................................................................................................. 8

7.

Limitations................................................................................................................................... 88.

Organisational Structures ........................................................................................................... 8

9.

Resources Capacity funding ...................................................................................................... 10

Annex A – CE Rapid Action Plan (2020/21) ....................................................................................... 11
Annex B Principles for CE Partnership / Network ............................................................................. 16
Annex C - Terms of Reference for Cabinet Portfolio Support Group................................................ 17
Annex B - Background and Drivers.................................................................................................... 19
Annex D – Climate Emergency Cabinet Portfolio Support Group output examples ........................ 20

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1.

What’s our plan?

1.1.

A Climate Emergency has been declared by the Forest of Dean District Council1. The declaration
essentially provides the context and objectives in regards to the Climate Emergency.

1.2.

Put simply:

2.

i.

Make the Forest of Dean District Council carbon neutral by 2030

ii.

Make the Forest of Dean District carbon neutral by 2030

iii.

Work with partners across the district, county and region to help deliver carbon
neutrality through all relevant strategies and plans.

iv.

Call on the Government and other relevant organisations and partners to provide
the powers, resources and funding to successfully meet the 2030 target

The Purpose of this Rapid Action Plan (RAP)
I.
II.

3.

To accelerate activity from the early evidence gathering and foundation stage in to
the first phase of priority activity in 2020/21.
To develop a longer term action plan.

Size of the challenge
3.1. There has been some good progress at a national level in reducing the carbon emissions
from energy and transport as well as FoDDC in reducing its carbon footprint. However tomeet the challenge of the Climate Emergency there needs to be step change in activity tomeet net zero carbon emissions by 2030. A ‘business as usual’ approach will not enable us
to keep below 1.5°C global temperate rise.
3.2. In terms of considering emissions, carbon dioxide is not the only greenhouse gas
responsible for climate change. However, for ease of reporting, all greenhouse gas
emissions are normally expressed as metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
This gives the global warming effect of the mass of greenhouse gas in terms of what mass of
CO2 would produce the equivalent effect.

1

See Annex B

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1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0

30% reduction over 8 years

Journey so Far*
Potential Pathway*

2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030
Year

70% over 10 years required* Indicative pathway

Forest of Dean District CO2e Emissions
700.0
600.0

28% over 12 years
500.0
Tones ,000

TonnesForest of Dean Council CO2e Emissions

400.0
300.0

Journey so far

200.0

Potential Pathway

100.0

72% over 13 years required

-

Year

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Forest of Dean District Greenhouse Gas Emmissions by sector

4.

How the RAP developed

4.1.

The RAP has not been subject to consultation although a wide variety of interested people andgroups have been involved in its development.

4.2.

The Climate Emergency Cabinet Portfolio Support Group (CE CPSG) formed and met in July and
September 2019 to identify key actions and discuss how priority activity could be delivered. The
support group meeting involved and had support from a range of interested members of the
public and local groups2. CE CPSG identified a range of ideas and options (meeting 1). These
were then prioritised within themed areas (Energy, Landscape, Planning, Transport,
Communication, Procurement) selecting three or four actions under each theme which were ofhigh priority (meeting 2). In identifying priority actions the group was asked to think about the2

See Annex C

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carbon reduction impact of an action, impact time scale (long-term or quick win) and the likely
complexity of the action. The group was encouraged to have a mix of both short and longer
term priority actions. The actions selected by the group are referenced as ‘PG’ in the table at
Annex A.
4.3.

At the same time officers of the council looked at Climate Emergency (CE) actions that thecouncil could prioritise to reduce its emissions, lead in the area and support community wide
activity.

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5.

