The Climate Action Delivery Manager presented the board with a report detailing the Climate Change Delivery Plan and highlighted that Gravesham Borough Council (GBC) had completed 16 action items, meaning they had accomplished 30% of the delivery plan so far.

Following questions and comments from Members, the Climate Action Delivery Manager, Director (Corporate Services) and the Head of Housing Assets explained the following:

·     The Climate Action Delivery Plan was available on the Councils’ website alongside the strategy - this explained how GBC intended to respond. Communication with the community involved resident events and engagement events, which were successful in the past. The Council were currently developing the plan for those in 2024.

·     The GBC website had recently been updated to reflect key information for residents in relation to the Delivery Plan and to provide advice on sustainability measures they could choose to take.

·    Kent County Council (KCC) is eligible to receive £12 million LEVI fund and are currently working on the procurement and would be applying for the fund in April. It was estimated that the Council would know by June 2024 how the fund would be distributed across Kent districts.

·    In terms of Housing Assets, the council is committed to greening the fleet. The council currently had 12 electric vehicles, which were successful also at savings costs in terms of fuel. The Council had clear plans to transfer the rest of the vans to electric, but it was vital that this was done in a way that did not interfere with the day-to-day business. They were also looking at EV (Electric Vehicle) chargers on housing estates, linking with Solar, so that the workforce would be able to charge the vehicles when out, rather than returning to the depot. A plan for the wider council fleet was currently being developed.

·    There was a strategy underway on tree planting. However, it was important that preparation was done correctly. The Parks and Open Spaces Manager had been working on research in the background for the last 12 months, and it was estimated that it would take another year of work. This was also important for the incorporation of Biodiversity Net Gain as it was integral they linked.

·    Officers had been visiting schools to raise awareness on Climate Change and to promote recycling. This was an on-going activity, and the Council were looking to work with KCC to build a small-scale project for HUB schools within the borough. This was still in its early stages.

·    When the Council did their last tree planting project, they looked at a higher specification of tree that was more likely to survive. Whips had a low prospect in terms of survival, so they increased the specification by investing in larger trees and ensured there was a watering plan. An annual count was done to ensure that the trees they expected to survive were thriving. Members were advised that they would only plant a tree if they felt there was a good chance of survival. However, they were reminded that a certain amount of vandalism towards trees contributed to their lack of longevity.

Members noted the report.