Year five progress report
Policy and Engagement
Recognise climate change as a corporate commitment for the Council
Deliver climate change training to staff and Members, offering courses on an ongoing basis.
Ongoing
Carbon Literacy training has been offered to staff with courses complete in 2024/25. Further training to be offered in 2025/26.
Develop options for reducing car travel and emissions from TMBC staff commuting and business travel.
March 2025
Options continue to be developed, including the possibility of a carpool for staff to use for site visits and business travel.
Monitor and report Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s carbon emissions
Ensure all Climate Change Action Plans, Progress Reports and Carbon Audits are easily accessible and published on the climate change webpage.
July 2024
The Climate Change Action Plan 2024/25 and Progress Report and Carbon Audit for 2023/24 were published on schedule at www.tmbc.gov.uk/climatechange.
Work with partners to address climate change issues, lower carbon and adapt to the effects of climate
Engage with KCC and other councils through Climate Change Network (CCN) meetings, sharing case studies, best practice and seeking areas of support and collaboration.
Ongoing
TMBC’s Climate Change Officer continues to participate in the KCC Climate Change Network and relevant sub-groups.
Continue to engage with the delivery of the Kent and Medway Energy and Low Emissions Strategy (ELES) through TMBC actions and partnership working.
Ongoing
TMBC continues to support delivery of the Strategy locally and through partnership work.
Sustainable Development and Transport
Sustainable Development
Continue to pursue planning policies in the emerging Local Plan that will deliver climate change adaptation and mitigation, sustainable design, and sustainable development patterns, progressing to Regulation 18b and public consultation.
Ongoing
The Policy team are preparing and drafting new Local Plan policies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable development and sustainable transport, supported by new evidence on flood risk and transport.
Through the grant of planning permission, the Council will seek to deliver sustainable development outcomes in line with the adopted development plan, national policy and material planning considerations.
Ongoing
Planning applications continue to be determined in accordance with the adopted Development Plan and National Policy Framework.
Transport
Complete preparation of the new active travel strategy, including cycling and walking infrastructure recommendations.
Autumn 2025
The strategy continues to be developed alongside the Local Plan. Timelines have been adjusted following changes introduced by the December 2024 NPPF.
ULEV
Provide electric charging points across the borough
Deliver Phase 2 provision of an additional 60 chargers in the Council’s car parks over the two-year contract.
May 2025
Phase 2 commissioning is ongoing and subject to UK Power Networks connections.
Decarbonise TMBC-owned vehicles
Undertake a vehicle replacement schedule (transitioning to ULEV) for all parking vehicles, in line where possible with the capital renewals programme and expected lifespan.
Ongoing
Options are being reviewed as vehicles reach end-of-life.
Improve environmental standards of licensed taxis operating in the borough
Progress taxi licensing policy renewal through Licensing and Appeals Committee, followed by consultation.
March 2024
Progress on ULEV proposals for taxis is on hold pending wider Kent-wide work requiring a joined-up approach.
Provide wider information regarding taxi EV charging provision.
Ongoing
Publicity provided via website and social media as new charge points are installed.
Continue engagement with KCC through the CCN regarding taxi licensing and participate in schemes such as ‘try before you buy’.
Ongoing
Officers continue to engage with KCC as meetings take place.
Progress a strategy for the future licensed taxi fleet, including air quality improvements and requirements to 2030.
Ongoing
Work is needed to develop policy changes that encourage ULEV-compliant vehicles. Natural uptake of EVs is increasing as technology improves.
Air Quality
Continue borough-wide anti-idling campaign to reduce emissions from idling engines.
Ongoing
Anti-idling signage installed at primary schools and major junctions. Engagement messages issued to schools for promotion.
Pilot a Car Club within the Council for individuals in local communities.
March 2025
A report has been taken to Management Team. Further work planned for 2025/26.
Habitats and Biodiversity
Develop a woodland management plan for Taddington Valley with the Forestry Commission.
Autumn 2024
Plan approved and now live. Works underway.
Continue lakeside revetment works with volunteers at Haysden Country Park, including aquatic plants.
March 2025
Revetment complete. Aquatic plants planted and monitored.
Investigate a Roadside Nature Reserve programme with Medway Valley Countryside Partnership.