2019 Evidence gathering and foundation works
Title
Energy Supply

Onsite renewable energy
generation
Vehicle Fleet

Corporate Priorities

Low Carbon planning policy

Climate Change Risk
Assessment
Electric vehicle charging
District carbon audit
Council carbon audit
Community Engagement

Partnership Work

Procurement Policy

Activity
Enabled switch to ‘green’ electricity tariff. Planning future steps to true
green energy supplies.
Delivering trial of heating system efficiency measures.
Site assessment undertaken and key sites identified. Survey of council
office building for solar PV completed and funding options investigatede.g. Salix Finance.
Review of fleet arrangements and investigating strategy for carbon
reduction.
Street wardens’ trialled hybrid vehicle. Electric van free trial secured (dateTBC).
Survey for electric vehicle charging point in council staff car park
undertaken.
Investigated options for electric pool cars and low carbon waste collection
vehicles.
CE declaration embedded into corporate priorities.
Facilitation of Publica wide CE network
Working, joining up with other LA/Public sector across the county
Working with Planning Policy groups to Re-launch CSP.3 (looking to require
higher carbon efficient homes than current building regulations)
supplementary planning document.
Exploring opportunities for Local Plan to reduce carbon emissions in newhomes.
Reviewing council owned built and land assets for vulnerability to impactsof climate change.
Investigating options for installing electric vehicle charging points incouncil owned car-parks.
Review of district wide carbon emissions (2005 – 2017).
Review of council carbon emissions 2018/19.
Developing strategy to support community activity.
Delivering free energy audit to all long-term industrial unit tenants, act ascase studies for other local businesses.
Launched climate change webpage on council website.
Parish and Town council and community climate action day planned forMarch 2020.
Hosted Solar Streets information evening for District, Town and Parish
councillors as an example of solar bulk purchasing.
Establishing CE partnership projects with Two Rivers Housing, Freedom
Leisure and local schools.
Established Publica Officer Climate Action Group.
Embedding low carbon criteria within procurement policy through Publica
Climate Action Group.

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6. Key messages
6.1. Five key messages that have come from discussions:1) There needs to be a partnership, network or assembly to bring parties, individuals
and groups to work in a coherent and joined up way;2) The Council can drive its own CO2e reduction plan;3) The biggest challenge is moving our communities, economies and life styles to net
zero by 2030. Monitoring the effects of individual changes in this area will bedifficult as it involves multiple behaviour changes, influencers and actors;
4) There needs to be strong leadership and committed lead partners to drive andexplain change;
5) Good to make a clear start but there needs to be a longer term plan to get us to2030.

6.2. Whilst strong leadership has got us this far that needs to continue and spread or join up withother organisations. There are therefore two broad organisational recommendations:
I.
II.

Establish a FOD CE partnership or board with a wider forum / network to makeconnections, share learning and work together (see section 8)
Establish core capacity funding to support the partnership and deliver some key
activities.

7. Limitations
7.1. These priorities have been developed at pace due to the urgency of the Climate Emergency andas such they may change as new information and insights come to light and in this regard it
should be seen as an iterative process.
7.2. Actions and resource implications are indicative at this stage. There are a great many
alternative actions that could be explored. However in drawing up this list consideration has
been given to resource implications and scope or work required.

8. Organisational Structures
8.1. As a result of the key messages above the following organisational structures are proposed.

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8.2. District Partnership – There is a real need for a common place where ‘actors’ (organisations andindividuals) can share ideas and collaborate. The concept for a wider Forest of Dean CE
partnership is for a network or organisation which can drive CE activity outside of and, whenaligned, with the Council. The partnership will be established following the along the lines of thesuccessful Forest Economic Partnership. It may be virtual or a have regular meetings/events.
Draft principles for the group are set out in annex B.
8.3. Forest of Dean District Council – Will establish an elected member Climate Emergency Cabinet
Portfolio Support Group to support the implementation of net zero actions from its activities
and policies. The support group will focus on:1) CO2e from its operations and assets e.g. Council offices, business travel and waste
collection etc;
2) Direct policies it is responsible for and their contribution to net zero 2030 e.g. Local Plan,
Leisure strategy, Waste strategy etc.
3) Supporting the district wide partnership.

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Draft terms of reference for the group are outlined in Annex C

9. Resources Capacity funding
FoDDC will provide officer support of 0.8FTE to support the delivery of RAP during 2020-21.

