The Staffordshire Sustainability Board convened for its annual public meeting, focusing on collaborative efforts to promote sustainability across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. The board agreed to recommend that the Leaders' Board adopt option two of the vision statement. Members also discussed and refined a series of pledges aimed at fostering a sustainable future, with a commitment to further discussion and finalisation at an upcoming meeting.

Sustainability Board Vision and Pledges

The board reviewed its vision and pledges, which were initially established four years ago, with the aim of evolving and focusing them. Councillor Nigel Yates, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Chair of the Staffordshire Sustainability Board, emphasised the importance of aligning these with potential local government reorganisation to ensure a consistent approach across the region.

Vision Statement

The board considered two options for its vision statement and voted to recommend option two to the Leaders' Board. Option two states:

The Staffordshire Sustainability Board is a collaborative forum for the democratically elected bodies of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Together, we aim to influence positive change and empower communities, organisations and individuals to secure a sustainable future for our county. The board supports and champions resource efficiency to deliver long-term value for money and environmental benefit where there is an alignment of the individual organisations' net zero commitments. This will further enhance and potentially increase pace on development of green technologies. The board will deliver environmental improvements within our remits to ensure resilience is achieved in line with our key strategies. The board will support waste services and delivering efficient, value-driven operations with consideration of waste minimisation through reduction, reuse, recycling, contributing to a cleaner, greener future. The vision will be refreshed in 2028.

Several members voiced their support for option two, citing its specific reference to net zero targets.

Sustainability Pledges

The board discussed six pledges, designed to be adopted by the combined councils within their boundaries, while acknowledging the wider scope of environmental change and resilience across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

1. Powering a Sustainable Future: This pledge focuses on collaboration to shape a shared energy vision that supports sustainability, resilience, and economic growth. Councillor Anthony Pearce, Stafford Borough Council, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, noted that while local area energy plans[^1] are not an expectation, the pledge allows for supplementary planning documents to support local plans and help meet sustainability targets. Concerns were raised about the absence of any reference to renewable energy. It was suggested that the wording could include transitioning to cleaner, lower-emission energy, including renewable electricity, sustainable heating systems and low-emission transport solutions. [^1]: Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) are spatial plans that map local energy supply and demand, and identify local resources and infrastructure that can be used to transition to a low-carbon energy system.

2. Working Together for Staffordshire: This pledge aims to deliver practical, cost-effective approaches that benefit communities across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Councillor Pearce suggested renaming it Working Together for a Sustainable Staffordshire to better reflect its focus. The pledge includes integrating adaptation measures into council services and planning, supporting nature recovery through tree planting and habitat protection, and coordinating clear, consistent messaging to help communities build resilience and take informed action. There was discussion about whether the Local Nature Recovery Strategy should be a separate pledge. Local Nature Recovery Strategy: The Environment Act 2021 requires all local authorities in England to produce a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). These strategies are designed to improve and protect biodiversity and enhance the natural environment.

3. Sustainable Travel Planning: This pledge promotes and enables sustainable travel across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, supporting healthy communities and cleaner environments. It includes supporting the delivery of local cycling and walking infrastructure plans[^2] and the implementation of the new Local Transport Plan. [^2]: Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) are a strategic approach to identifying cycling and walking improvements at a local level. They enable a long-term approach to developing cycling and walking networks.

4. Communications: This pledge commits councils to coordinated county-wide communications that support the board's sustainability, environment, and waste objectives. Councillor Ian Fordham, Cabinet Member for Stafford Borough Council, stressed the importance of effective communication, repeating and reinforcing the message. Councillor Jane Ashworth, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, cautioned that it may not be straightforward for the city to commit to a three-year plan, given its structure.

5. Baseline Reporting: This pledge focuses on preparing and publishing annual baseline analyses of organisational carbon footprints to support transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making. Councillor Dennis Fletcher, Deputy Leader, East Staffordshire Borough Council, and also the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, suggested adding the word achieving to the third bullet point, to support councils in achieving and tracking progress against their environmental goals.

6. Waste and Recycling: This pledge aims to deliver waste and resource services that are efficient, customer-focused, and aligned with environmental best practice. It includes promoting waste reduction, applying the waste hierarchy consistently, developing a joint resource and waste strategy by summer 2026, and encouraging circular economy practices. It was agreed that the pledge should include the need for collaboration with the Staffordshire Waste Partnership[^3]. [^3]: The Staffordshire Waste Partnership is a collaboration of Staffordshire authorities working together to improve waste management and recycling across the county.

The board agreed to form a working group to refine the wording of the pledges, incorporating the feedback received during the meeting. The revised pledges will then be presented to the Leaders' Board for approval.

Sustainable Stafford Showcase

Gabrielle Whitehouse from Stafford Borough Council presented the Sustainable Stafford programme, which aims to support local businesses in achieving sustainability and reducing energy costs. The programme includes the Resilience Stafford Grant, the Climate Change Action Project (in partnership with Keele University), the Rural England Prosperity Fund, and carbon literacy training. The presentation featured a video showcasing local businesses, including Aston Marina, Perrys of Eccleshall, and the Wimpy in Stafford, that have benefited from the programme.

Councillor Yates asked about the difference between an energy performance certificate¹ and an energy audit, and how the latter is funded. Ms Whitehouse clarified that the council outsources energy audits, which provide additional information and allow businesses to target their spending better. The funding for the audits comes from the grants offered by the council.

Partnering for Waste Reduction

Gemma Walls, Waste Minimisation Officer for Staffordshire County Council, provided an update on Staffordshire's collaborative waste minimisation schemes. These include:

• TechCycle: A scheme where IT items can be dropped off at recycling centres for repair and reuse or stripping and saving of components.
• MediCycle: A partnership with Grace Cares in Lichfield to clean, disinfect, repair, and reuse medical care equipment.
• PaintCycle: A scheme where usable paint can be dropped off and taken free of charge at recycling centres.
• Charity Reuse: A system where usable items are donated to charity via containers at recycling centres.
• Rescue Me Pop-Ups: Events where items are made available for donation, with proceeds going back into the community.
• Bikes: Initiatives to repair and reuse bikes, including partnerships with Chain Reaction, Halfords, and the care leavers hub.

Ms Walls highlighted the importance of working together across different departments and connecting with community groups.

Work Programme

The board discussed its work programme for the coming months, including potential showcases from different districts and boroughs, updates on waste management initiatives, and presentations from external bodies.

Councillor Yates raised the possibility of holding an extraordinary meeting at Keele University to showcase their renewable energy generation and green hydrogen prototype production facilities. This proposal was met with agreement from the board.

Simpler Recycling Reforms Webinar

Ilka Hudson, SSB Officer, announced that she is working with WRAP² to develop a webinar on the simpler recycling reforms, aimed at providing members with the information they need to answer questions from residents and advocate for new services. She proposed to trial the webinar with members of the board and requested feedback. The board agreed to hold a dedicated teams meeting on the first Wednesday in December to discuss the webinar.