Climate change action plan 2025
The Action Plan is split into Council emissions, generated directly or indirectly by our operations, and are measured under Scope 1, 2, and 3 (explained below), and Borough emissions, which we can influence but have no direct control over. The actions to target Borough emissions are separated into engagement, collaboration, or regulation.
Strategy aims
- driving our goal of a Borough-wide carbon reduction of 13.4% every year
- delivering on Climate Change Survey 2023 top priorities and actions:
- pollution
- waste
- transport
- homes
- building and infrastructure
Key priorities
Decarbonisation
Reducing the Council’s emissions and supporting a significant reduction in Borough-wide Greenhouse Gas emissions is essential to deliver on the net zero commitments and the Council’s strategic priority: A High Quality Place, Adapted for Climate Change.
Local sustainability
Becoming more sustainable in our behaviours and practices within the Council and the Borough and considering the full lifecycle of our actions, including the generation and management of waste, education for the future, and the application of nature-based solutions, are essential in delivering on the Council’s strategic priority: A Fairer Economy for People and Planet.
Council emission scopes
Scope one
Direct emissions that are owned or controlled by the authority. For example:
- direct operations
- council vehicles
- council-owned properties (residential and business)
Scope two (energy production)
Covers indirect emissions that are a consequence of the authority’s activities but occur from sources not owned or controlled by it.
Also includes emissions produced from the production of energy or fuel used by the Council, such as in buildings or vehicles. Examples include electricity and fuel production.
Scope three (authority's value chain)
Covers indirect emissions that are a consequence of the authority’s activities but occur from sources not owned or controlled by it. Also includes emissions produced by contractors or suppliers in delivering services or products for the Council. Examples include contractors and suppliers.
Decarbonisation
A) Buildings and energy
Scope one
A1. Retrofit MBC business estate to meet 2027/28 energy efficiency standards, including transition to 100% LED lighting and decommissioning of gas-fuelled equipment where appropriate.
A2. Retrofit MBC residential estate to meet EPC rating C (or equivalent) energy efficiency standard as a minimum for all dwellings by 2030.
A3. Explore options for replacement of gas, including cremators at Vinters Park Crematorium with electric or water cremators.
2025 budget: £4,270,000
Scope two
A4. Review the feasibility of investing in renewable energy initiatives, such as solar PV, on MBC land to generate an environmental or financial return.
A5. Identify opportunities to switch to green energy tariffs for the Council’s energy supply.
2025 Budget: £165,000
B) Transport
Scope one
B1. Deliver the Green Fleet Strategy with continuous incremental investment in alternative fuel vehicles for the Maidstone Borough Council fleet.
B2. Carry out targeted driver training to improve driving styles and reduce emissions.
B3. Expand low low-emission vehicle offering to staff based on survey results.
2025 Budget: £450,000
Scope three
B4. Incorporate evaluation of vehicle emissions in the contract procurement process and award criteria.
B5. Adopt a policy requiring all contractors working on behalf of MBC to operate with alternative fuel vehicles from 2030.
2025 Budget: £0
C) Waste
Scope one
C1. Evaluate all waste generated and disposed of by the council against the waste hierarchy to determine alternative reduction, reuse, and recycling routes for all waste types.
C2. Support bereavement charities through metal recycling from the Crematorium.
C3. Develop partnerships with reuse charities and social enterprises to source outlets for electronic devices (e.g., laptops), furniture, building materials, and equipment currently disposed of by the organisation.
2025 Budget: £10,000
D) Green economy
Scope one
D1. Adopt a policy for sustainability requirements for events on MBC land to include sustainable travel, local food suppliers, and a ban on single-use plastics and use of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) to reduce waste arising on site.
D2. Explore offsetting options to consider viability and environmental benefit analysis for carbon capture, through the trial of local nature-based programme(s.)
2025 Budget: £500
Scope three
D3. For existing contracts, carry out active engagement with those responsible for the highest emissions, to identify opportunities for reducing the Council’s Scope 3 emissions.
D4. Develop a new procurement policy and evaluation criteria to ensure Environmental Impact Assessments are evaluated and carbon reduction is embedded in the procurement process.
D5. Contractually require all contractors and suppliers to provide accurate Scope 3 emissions data.
2025 Budget: £10,000
E) Community
Scope one
E1. Embed climate change action into the Council's “We Care” value and culture, including making Heads of Service accountable for achieving their actions, integrating into job descriptions, and considering carbon cost as part of the key decision-making process.
E2. Increase carbon literacy of the Council through regular staff and member training, ELMs training and webinars, and achievement of Level 3 Carbon Literacy certified trainer accreditation.
E3. Establish Sustainability Champions across all departments to support Council initiatives and ensure carbon reduction is embedded in all services and service decisions.
E4. Encourage all departments to allocate volunteering hours to environmental projects.