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Annex A – CE Rapid Action Plan (2020/21)
Impact Timescale: S = <2yrs, M = 2-4yrs, L = >4yrs
Theme: C= Communication, S= Strategy/Procurement, E= Energy, T= Transport, L= landscape, P=PlanningCouncil Activity
Activity

ReasonSupportwider
district partnership/ network (incP&TC’s) to drive
coherent change

Cumulative activity
by the many andpotential
forexternal funding

Developa
corporate ‘Climate
Champions’network within the
Publicapartnership
Developandresource plan for alongerterm
strategy
Renewable energyonCouncilproperty

Key Partners

ResourcesS

NGOs(nongovernmentalorganisations)Interest groups
etc
FoDDC

FoDDC
providesecretariat
supporttoC

Create activity andchampions at alllevels of the Council
and Publica business

S

FoDDC
Publica partners

Shared resource
across Publica
partnershipC

Develop longer term
strategy – 5 years

S

S-M

FoDDC to leadandprovidesecretariat
support
Legal
Property
Capital budget

S

Lead by installing
renewableenergysources on Council
propertyEV(Electric Support
theVehicle) charging provisionofaroll out strategy
network for rapid
charging for both(PG)
public and council
vehiclesPublicsector Develop a pathway
vehicles strategy
tolowcarbon(EV/Hybrid vehicles)

FoDDC
NGOs
Interest groups
etc
FoDDC
TenantsandOccupiers

S-M

FoDDC
EV suppliers
Carparks

Legal
Procurement
Property
services

T

M-L

S-M

Waste contract
Long lead intime, propriety
work only
Legal
LicencingT

Taxis
Licencing
exploreanescalator
oflicencing fees toincentivise hybrid
andelectric
vehicles

FoDDC
Waste
Collection
Contactor
FoDDC

Sets out a long term
strategy in tandemwith EV charging
points

ImpactTime scale

Theme

E

T

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Activity

ReasonCycleways develop
a programme tosupport thedelivery of cycle
routes particularly
between Lydney /Bream / Coleford

This cluster ofsettlements has astrong relationshipand totals about 1/5of the district
population. Increasein electric bikes may
address some of the
topography issues
for users
ConsiderClimateChange impacts ofwaste collection

Key Partners

Resources

M-L

Gloucestershire
County Council(GCC)
Parish & Town
Councils
Sustrans
FoDDC

Regeneration/Street Wardens
Community
Engagement
Team

T

M-L

FoDDC
GCC, Will begin inContractor
2020 as part ofwaste strategy
review

S

Procurement
Drive supply chain
policy for supply change
chain

M -L

Publica
Suppliers
goods
serviceacrossS

Developprocurement
approaches forGreen energy
supplies forCouncil activity
and services
Re-engage policy
CSP3 of the Core
Strategy to makechangestodevelopment
required
from
2020.

In tandem withefficientuseofenergy develop apathway to use oftrue green energy
supplies

M-L

FoDDC
Publicapartnership

Shared resource
across Publica
partner councils

SCE
declaration
creates opportunity
to re-engage CSP3
and require higher
carbon efficiency inresidential
development thancurrent
building
regulations.
New local plan to Sets out strategic
set development Carbon
neutralstandards
in development plan
relation to new
development

S

FoDDC

Engagementwith planningandbuilding
sectorDevelopment of
guidance
andevidence

P

M-L

FoDDC
Development
industry bodies

Local(FoDDC)P

Waste
Management
review(PG)

ImpactTime scale

Sharedof Publica
and

Theme

plan

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Activity

ReasonImpactTime scale

Key Partners

Resources

Community Level
renewable energy
generatione.g.
Planning
policysupportforcommunity related
wind turbines

Good supply of
renewableenergydelivered locally for
local benefit

M-L

FoDDC
Local
Energy Sector(FoDDC)Parish & Town
Councils

Reviewand To support delivery
support delivery of ofactionsandRAP
ensuretheCE
Partnership/Networkissupported

S-M

FoDDC
CE Network

Theme

plan

FoDDC

P

S

Potential activity for Climate Emergency (CE) Network
Activity

ReasonEncourage
andsupport residents,
visitors
andhomeowners
totakesustained
action to reduce
theircarbonfootprint
Reduce Lighting inpublic areas anduse more LED e.g
carparks, industrial
estates and large
businesses

