APPENDIX A - CPRC GOVERNANCE AREA REPORT – ZERO CARBON TARGETS AND WIDER ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

ASSURANCE AREA
Meeting our zero carbon targets and wider environmental responsibilities
ASSURANCE DESCRIPTION
Climate change poses a significant risk to society as well as the Council. It is well documented that the likelihood of severe and extreme weather events is increasing. It is therefore the Council’s duty to do what it can to directly and indirectly minimise our environmental impact and ready ourselves in the event of a serious weather event.  Assurances are needed therefore that appropriate strategies and policies are in place and effective, they are understood and complied with, and our emergency resilience and business continuity arrangements are in place and tested.
ASSURANCE ASSESSMENT
Honouring our environmental responsibilities is an important Council priority. We therefore need to have in place a framework of policies, procedures, guidance and training that ensures all Council activity considers the environment and that decisions regarding the use of Council resources are made utilising the best available information. However, recent staffing changes will result in less action in this area. Without strong and effective governance to support our responsibilities threatens meeting our targets for carbon reduction and not making the best decisions for the future.
ASSURANCE OWNER	Sandy Muirhead	FOCUS/ISSUE/CONCERN	Focus	LEVEL OF ASSURANCE (High/Medium/Low)	Medium

	Assurance Action	Action Owner	Current RAG status	Performance Update	Next steps (including completion/review date)
1	Climate Change Strategy & Action Plan Ensure the Council's Climate Change Strategy & Action Plan is in place and regularly reviewed	Timothy Snook- Sustainability and Resilience Lead		The Climate Change Strategy has been reviewed. Progress of the action plan is monitored to ensure it remains appropriate and achievable.	The Strategy is regularly reviewed every 2 years (2024) and is due for a further review in 2026 but resourcing this with a reduction of officers may not be feasible without bringing in outside resource.  There is an action tracker in place to monitor progress. The Strategy will still be in place until March 2027 where final review can occur before vesting day.
2	Awareness and training Ensure the Council has a programme of appropriate awareness and training in place.	Timothy Snook- Sustainability and Resilience Lead		The Council has achieved the bronze level for carbon literacy training for staff and is close to achieving silver to ensure staff are aware of the Council’s strategy etc. Training has also been undertaken for members but a limited number.	Bronze accreditation has been achieved which exceeds other West Surrey authorities carbon literacy training. Review March 2027
3	Oversight by E&S Committee Ensuring there is regular and effective oversight by the E&S Committee.	Arthur Stokhuyzen- Climate Change Officer		Continue to explore ways to meet a carbon neutral target and to promote climate change as an issue that needs to permeate all Council areas.	Resourcing will limit opportunities to develop this action further. Review December 2026
4	Business and service planning Ensure that the Council's business and service planning arrangements adequately consider we reduce our carbon emissions and environmental impact generally.	Sandy Muirhead- Group Head Commissioning and Transformation		Service plans have a section for addressing climate change within a services operation but there is scope for services to consider and expand in more detail how they can reduce service emissions.	Service plans in the future need to fully encompass opportunities to meet climate change targets but future service plans will be directed by West Surrey Review February 2027
5	Maximise funding To explore opportunities to maximise external funding for the Council to support meeting our environmental responsibilities.	Arthur Stokhuyzen- Climate Change Officer		Reviewed opportunities to attract external funding to support our carbon neutral target. Staff attempt to obtain funding wherever possible including in conjunction with SCC and other Boroughs and Districts which will be undertaken by West Surrey in the future.	As we approach LGR and vesting day, opportunities are being looked for that can be implemented immediately but may with the loss of the two climate change based officers require external project management for specific projects. Review February 2027
6	Influence property development Ensure the Council has the appropriate influence on future property development that aligns with the Climate Change Strategy.	Jane Robinson- Local Plans and Infrastructure Manager		Sustainability and climate change lead officers review current planning applications to see if they meet renewable energy requirements but as the Local Plan is now in place and the climate change supplementary planning document (SPD) has been a more rigorous approach will be taken.	There will be a need to ensure future planning applications meet SPD requirements. Review December 2026
7	Greener Futures Strategy Ensuring the Council's Greener Futures Strategy is in place, reviewed and therefore appropriate	Timothy Snook- Sustainability and Resilience Lead		Adaptation strategy has been developed, and the Sustainability and Resilience Lead is in regular communications to progress the actions within Surrey County Council and the future West Surrey.	Implementing an action plan for Spelthorne with the limited time remaining would be helpful but future progress is dependent on how West Surrey wish to take adaptation forward. Review March 2027
8	Wider emergency resilience & business continuity plans Ensure the Council's emergency resilience & business continuity plans consider the response that would be needed should an adverse weather event arise.	Timothy Snook- Sustainability and Resilience Lead		The reviews of emergency planning and business continuity plans are on a rolling basis and currently up to date with the exception of strategic business continuity which will be completed by September 2026. The emergency plan review has just been completed and is entering the Committee approval process but does contain reference to adverse weather hazards caused by climate change.	The emergency plan is due to be approved September 2026, but West Surrey plans will need to address climate change adaptation. Review March 2027

Related Improvement and Recovery Plan Theme High Priority Outcomes: 

Corporate KPIs
	KPI description	Frequency	Target	Corporate priority	Progress update
CC1	Reduce emissions by at least 148.84 (TCO2e) each year. Actual figure represents quarterly reduction from FY 24/25.	Quarterly	Reduce emissions by at least 148.84 (TCO2e) each year.	Environment	On target