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.
Ongoing
Carbon Literacy training course delivered three times per year

Develop options for reducing car travel and emissions from TMBC staff commuting and business travel.
March 2025
Autumn 2024 – feasibility and options report
Winter 2024–March 2025 – implement approved recommendations.

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
Annual Climate Change Action Plans, Progress Reports and Carbon Audits produced annually after end of year.
Approved documents made available on climate change webpage as soon as possible (July).

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
Quarterly

Continue to engage with the delivery of the Kent and Medway Energy and Low Emissions Strategy (ELES) through TMBC’s actions and partnership working.
Ongoing
Contribute to six monthly and annual ELES reports.
Support contributions leadership and oversight of progress.

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 18b and public consultation, drawing on updated evidence, including on green infrastructure and climate change.
Ongoing
The Local Plan and next stage which the Regulation 18b Plan and public consultation is being developed in line with the published timetable.

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
The Local Plan and next stage which the Regulation 18b Plan and public consultation is being developed in line with the published timetable.

Support the improvement of walking and cycling infrastructure in the borough

Complete preparation of the new active travel strategy which will include cycling and walking infrastructure recommendations.
Spring 2024
The Local Plan and next stage which the Regulation 18b Plan and public consultation is being developed in line with the published timetable.

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.
May 2025
Delivery of chargers provisionally programmed to start in summer 2024

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
Additional funds secured and two vehicles proposed for replacement under Capital Renewals in 2024/25

Improve the environmental standards of licensed taxis operating in the borough

Provide wider information regarding taxi EV charging provision as those installations progress.
Ongoing

Continue engagement with KCC through the CCN regarding future taxi licencing. Share with trade and participate in schemes as appropriate, for example ‘try before you buy’.
Ongoing

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.
Ongoing

Air Quality

Continue the full implementation of a borough wide Anti-idling Campaign, to reduce emissions from idling engines.
Ongoing

Pilot a Car Club within the Council for individuals use in local communities.
March 2025
Feasibility Winter 2024/25
Present options to Members March 2025

Habitats and Biodiversity

Strengthen local protection and enhance protection of species, habitats and ecosystems

Develop a woodland management plan for Taddington Valley in liaison with the Forestry Commission.
Autumn 2024
Currently with Forestry Commission for approval.
Adopt plan – Summer 2024
Seek quotes for coppicing – Summer 2024
Start coppicing – Autumn/Winter 2024/2025

Continue with the lakeside revetment works in liaison with volunteers at Haysden Country Park, including a variety of aquatic plants.
March 2025
Initial works scheduled for summer 2024

Investigate a Roadside Nature Reserve programme with Medway Valley Countryside Partnership to monitor and record species and identify maintenance alterations to enhance biodiversity.
March 2025
Seek quotation – Spring 2024
Implement surveying – Spring 2025
Annual report to be received Autumn 2025

Consider implementation of No Mow May within appropriate Amenity POS following commencement of new GM Contract in January 2025.
March 2025
Summer 2024 – Identify potential sites
Winter 2024/25 – explore implementation

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 are removed to ensure an annual net gain overall.
Ongoing
Autumn/Winter – implement annual tree planting programme

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.
June 2025
Marketing campaign May auction completed 31 May 2024. Installations to complete by January 2025.
Marketing campaign Autumn auction commence 19 August including:
Direct mail 1 – 19 August
Direct mail 2 – 18 October 2024
Installations to complete by June 2025.

To encourage the upgrade of low energy efficient social housing in our area

Liaise with our housing association partners for example, Clarion Housing Group and Golding Homes, to influence delivery of energy efficiency funding in our area, through for example Social Housing Decarbonisation Funding (SHDF) Wave 1.2 and SHDF Wave 3.
March 2026
SHDF Wave 1.2 scheme ends March 2026: the inclusion of c 250 Clarion homes in TMBC area and circa 77 Golding Homes properties in the Aylesford area under SHDF wave 1.2.

