The Overview and Scrutiny committee will receive a report on the council's progress in implementing its Carbon Neutral Plan (CNP). It will also be asked to note the decisions the council is scheduled to make in the coming months.

Carbon Neutral Plan - Year 3 Update

The committee will receive the third annual report on the progress of the Carbon Neutral Plan. The report reviews progress in implementing the seven 'climate themes' and measures progress by estimating changes to the borough's carbon emissions.

The report also includes an update on the council's procurement of carbon management services and tools. Officers have concluded that existing software tools are too expensive, and that using a free alternative is a better option. The report states:

"Officers have concluded that market options are cost prohibitive – with an average cost of £100,000 per annum.

Nonetheless, RBG is currently participating in the Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) Programme, which has been commissioned by the GLA and being delivered by Buro-Happold in partnership with UK Power Networks (UKPN). Part of the provision of support to councils is a platform developed by UKPN, Your Local Net Zero Hub."

The report includes a summary of the challenges the council faces in achieving the aims of the plan, including high energy bills, the green skills gap and lack of funding.

The report concludes that while progress is being made, more work is required to meet the 2030 target, and that further support is required from central government and the Greater London Authority. The report states:

Our current trajectories indicate we are not on course to meet our 2030 carbon neutral target. We are therefore mindful that whilst we continue to make good progress, we are dependent upon the national policy such as the acceleration of grid decarbonisation and further funding for retrofit schemes if we are to meet our targets.

Forward Plan

The committee will be asked to note the decisions the council is scheduled to make between November 2024 and March 2025.

The most significant decision scheduled to be taken by the council is the approval of its budget for 2025/26 on 12 February 2025.

The council is also scheduled to make decisions on the future of several of its services, including its Children's Centres, its Street Cleansing service, and its temporary accommodation for homeless people.

The council is also scheduled to implement a number of changes to the borough, including the acquisition of new properties for general needs housing, the installation of new electric vehicle charging points, and the implementation of a borough wide controlled parking zone (CPZ).

The report notes that a number of the decisions scheduled to be taken by the council are dependent on the outcome of consultations and engagement with stakeholders, and may not take place on the dates indicated.

The report states:

The Forward Plan, as presented, is to be considered as a view of the scheduling of decisions at a particular time. This scheduling of business is a continuous process and it can be expected there will have been changes to the Forward Plan since the time of publication.