Climate change action plans

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.
Executive — Ongoing
In person briefing delivered to all staff by March 2026
Further enhanced training delivered to key staff/Members by March 2026

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.
Executive — July 2025
Action plans, progress reports and audits endorsed at Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee in July 2025, published on website by end of July 2025

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.
Executive — Ongoing
Represent the council at climate change partnership meetings throughout the year.

Continue to engage with the delivery of the Kent and Medway Energy and Low Emissions Strategy (ELES) through TMBC’s actions and partnership working.
Executive — Ongoing
Represent the council at climate change partnership meetings throughout the year.

Sustainable Development and Transport

Sustainable Development

Continue to pursue planning policies in the Council’s emerging Local Plan that will facilitate the delivery of climate change adaptation and mitigation, design measures and sustainable development patterns, progressing to Regulation 18 and public consultation, drawing on updated evidence, including on green infrastructure and climate change.
Planning — Ongoing
Public consultation underway by Autumn 2025

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.
Planning — Ongoing
Continue to deliver sustainable development outcomes in accordance with the adopted development plan.

Transport

Complete preparation of the new active travel strategy which will include cycling and walking infrastructure recommendations.
Planning — Autumn 2025
Publish draft strategy by Autumn 2025

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 2 year contract.
Technical Services — September 2025
Completion of phase 2 by September 2025

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.
Technical Services — Ongoing
Transition to ULEV will continue with careful consideration of business need and resilience.

Improve the environmental standards of licensed taxis operating in the borough

Provide wider information regarding taxi EV charging provision as those installations progress.
Licensing — Ongoing
As and when new charge points are installed, engagement via social media/website to ensure widespread knowledge of EV capacity in the borough.

Continue engagement with KCC through the Climate Change Network regarding future taxi licencing. Share with trade and participate in schemes as appropriate, for example ‘try before you buy’.
Licensing — Ongoing
Advertise “try before you buy” sessions with the trade.

Progress strategy for future of licenced taxi fleet through Licensing and Appeals committee report on air quality, changes in the licenced taxi vehicle fleet, and proposals for vehicle requirements to 2030.
Licensing — Ongoing
Consider options and present to Licensing and Appeals Committee by March 2026

Air Quality

Continue the full implementation of a borough wide Anti-idling Campaign, to reduce emissions from idling engines.
Env. Health — Ongoing
Anti-idling posters to all primary schools in the borough by December 2025
Promotion via social media campaign by March 2026

Pilot a Car Club within the Council for individuals use in local communities.
Env. Health — March 2026
Develop staff survey to establish usage by Autumn 2025. Report findings to Management Team by end of 2025.

Habitats and Biodiversity

Continue to plant a mixture of 1000 trees and whips a year in appropriate areas of Council Owned Land. Following planting, monitor planted trees to ensure best chance of establishment, and plant more trees than are removed to ensure an annual net gain overall.
Leisure — Ongoing
1000 trees planted by March 2026.

Investigate additional sites that may be suitable for RNRs instead of participating in No Mow May.
Leisure — March 2026
Investigate additional sites by December 2025.
Implement new mowing regime at selected sites by March 2026.

Using the recommendations provided within the Roadside Nature Reserve (RNR) monitoring program, enhance biodiversity within existing RNR’s.
Leisure — March 2026
Review recommendations in RNR monitoring report in November 2025.
Action recommendations in Spring 2026, subject to approval.

Consider options and partnership funding opportunities for tree watering to aid and support the establishment of all trees planted by the Borough Council.
Leisure — March 2026
Continue to implement watering programme developed with Kent Plan Tree.

Consider adopting a pollinator pledge.
Leisure — March 2026
Investigate options by end of 2025.

Housing and Energy Conservation

Reduce the carbon emissions of residential homes

Collaborate with Kent County Council and iChoosr to make solar PV and batteries more accessible and affordable for our residents by delivering a group buying scheme.
Housing — Ongoing
Participate and collaborate with KCC in any future rounds of Solar Together during 2025/26

Waste Minimisation and Recycling

Encourage more people to reduce their waste and make it easier for residents to recycle

Continue with Kent Resource Partnership (KRP) re-use campaigns, including promotion of food waste and garden waste collections; and ongoing promotions aimed at reducing contamination and increasing recycling performance.
Street Scene — Ongoing
Attendance at VE Day event – June 2025
Attendance at Party in the Park (East Malling) – June 2025
Major Food Waste campaign planned for October 2025.