To encourage the upgrade of low energy efficient private tenure homes

Deliver retrofit energy efficiency measures through Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2) targeting funding to c 48 low-income households living in low efficient ‘off gas' homes (i.e., not using gas as main heating).
March 2025
48 homes whole house retrofit completed by March 2025. Monthly reporting to Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Waste Minimisation and Recycling

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

Complete roll out of food waste for flats in key urban hotspots.
March 2025
Phase 1 – completed January 2024
Phase 2 – completed March 2024
Phase 3 – to be completed July 2024
Further phases – tbc

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.
March 2025
Awaiting update on future of KRP.
Garden Waste promotions – May and June 2024

Continue working with KRP and national partners such as WRAP and Recoup (plastic specific).
Ongoing
As per above.

Community and Business Engagement

Support local businesses and encourage sustainable growth in the economy

Delivery of Round 4 of the Green Business Grant Scheme to support local businesses/organisations with capital investments, including PV panels, heat source pumps, LED lighting and insulation.
March 2025
April 2024 – grants awarded (11 total)
September 2024 – consideration of Round 5
January 2025 – all projects completed
March 2025 – all grant payments made

Delivery of Round 4 of the Shopfront and Vacant Unit Improvement Grant Scheme, including grant support for energy efficiency measures.
March 2025
September 2024 – consideration of Round 5
January 2025 – all projects completed
March 2025 – all grant payments made

Promote the climate change strategy and its objectives via the council's e-bulletin, with at least 2 articles per annum.
Ongoing
June 2024 – article on the new action plan
Ongoing – articles regarding individual climate change projects

Work with partners in the community to engage the public and identify areas of collaboration for climate change action, adaptation, protection and enhancement of the environment.
Ongoing

Work with KCC and local business to share and signpost information, support and grants for business carbon reduction.
Ongoing

Work in partnership with Mid Kent College to support the delivery of Green Retrofit Training in order to upskill our local construction workers/businesses.
March 2025
Pilot Courses – up to May 2025
Subsidised courses – up to March 2025

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.
Ongoing
Community engagement at suitable events, including Aylesford Farmer’s Market Spring 2024.
Quarterly Climate Change Forum meetings.

Deliver Carbon Literacy Training Grants to support community and voluntary groups, SMEs, and Parish and Town Councils to understand climate change, carbon footprints and how to take new, significant actions to reduce emissions.
March 2025
First round of grant applications completed.
Grant open for second application round July–August 2024.
All training and grants monies to be distributed by March 2025.

Deliver Round 2 of Community Development Grants, part 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.
March 2025
Application window opened Spring and closed May 2024.
Applications assessed and approved July 2024.
All projects completed and grant monies distributed by March 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.
Ongoing
Continued focus on climate change and related projects for internal and external publicity.
Key areas include the climate change action plan, further steps towards leisure decarbonisation including the new Angel Centre, and relevant aspects of the Local Plan.
Timings are subject to milestones and delivery of projects outlined above.

TMBC Estate

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

Deliver energy efficiency, solar generation and improved building management at Larkfield Leisure Centre through the Swimming Pool Support Fund grant from Sports England.
March 2025
Procurement of flat roof re-felting
Re-felt works completed
Procurement of solar PV
Installation of solar PV
Installation of sub-metering throughout site.

Complete installation of heat pump to replace end-of-life gas boilers at Larkfield Leisure Centre through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund grant from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, administered by Salix.
February 2026
Completion of technical design
Procurement of works
Completion of works

Develop heat decarbonisation plans, taking a ‘fabric first approach’, for other high energy use buildings in TMBC’s estate, subject to external grant application.
March 2025
Notification of grant success
If grant awarded, completion of decarb plans to allow submission of PSDS round 4 application

Decarbonise Gibson East as part of the Council’s rationalisation of Kings Hill office space.
Autumn 2025
Completion of design work
Planning permission granted
Procurement of works
Completion of works

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.
March 2025
The rollout of new efficient devices is taking place in the following tranches:
Q2 – 45 devices
Q3 – 45 devices
Q4 – 45 devices

Business process re-engineering, mobile solutions and digitisation to improve efficiency and reduce carbon footprint continues across services.
Ongoing