Drive long term
behavioural change
in all sectors having acumulative impact

Easy, quick andvisible. Follow GCC
lead

(PG)
Reducepublic Easy, quick andbuilding
heating visible. Possible local
andAir branding advantage
conditioning e.g.
shops, offices,

ImpactTimescale
S-L

Key Partners

Resources

Theme

Community
CE Partnership /NGOs
and Network
Community
Groups

C

S-M

FoDDC
CE Partnership /Parish & Town Network(P & T) Councils
Businesses(Supermarkets
etc)
Landowners

E

S-M

Businesses(Supermarkets
etc)
Landlords

E

CE Partnership /Network(PG)

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Activity

ReasonGreen
EnergySupply (Electricity)
promotion
toHouseholds.
Promotecasestudiesandcumulative
purchase to reduce
costs

Provideeasy
alternative
demonstrating thateveryone can make adifference(PG)
Support public
transport change
(PG)

Embed
ClimateChangeimplicationsindecision making at
all levels

ImpactTimescale
S-M

Key Partners

Housing
CE Partnership /Associations
Network
Home Owners
Landlords
Private sector
Housing

E

Work with GCC todeliver more low
carbon solutions

M –L

GCC
P & T Councils

T

Get people to thinkabout
ClimateChange in theirdecision making

S-M

(PG)
Dedicated website Single point for CE
or App link
activityaninformation APP(PG)
Support small scale Good for ecology,
butwidespread carbon storage andagro-forestry
education
potential initiallyon Public land
(PG)
Verge Cutting and Reduce
waste,
public land cutting improve biodiversity
Advisory/
Partnershipapproach(See
Dymock example)

Resources

Potentiallythrough the CE
partnership /Network andCabinet SupportGroup
CE network / CE Partnership Website
media/communication
strategy

Theme

C

S

FoDDC
Community
Groups/ CE Partnership /Network
/
FoDDC

C

S-M

Landowners
Community
GroupsCE Partnership /Network

L

S-M

FoDDC
GCC, CE Partnership /Schools
Network
Grounds
maintenanceleads
P & T Councils

L

(PG)

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Activity

ReasonReduce Pesticides Reduce
waste,
use on public improve biodiversity
estate(See
Micheldean
Example)(PG)
Encourage home Good for ecology,
owners to plant for carbon storage andwildlife
education

ImpactTimescale
S-M

S-M

Key Partners
FoDDC
GCC
Schools
Grounds
maintenanceleads
P & T Councils
Press & media
campaign

Resources

Theme

CE Partnership /NetworkL

CE Partnership /Network

L(PG)

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Annex B Principles for CE Partnership / Network
1. The Council will invite individuals and groups to form a community partnership to support
the delivery of action to address the declared climate emergency.
2. The partnership will be independent of the Council.
3. The objective of the partnership, initially, will be to co-ordinate community wide activity tosupport the delivery of a carbon neutral and climate resilient district by 2030.
4. The partnership shall elect its own chairperson and agree terms of reference and terms ofoffice utilising the experience gained from other partnerships such as the Forest Economic
Partnership.
5. The Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency will act as a formal liaison between thecommunity partnership and the Council.
6. The Council will provide some administrative support to the partnership. The ways in which
the Council supports and works with the wider partnership will be kept under review by the
Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and the Climate Emergency Cabinet Portfolio
Support Group.

