The Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel met to discuss the Beat the Cold annual update, the development of the Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy, and the Climate and Nature Summary. The panel agreed to recommend to the cabinet its support for the new delivery plan and governance mechanisms for climate and nature.

Climate and Nature Strategy

The panel discussed the progress of the climate and nature plans, and agreed to recommend to the cabinet its support for the new delivery plan and governance mechanisms.

A report, Sept 2025 Climate Nature Summary Report FINAL, summarised work undertaken to date, and outlined the next steps to support delivery of the council's climate and nature plans.

The report noted that since the council's Climate Change Action Plans were approved in 2021, the council had also adopted a Plan for Nature, which sets out actions to support the recovery of nature across the district.

The key updates following the review were summarised as:

• The governance and delivery vehicle for both the Climate Change Action Plans and the Plan for Nature have been integrated, to formalise and align agendas.
• The existing Climate Change Working Groups for High Peak and Staffordshire Moorlands have been combined into a new, joint 'Climate and Nature Steering Group' to provide oversight and scrutiny to the delivery of the council's climate and nature plans. The first meeting was held in August 2025.
• A new delivery plan has been developed which defines four key themes: Mitigation, Change, Adaptation and Plan for Nature.
• All aims under the climate and nature plans have been reviewed and distilled down into 25 aims. Under each aim sits several actions (100+ in total).
• Communications and community engagement have been defined as key pillars supporting the whole delivery plan and all aims/actions.
• New spreadsheet tracker tools have been developed to monitor and report on delivery.

The next steps are to:

• Collate and incorporate feedback from members on the new delivery plans, following the first Climate and Nature Steering Group.
• Establish additional officer groups for Heads of Service and principle/senior officers to progress and monitor the delivery, defining responsibilities for aims and actions, providing accountability and facilitating better cross-departmental working.
• Further develop tracker tools including work to define performance indicators, monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
• Integrate relevant climate and nature objectives into team service plans.
• Publish the first communications bulletin and share widely with stakeholders.
• Define community engagement workshop themes and book in dates with stakeholders.
• Set agendas for forthcoming Climate and Nature Steering Group meetings.
• Seek formal agreement on proposed spend for the Council's Climate Change Reserves.

The report also included a Climate Change and Nature Delivery Plan for 2025 to 2028. The plan recognises that climate change and nature are both separate, yet interlinked issues. The plan sets out four overarching themes:

• Mitigation – The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
• Adaptation – strategies to support communities, infrastructure and support systems to still function when the climate changes.
• Plan for Nature - Looking after and improving quality and access to nature, and supporting biodiversity.
• Change – Using influence to support systematic and behavioural change in communities, infrastructure and within internal operations.

The aims under each theme total 25. Actions to support delivery of the aims are listed as a project tracker as an appendix to be reviewed annually and reported through the Climate Change and Nature Steering Group.

Beat the Cold Annual Update

The panel received an annual update from Beat the Cold, the commissioned Energy Advice Provider for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

Beat the Cold has delivered client-led support tailored to individual need across Staffordshire for over 25 years. The Energy Advice Team includes skilled call handlers for triage and basic support, and qualified energy advisors for health referrals, complex case work including home visits, and advocacy work with energy suppliers if required.

Beat the Cold operates to a mix of short-term crisis relief such as energy and food vouchers, and longer-term measures such as referrals to retrofit schemes to improve the fabric of homes, reducing fuel poverty.

NICE Guideline 6 underpins all energy advice work, as the gold-standard for reduction of excess winter deaths and health risks associated with cold homes.

The Energy Advice Contract service level agreement includes:

• Providing an energy advice service
• Offering extra advice and support to vulnerable residents; ensuring information and advice is easily accessible
• Maintaining and actively promoting the brand
• Incorporating the affordable warmth programme as a mechanism for improving the health of residents across the district
• Identifying and advising on ECO or similar projects and leading on delivery
• Performance monitoring and reporting outcomes
• Monitoring satisfaction

In 2024/25, the Energy Advice Contract supported 274 households with 351 enquiries. £1,819 of fuel vouchers were issued to households, and £774 was saved after tariff advice. 66 residents reported improved wellbeing.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund reached 291 households, supporting 555 people. £1,814 of fuel vouchers were issued to households, and 50% of residents reported improved wellbeing. £305,947 was delivered in potential savings and grants.

Other Matters

The panel also:

• Approved the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 July 2025.
• Considered the minutes of the recent meeting of the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel.
• Agreed the work programme.
• Discussed the development of the Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy.