Decision

(Report of the Chief Executive)

The report sought approval to publish the Council’s Carbon Audit 2025/26, which set out Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s greenhouse gas emissions and progress towards its ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030. 

Net emissions for 2025/26 were 3,242.6tCO2e, with Scope 1 and 2 emissions having reduced by around 40% since the 2019/20 baseline, increasing to around 65% when electricity supplied through Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) tariffs was taken into account.  The report noted that most remaining emissions were within Scope 3 activities, particularly leisure facilities and refuse collection vehicles, which were more challenging to reduce as they depended on third-party services and wider operational factors.

A number of measures had been delivered or were underway, including solar PV installations, LED lighting upgrades, low carbon heating systems and electric vehicles.  Further projects were planned, including low carbon technologies at leisure facilities, the new Angel Centre and opportunities through the new waste contract.  It was however recognised that the withdrawal of national decarbonisation funding and the emerging context of Local Government Reorganisation might affect future progress.

Following consideration by the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee, the Cabinet Member for Housing, Environment and Economy resolved that:

(1)        the publication of the Carbon Audit 2025/26, be approved.