The Stratford-on-Avon Climate Change Panel met to discuss future climate change engagement, receive questions from the public, and review the minutes from their previous meeting.

Council Climate Scorecards

The Climate Change Panel reviewed the council's climate action scores from Climate Emergency UK¹. Stratford-on-Avon District Council (SDC) had the second-highest score in Warwickshire.

The main sources of information for Climate Emergency UK were council websites and the UK Government's website, especially regarding funding applications. The panel noted that a lack of information on the council website negatively affected the council's score. Councillor Susan Juned, Leader of the Council, emphasised the importance of updating the website with all information regarding the council's climate change work before October 2025 to ensure it is included in the next assessment. She noted that significant work had been undertaken since the assessment ended in October 2024, including the installation of solar panels on the council's leisure centres, which would be included in the 2025 scoring.

Panel members raised concerns about the fairness of the assessments and the resources required to keep the website updated. In response, the panel was advised that the council has a right to reply, that national databases are used by the assessors, and that Freedom of Information requests² and direct contact are used when information is not readily available online. It was suggested that keeping the website up to date could save officers' time in the long run.

Community Climate and Nature Fund

The Scrutiny Officer provided an update on the Community Climate and Nature Fund, in the absence of the Climate Change Project Manager. Round three of the fund was open for applications, with a total of £150,000 available and no application deadline. Officers are scheduled to meet quarterly to assess applications. Case studies of previously funded projects are available on the council's website as examples of the type of work that can be funded. Enquiries about the fund can be directed to climate.emergency@stratford-dc.gov.uk.

Information about the fund had been shared with parish and town councils via the Parish Forum, and district councillors were encouraged to share information with local councils and community groups in their wards.

HVO Fuel Update

The Head of Environmental and Neighbourhood Services provided an update on discussions with Biffa³ regarding the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel in refuse vehicles across the district.

The council had met with representatives from Biffa and Certas⁴. It was confirmed that:

• no virgin palm oil was used;
• the minimum lifecycle greenhouse gas savings were 80%;
• the supply chain was International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) compliant;
• the product used was sourced from Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) approved waste and residue feedstocks only; and
• RTFO accreditation requires comprehensive sustainability information to be provided by the supplier, verified via a third-party auditor approved by the RTFO.

Panel members thanked officers for their work and emphasised the importance of reassuring the public about the sustainability of the fuel. It was requested that all responses be made public and considered by the Climate Change Panel once received.

Local Climate Engagement Programme

Councillor Juned advised the panel that the Local Climate Engagement Programme involves working closely with parish and town councils to engage with the public on climate change.

The Scrutiny Officer announced that a showcase event would be held on 17 October 2025 at Leamington Spa Town Hall⁵. Councillor Juned expressed her hope for the Climate Change Panel to become more involved in the programme going forward.