2025 Budget: £200
Scope three
E5. Maintain and promote the Council’s Carbon Dashboard to provide oversight on Borough emissions (Scope 1, 2 and 3) and highlight actions being achieved.
2025 Budget: £0
Borough emissions
This identifies the Council’s role in influencing Borough emissions through engagement with residents or businesses, working in collaboration with stakeholders, partners, or other organisations, or through regulation and the introduction of policies or strategies.
Engagement
Examples include behavioural change initiatives and communication.
Collaboration
Examples include partnerships and joint enterprises.
Regulation
Examples include policies and strategies, and enforcement.
Decarbonisation
A) buildings and energy
Engagement
A6. Identify and promote grant schemes for retrofitting homes with decarbonisation schemes, including low-carbon heating systems.
A7. Targeted engagement and support from the Energy Officer to encourage residents and landlords to install renewable energy generation equipment through shared purchasing schemes.
A8. Identify and promote funding opportunities for 'able-to-pay' residents for heat pump installation and other technologies, inc. solar.
2025 Budget: £2,000
Collaboration
A9. Promote and consider further subsidies for the Solar Together purchasing scheme for high-priority homes.
A10. Partner with investors to leverage community renewable energy provision.
A11. Work with registered providers to improve retrofit rates through partnership applications for grants and funding.
2025 Budget: £10,000
Regulation
A12. Allocate land for renewable energy production in the next Local Plan review.
A13. Issue notices and fines under the Energy Efficiency Regulations 2015 for properties not reaching the required standards.
2025 Budget: £0
B) transport
Engagement
B6. Carry out active engagement in idling hotspots and work with schools to install appropriate anti-idling signage.
B7. Reduce traffic through the adoption of an Integrated Sustainable Transport Strategy with a focus on active transport.
B8. Provide an updated report on the Cycling and Walking Plan.
B9. Adopt an EV strategy for the Borough to incorporate EV charging infrastructure into developments, on-street, and Maidstone Borough Council property.
2025 Budget: £2,000
Collaboration
B10. Work with Kent County Council to support the installation of on-street EV charging points in priority areas.
B11. Deliver the Air Quality Action Plan, including working with local bus providers to access funding to improve the quality of buses in Maidstone and increase the electrification of their fleets.
2025 Budget: £25,200
Local sustainability
C) Waste
Engagement
C4. Take a more robust education and, where necessary, enforcement approach to how waste is managed in flats and communal properties to reduce contamination and increase recycling.
C5. Increase recycling rates through targeting material capture rates and reducing contamination by delivering a comprehensive communications campaign to residents through bin tags, face-to-face engagement, and incentive schemes.
2025 Budget: £28,000
Collaboration
C6. Increase reuse and repair of household items to reduce unnecessary waste through the support of local repair cafes and social enterprises.
C7. Facilitate a local plastics alliance through One Maidstone and community leaders, whereby businesses commit to the reduction of single-use plastics in their products, services, and packaging.
C8. Pilot a community composting scheme with the Allotment Association to enable residents to compost waste locally.
2025 Budget: £10,500
Regulation
C9. Separate all recyclable materials from street litter and identify options to recycle litter bin waste.
C10. Take a zero-tolerance approach to waste crime through the cohesive use of all enforcement powers available to deter, catch, and prosecute those responsible.
2025 Budget: £10,000
D) Green economy
Engagement
D6. Identify sustainability funding opportunities for local businesses, such as through UKSPF, to deliver projects in rural communities and the Town Centre.
D7. Provide local businesses with regular updates on sustainability improvements, funding opportunities, and sharing best practices.
2025 Budget: £1,000
Collaboration
D8. Consider investment in renewable infrastructure through Kent Community Energy.
D9. Work with the Department of Work and Pensions to identify and promote job opportunities in the Green Economy sector, such as linking with Mid Kent College's sustainability or green construction courses.
D10. Prepare a Climate Change Vulnerability Upskilling Plan to identify who would benefit from training or skills workshops to improve resilience and preparedness.
D11. Work in partnership with local education and training providers to promote sustainability and green upskilling opportunities, such as solar PV engineering and green construction.
2025 Budget: £150,500
Regulation
D12. Adopt a policy to restrict the advertising of high-carbon products and services through Maidstone Borough Council's advertising sites.
2025 Budget: £0
E) Community
Engagement
E6. Improve engagement with carbon reduction initiatives and funding opportunities, particularly for community projects and with vulnerable or under-represented groups, through the delivery of an annual communication plan with identified targeted interventions.
E7. Put sustainability at the heart of the Borough Insight magazine, including key content and manufacturing.
2025 Budget: £33,830
Collaboration
E8. Provide an annual Climate Action Fund to support the delivery of local sustainability projects.
E9. Work with educational institutions and local training providers to develop a training programme on the sustainability agenda.
E10. Explore partnerships with third sector organisations to deliver sustainability projects, such as bulky reuse and WEEE recycling.
2025 Budget: £12,500