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Annex C - Terms of Reference for Cabinet Portfolio Support GroupCABINET SUPPORT GROUP – CLIMATE EMERGENCYTERMS OF REFERENCE
PurposeTo assist in developing and evaluating action to address the Councils declared Climate Emergency
through Council polices, its own activities and support for community wide activity. The group shallassist in supporting the delivery of the Council CE Rapid Action Plan or any subsequent Cabinet
approved plan/strategy.
Key areas of work
Climate Change, Carbon Emissions, Energy, Waste, Landscape, Biodiversity and Sustainability
Membership
The membership of the support group will include:a) The Cabinet Portfolio Holderb) Each political group will be invited to nominate a standing member with responsibility forcontinuity and oversight for they group they represent. (The Cabinet Portfolio Holder will
represent their group).
c) Open to all other members
The public usually will be able to observe.
Chairman
The meeting will be chaired by the Cabinet Portfolio Holder.
Terms of Reference
To assist the Cabinet Portfolio Holder by: a) Supporting the development of Climate Emergency Rapid Action Plan.
b) Evaluating the progress of environmental policies and their impacts;c) Considering the Council’s role in supporting community based environmental initiatives andprojects;d) Assist in developing Council responses to consultations in respects of environmental policies
and initiates.
e) Examining specific policy topic areas and assisting in developing strategies for delivery.

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(September 2019 version)Frequency of Meetings
Variable depending on stage of plan making / policy development, normally in the region of 8-10 per
year.
GovernanceAttendance:
Note Taking:Circulation of notes:

For meetings with less than four members (including the Chair) the
Chair will consider the benefits of continuing with the meeting.
Action notes and summary will be recorded. The meetings will not be
minutedAll members(Electronic)

DecisionmakingNone
responsibilities:
Voting procedures:

None

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Annex B - Background and Drivers
The Committee on Climate Change3 recommended a new emissions target for the UK: net-zero greenhouse gases(GHG) by 2050. This was agreed by the UK government in June 2019 as a legally binding target. The net-zero GHG
target for 2050 will deliver on the commitment that the UK made by signing the Paris Agreement. The Committee on
Climate Change considers this is achievable with known technologies, alongside improvements in people’s lives, andwithin the expected economic cost that Parliament accepted when it legislated for its previous 2050 target (which
was for an 80% reduction from 1990). However, this is only possible if clear, stable and well-designed policies toreduce emissions further are introduced across the economy without delay.
Overall, UK emissions are down 43% compared to the 1990 baseline while the economy has grown significantly overthe same period. However most of this is down to excellent progress in reducing emissions from electricity
generation, while reductions in other sectors have stalled. It is a call for rapid and sustained action in order that we
globally will be able to cope with the risks to life on the planet.
The International Panel on Climate Change set out in 2018 that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid,
far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society, the IPCC said in a new assessment. With clear
benefits to people and natural ecosystems, limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C could go hand in handwith ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society. “Rapid and far-reaching” transitions in land, energy,
industry, buildings, transport, and cities are needed to limit global warming to 1.5c. Global net human-caused
emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching ‘net
zero’ around 2050. This means that any remaining emissions would need to be balanced by removing CO 2 from theair.
The report highlights a number of climate change impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.5°C
compared to 2°C, or more. For instance, by 2100, global sea level rise would be 10 cm lower with global warming of
1.5°C compared with 2°C. The likelihood of an Arctic Ocean free of sea ice in summer would be once per century with
global warming of 1.5°C, compared with at least once per decade with 2°C. Coral reefs would decline by 70-90
percent with global warming of 1.5°C, whereas virtually all (> 99 percent) would be lost with 2°C.
Forest of Dean District Council adopted motion 6th December 2018
1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2. Aim to make the Forest of Dean District Council and the district carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account bothproduction and consumption emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3),
3. Call on the Government and other relevant organisations and partners to provide the powers, resources andfunding to successfully meet the 2030 target;
4. Subject to receiving the necessary powers, resources and funding to:a) Work with other councils and organisations (both within the UK and internationally) to determine
and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5C; andb) Ask the Leader to initiate work with partners across the district, county and region to help deliver
carbon neutrality through all relevant strategies and plans.
5. As a first step, to actively investigate using a local green energy company as the Council’s energy provider.
3

The Committee on Climate Change (the CCC) is an independent, statutory body established under the Climate Change Act 2008. Their purpose is to advise the UK
Government and Devolved Administrations on emissions targets and report to Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing
for climate change

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Annex D – Climate Emergency Cabinet Portfolio Support Group output examples(WWW. WWW LiNK

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