Complete roll out of food waste for flats in key urban hotspots.
Street Scene — Sept 2025
Complete final phase by Summer 2025

Continue working with KRP and national partners such as WRAP and Recoup (plastic specific).
Street Scene — Ongoing
WRAP project to identify efficiencies in waste disposal and collection in Kent. Initial findings to be presented July 2025.

Community and Business Engagement

Support local businesses and encourage sustainable growth in the economy

Delivery of Round 5 of the Green Business Grant Scheme to support local businesses/organisations with capital investments, including PV panels, heat source pumps, LED lighting and insulation.
Economic Regen. — March 2026
Grants awarded July 2025.
Minimum of 5 carbon reduction/energy efficiency projects completed by March 2026.

Delivery of the West Kent Rural Grant scheme, including grant support for energy efficiency measures.
Economic Regen. — March 2026
Minimum of 5 carbon reduction/energy efficiency projects by March 2026.

Promote the climate change strategy and its objectives via the council’s e-bulletin, with at least 2 articles per annum.
Economic Regen. — Ongoing
2 articles by March 2026

Work with KCC and local business to share and signpost information, support and grants for business carbon reduction.
Economic Regen. — Ongoing
Continue to promote and refer organisations to KCC low carbon support and advice – ongoing.

Support communities, voluntary groups and Parishes in taking climate action

Build collaborative working and public engagement with the Climate Change Forum, identifying areas for joint Council and community climate and environment action.
Executive — Ongoing
Support Green/Environment events in the community throughout the year, attending events to promote climate change messaging.
Work with the Climate Change Forum on initiatives and activities to raise awareness and encourage wider participation in environmental action.

Deliver Round 3 of Community Development Grants, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to support organisations based in the borough and/or providing a direct service to residents in line with community priorities.
Executive — October 2025
Launch scheme in July 2025
Close scheme September 2025
Distribute grants October 2025

Raise awareness of climate change, providing regular updates and information

To continue to provide local borough information to residents, identifying likely topics of interest.
Media and Comms — Ongoing
Promotion of energy efficient adaptations to Poult Wood Golf Centre – March 2026
Promotion of “No Mow May” throughout April/May 2025
Green Flag Award promotion (Haysden Country Park) by August 2025
Promotion of “Love Parks Week” – By July 2025
Event and social media regarding food waste at VE Day Celebrations – May 2025
Social media campaign to reduce food waste – Sept 2025
Fly tipping campaign – Autumn 2025
Christmas campaign around wrapping/recycling – Dec 2025
Promote Food Waste Action Week – March 2026

TMBC Estate

Reduce the environmental impact of the council’s activities, increasing the sustainability of all our operations

Complete installation of heat pump to replace end-of-life oil boilers at Poult Wood Golf Centre, using the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund grant.
Central — Oct 2026
Completion of design phase – Sept 2025
Completion of procurement exercise – Feb 2026
Completion of work – Oct 2026

Complete installation of heat pump to replace end-of-life gas boilers at Larkfield Leisure Centre through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund grant.
Central — February 2026
Installation of heat pumps – Dec 2025
Installation of air handling unit – Nov 2025
Completion – Feb 2026

Develop heat decarbonisation plans for Tonbridge Pool with a view to removing the gas fired boilers.
Central — Sept 2025
Assessment of options – August 2025
Final option and design work – Sept 2025

Decarbonise Gibson East as part of the Council’s rationalisation of Kings Hill office space.
Central — Feb 2026
Award of contract – July 2025
Installation of heat pumps, solar PV and LED lighting – January 2026
Scheme completion – Feb 2026

Progress the digitisation of services and reduce the amount of paper both internally and being sent out to clients

New efficient devices to be rolled out to staff in line with the renewals of equipment.
I.T. — March 2026
80 laptops to be replaced with energy efficient equivalents over the year (20 per quarter)

Business process re-engineering, mobile solutions and digitisation to improve efficiency and reduce carbon footprint continues across services.
I.T. — Ongoing
Continue mapping current solutions with SDS. After approval, these are then passed to the Solution Architect for re-engineering and then to IT Dev team for implementation.