March 2025
Programme agreed. Monitoring underway from April 2025 with annual report due end of 2025.
Consider implementation of No Mow May within appropriate POS following new GM Contract.
March 2025
Council participated in No Mow May across Public Open Spaces. Exclusion list applied.
Continue planting 1,000 trees/whips per year on Council land and monitor establishment.
Ongoing
Target achieved — 1,000 trees planted.
Housing and Energy Conservation
Reduce carbon emissions of residential homes
Collaborate with KCC and iChoosr to make solar PV and batteries more accessible by delivering a group-buying scheme. Deliver marketing campaign for Solar Together Kent.
June 2025
Spring 2024: 22 PV installations.
Autumn 2024: 32 proposals accepted; 12 dropped out.
12 installations completed to date. Further installations continue across Kent until June 2025.
Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
Encourage upgrades of low-energy-efficient social housing through SHDF Waves 1.2 and 3 with Clarion Housing Group and Golding Homes.
March 2026
Golding Homes: Wave 2.1 complete at Royal British Legion Village (67 homes). Wave 3 includes 50 TMBC homes (2025–2028).
Awaiting update from Clarion Housing.
Private sector homes
Deliver retrofit measures through Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2) to around 48 low-income ‘off gas’ homes.
March 2025
12 homes received HUG2 measures including loft insulation, high-heat-retention storage heaters and solar PV.
Waste Minimisation and Recycling
Continue KRP re-use campaigns and promote food waste, garden waste, and contamination reduction.
March 2025
KRP Communications group re-established. Priority campaigns planned, including for National Recycling Week and summer events.
Complete roll-out of food waste collections for flats in key urban hotspots.
March 2025
Final phase on track for completion in summer 2025.
Continue working with KRP and national partners including WRAP and Recoup.
Ongoing
TMBC represented at all meetings. WRAP project underway to identify disposal efficiencies across Kent.
Community and Business Engagement
Support local businesses
Deliver Round 4 of the Green Business Grant Scheme.
March 2025
11 grants awarded April 2024.
Round 5 launched April 2025.
All round 4 projects completed by January 2025; all payments completed by February 2025.
Deliver Round 4 of the Shopfront and Vacant Unit Improvement Grant Scheme.
March 2025
All projects completed by March 2025 and grant payments made.
Promote climate change strategy via the council's e-bulletin with at least 2 articles annually.
Ongoing
Regular articles published throughout 2024/25.
Support communities and voluntary groups
Work with KCC and businesses to share grants and support for carbon reduction.
Ongoing
All Green Business Grant applicants requesting referrals were connected to Low Carbon Kent.
Work with Mid Kent College to deliver Green Retrofit Training.
March 2025
Pilot courses completed.
Subsidised courses delivered; lower take-up but courses will continue going forward.
Raise awareness of climate change
Provide local borough information on likely topics of interest.
Ongoing
Regular publicity through social media, newsletters, website and media releases on energy efficiency projects, tree planting, solar schemes, anti-idling, carbon literacy and sustainable initiatives.
TMBC Estate
Reduce the environmental impact of council operations
Deliver energy efficiency, solar generation and improved building management at Larkfield Leisure Centre via the Swimming Pool Support Fund.
March 2025
Solar PV installed. Roof insulation improved.
Complete installation of heat pump replacing end-of-life gas boilers at Larkfield Leisure Centre, funded by PSDS.
February 2026
External trenching works complete. Next phase includes heat pump installation and air handling unit.
Develop heat decarbonisation plans for other high-energy buildings, subject to grant applications.
March 2025
Completed for Larkfield. Plan commissioned for Tonbridge Pool.
Decarbonise Gibson East as part of office rationalisation.
Autumn 2025
Procurement nearing completion. Works planned for late summer.
Digitisation and service efficiency
Roll out new efficient devices to staff in line with equipment renewals.
March 2025
44 energy-efficient laptops issued per quarter.
Continue business process re-engineering, mobile solutions and digitisation to reduce carbon footprint.
Ongoing
Ongoing process reviews and improvements across services, including enforcement, complaints, FOI, temporary accommodation and S106. Tree inspection mapping to resume in Autumn.