The Climate Change and Ecology Policy and Accountability Committee of Hammersmith and Fulham Council met on Wednesday 24 September 2025 to discuss the borough's clean energy transition and the procurement of public realm works contracts. The meeting was also scheduled to include a discussion of the committee's work programme. Councillor Nicole Trehy, Chair of the Climate Change and Ecology PAC, was in attendance, along with Councillor Callum Nimmo, Councillor Trey Campbell-Simon, Leader of the Green Group, Councillor Omid Miri, and Councillor Liam Downer-Sanderson.

H&F Clean Energy Transition

The committee was scheduled to discuss Hammersmith and Fulham (H&F) Council's strategy for transitioning to clean energy, with a focus on reducing emissions from buildings. A presentation on H&F's progress was planned, highlighting key achievements and opportunities to deliver net zero energy, with a particular focus on decarbonising heating systems in buildings and reducing energy bills.

The presentation was expected to cover:

• The council's aim to lead by example through retrofitting its own housing stock and corporate buildings, including investment in heat pumps, low-energy lighting, and solar panels across schools and corporate buildings. The Civic Campus heat network, powered by the London aquifer, is now operational and provides clean heating and cooling to over 200 homes and public buildings.
• Energy efficiency upgrades to over 500 homes in H&F social housing, including hybrid heat pumps and insulation. The council has secured funding to retrofit more than 1,000 homes over the next three years through the Warm Homes Social Housing Fund¹. Plans are also in place to develop clean heat networks in estates like Bayonne and White City, with feasibility studies underway.
• The H&F Healthy Homes initiative, which offers expert advice, home visits, and grant application support to help residents reduce energy bills and carbon emissions. The initiative includes tailored services for fuel-poor households, owner-occupiers, and private renters, and will also support residents in financing projects, promote good quality accredited suppliers, help stimulate the retrofit market and make improvements more affordable for private owners.
• The importance of electrifying heat, with heating accounting for a large share of emissions, and electricity increasingly generated from renewable sources. The council's Energy Masterplan identifies areas where heat networks are the most cost-effective way to decarbonise heat at scale.
• Promotion of clean energy through initiatives like the H&F Community Energy co-op, which allows residents to invest in local solar projects and participate in the clean energy transition, even if they can't install solar panels themselves.

The presentation also included information about the Earls Court energy network, with Peter Runacres, Head of Urban Futures ECDC, scheduled to speak.

Public Realm Works Procurement

The committee was scheduled to discuss the procurement of the Public Realm Works Contract, with a focus on climate change requirements that will form part of the new contract.

The report outlined that the council currently uses the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Highways Works Framework contract, which is due to end on 1 April 2026. The new contract incorporates mitigation measures and lessons learnt, including new challenges such as climate change, social value, sustainability, and adaptation.

Key factors in the new contracts will be:

• Sustainability
• Adaptation
• Social value
• Carbon reduction
• Grounds maintenance for the green agenda
• Design capacity including landscape gardening.

The new works contract will be developed so they are accessible by all departments providing one contract approach to the areas of civil engineering, lighting and electrical works, grounds maintenance, and design.

As part of the development of the contract, minimum standards have been set that all contractors must meet to be eligible for contracts with the council, including:

• A commitment to align with the council's Net Zero 2030 target and formal sign-up to the Low Carbon Commitment Charter.
• A Carbon Reduction Plan, a Net Zero commitment and a supporting action plan outlining how this will be achieved and monitored including:
  • Organisational emissions reporting (Scope 1, 2, and where possible, Scope 3²); and
  • Year-on-year improvement targets aligned with net zero goals
  • The contractor's Carbon Reduction Plan must outline how they will support the Council's Net Zero 2030 target, demonstrate compliance with the KPIs, and set out wider actions for reducing organisational and project-related emissions

Environmental and carbon requirements will be mandatory requirements in the contract. For example, the provision of products with reduced Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and Air Quality (AQ) emissions subject to being commercially available; tools must be electric, or battery driven and must include no use of chemicals for weed control treatment as per the council's existing policy.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been designed to drive improvement and will be monitored throughout the contract term. These KPIs will be used to evaluate environmental performance and inform contract extensions or renewals.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to suggest items for the work programme.