Issue - meetings

That:

a)       the 2035 carbon net neutral target within the current scope is retained; and

b)       Members note the potential to set a 2050 target for housing, but that this is not progressed pending a review by the new local authority entity covering Newark & Sherwood following Local Government Reorganisation in 2028.

The Director – Communities and Environment presented a report which reviewed the Council’s carbon footprint and made recommendations for next steps within the climate strategy action plan. After being appointed in May 2023, the incoming Climate Change Portfolio Holder expressed a desire to reassess the Council’s carbon neutrality target. In the interests of consistency and best practice the ‘Carbon Trust’ were again commissioned to calculate the Council’s existing baseline and to develop an options analysis for both the feasibility of bringing the 2035 target forward to 2030 and the feasibility of integrating the Council’s housing stock into the existing 2035 target.

The Carbon Trust had completed their review, and the findings were set out in Appendix A to the report. The report of the Carbon Trust had been endorsed by a working group of Members in March 2025. The report recommendation was to maintain the current baseline for carbon emissions for 2035 and to defer any target for housing stock given the likely transition to a new unitary authority in 2028.

AGREED (unanimously) that:

a)       the 2035 carbon net neutral target within the current scope is retained; and

b)       Members note the potential to set a 2050 target for housing, but that this is not progressed pending a review by the new local authority entity covering Newark & Sherwood following Local Government Reorganisation in 2028.

Reasons for Decision:

This work aligns with the Council’s Community Plan ambition to “reduce the impact of climate change and protect and enhance green spaces”.

There is a specific activity under this ambition to ‘Further develop and deliver a Council-wide decarbonisation plan for our built assets/deliver a programme of prioritised decarbonisation actions, in response to the Carbon Trust report 2025, following engagement with stakeholders.’

Options Considered:

To maintain the 2035 target but include housing; and to advance the Council’s net zero target to 2030 (corporate emissions only).