Maidstone Borough Council Local area carbon emissions reduction report Prepared by the Energy Saving Trust August 2009 2 Table of contents 1.0 Executive summary ................................................................................................................................................ 3 1.1 Overview of council............................................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 Progress so far.................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Key recommendations ........................................................................................................................................ 9 2.0 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................... 11 2.1 About this report................................................................................................................................................ 12 2.2 Background information.................................................................................................................................... 13 2.2.1 General information ................................................................................................................................... 13 2.2.2 Carbon emissions...................................................................................................................................... 15 2.3 The national context.......................................................................................................................................... 16 2.4 Ongoing support ............................................................................................................................................... 17 3.0 Results and Recommendations ........................................................................................................................... 18 3.1 Summary........................................................................................................................................................... 18 3.2 Strategy............................................................................................................................................................. 19 3.2.1 Overview.................................................................................................................................................... 19 3.2.2 Strategic approach..................................................................................................................................... 20 3.2.3 Resources – internal.................................................................................................................................. 22 3.2.4 Political/corporate support ......................................................................................................................... 23 3.2.5 Staff training and engagement .................................................................................................................. 24 3.3 Services ............................................................................................................................................................ 25 3.3.1 Overview.................................................................................................................................................... 25 3.3.2 Regeneration ............................................................................................................................................. 26 3.3.3 Housing...................................................................................................................................................... 28 3.3.3.1 Social housing – other stock .................................................................................................................... 31 3.3.3.2 Private sector housing – rented and owner occupied .............................................................................. 35 3.3.4 Energy advice ............................................................................................................................................ 40 3.3.5 Resources – levering in external funding .................................................................................................. 41 3.3.6 Signposting residents to external grant schemes...................................................................................... 42 3.3.7 Planning policy........................................................................................................................................... 43 3.3.8 Building Regulations enforcement............................................................................................................. 48 3.4 Community leadership ...................................................................................................................................... 49 3.4.1 Overview.................................................................................................................................................... 49 3.4.2 Community planning.................................................................................................................................. 50 3.4.3 Engagement with regional stakeholders ................................................................................................... 51 3.4.4 Engagement/awareness raising with wider community............................................................................. 52 3.4.5 Schools and education .............................................................................................................................. 57 3.4.6 Transport in the community ....................................................................................................................... 59 3.5 Own estate........................................................................................................................................................ 63 3.5.2 Procurement .............................................................................................................................................. 64 3.5.3 Resources.................................................................................................................................................. 66 3.5.4 Own buildings ............................................................................................................................................ 67 3.5.5 Transport ................................................................................................................................................... 70 Next steps........................................................................................................................................................................ 73 4.0 Recommendations table....................................................................................................................................... 74 Appendix 1 - Guidance on prioritising recommendations i Appendix 2 - Summary of savings for energy efficiency measures iii Appendix 3 - The benchmarking matrix vii Appendix 4 - Energy Saving Trust consumer segmentation graph for Maidstone Borough xvii Appendix 5 - Energy Saving Trust consumer segmentation descriptions xviii 3 1.0 Executive summary This report for Maidstone Borough Council provides guidance about actions the Council can take to tackle climate change through its role as community leader and provider of local services. It was commissioned by Trevor Glasson, forma Deputy Chief Executive and Councillor Mark Wooding, Cabinet Member for Environment in order to recognise the Council’s successes and to identify opportunities for improvement. With Trevor Glasson no longer working for the Council, Alison Broom, Director of Prosperity and Regeneration will be taking over as a sponsor for the program. The report has been produced following analysis of detailed staff questionnaires coordinated by an operational group identified by Alison Broom, the members of which are detailed below: Brian Morgan Assistant Director of Development and Community Service Jim Boot Community Planning Coordinator Stuart White Private Sector Housing Manager John Newington Senior Pollution Officer Vronni Ward Marketing Manager David Tibbit Property and Procurement Manager Jennifer Gosling Waste Collection Manager Steve Clarke Principal Planning Officer Jennifer Hunt EMS Project Manager NB The membership has changed from the original group due to staff leaving the Council The recommendations contained herein will form the basis for an Action Plan which will be adopted by the Council. This Action Plan will be used by the Council to feed into its Climate Change Strategy, and will continue to exist in its own right as a repository for progress monitoring by the Operational Group and/or Councillor Mark Wooding. Progress through the Local authority one-to-one programme, over a two year period, is project managed by Jenny Hunt, Environmental Management System Project Manager. The Energy Saving Trust aims to lead 60 million people to act on climate change through behaviour change; more energy efficient homes; products which consume less energy; more renewable energy and microgeneration; sustainable low carbon transport;