Green City Action Plan 2023-2030

 

Green City Action Plan setting out how and when we intend to achieve the aims and objectives

Key themes

Overarching Theme - Governance

Monitoring & Measuring

Involving Communities of All Sorts

Maintain, Enhance & Protect

Expertise, Skills & Development

Finance Mechanisms

Policy & Regulation

Governance

Governance is the process of making and enforcing decisions within an organisation or society. We need to make sure the decisions we take as a council and a city have a positive effect on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Our vision is to create a cleaner, greener, healthier and more sustainable city. Southampton will be a better place for present and future generations that is prepared for the challenges presented by climate change. We will achieve this by ensuring we are ambitious, lead by example and set ourselves challenging goals.

Main theme	Action	What will this look like?	Lead team / officers	Cross cutting themes	Now (by 2024)	Medium term (2025-27)	Long term (2027-30)
1.1 Governance	Planning	Develop content for The Local Plan Review including priorities and guidance to support Green City priorities.	Sustainability	Policy & Regulation	x
		Undertake Climate Risk & Vulnerability Assessment	Emergency planning with support from other teams	Policy & Regulation	x
1.2 Governance	Communications	Deliver a communications campaign to promote Green City principles to communities and businesses in the city including our internet presence/ content.	Communications team	Involving Communities of All Sorts	x	x
1.3 Governance	Decision making	Introduce a toolkit to ensure that green city priorities are given appropriate consideration are integrated into policies, projects and decisions.	Sustainability		x	x
1.4 Governance	Training	Continue to deliver and develop our internal staff awareness programme, including one step greener campaign and staff training and dedicated online resources/ sustainability hub.	Sustainability, Organisational Development, Internal Communications	Expertise, Skills & Development	x	x
1.5 Governance	Schools	Empower young people to drive change and improve their environmental awareness through our Healthy and Sustainable Schools Project.	Sustainable Schools Officer, Healthy Schools Co-ordinator	Involving Communities of All Sorts	x	x
1.6 Governance	Measuring and Monitoring	Publish regular reports on council and city emissions performance.	Sustainability	Measuring & Monitoring	x
1.7 Governance	Champions	Introduce Green City Champions across council services to promote to uptake of good, sustainable practice in the workplace and monitor progress	Sustainability	Maintain, Enhance & Protect Expertise, Skills & Development Measuring & Monitoring	x
1.8 Governance	Finance	Assessing opportunities presented by financial tools for building investment into climate action	Sustainability/ Finance	Finance Mechanisms	x	x

The following actions are divided into:

• Sustainable energy and carbon reduction
• Air Quality
• Natural Environment
• Resources, waste and water management
• Sustainable Transport

Sustainable energy and carbon reduction

We will use energy that is generated from renewable sources and support the generation of sustainable energy that does not compromise local air quality.

The council has been monitoring emissions related to its direct operations and the energy it consumes since 2010 and has delivered similar reductions in this period. But it accepts a significant effort is required to satisfy its commitments and it will need to play a key role in ensuring the city community can do the same in a way that benefits to the economy and wellbeing of the whole population.

Main theme	Action	What will this look like?	Lead team / officers	Cross cutting themes	Now (by 2024)	Medium term (2025-27)	Long term (2027-30)
2.1 Measuring & Monitoring	Baselining whole city emissions and setting priorities for action.	Establish a city-wide climate change strategy working in partnership with key city stakeholders including the Climate Commission and Climate Assembly.	Sustainability team, stakeholders	Involving Communities of All Sorts	x
2.2 Involving Communities of All Sorts	Communicating with our tenants	Using a new Asset Management Group, we will consult our housing tenants on a programme of further measures to achieve our net zero target by 2035 and reduce tenants energy costs.	Property Services, Housing Assets		x
	Support to all households	Provide all Southampton households with support and advice on property energy performance by -Ensuring Healthy Homes service is available to support those in fuel poverty - Identify opportunities for the improvement of stock in the able to pay sector including solar schemes and ECO plus.	Sustainability team, Housing Management		x	x
2.3 Maintain, Enhance & Protect	Council projects	SCC projects including estates regeneration must be net zero ready including adopting passivhaus principles.	Energy team, Design Services, Estate Regeneration Projects, Sustainability team, Housing Decarbonisation Group		x	x
	Influencing citywide action	Support the development of Southampton Climate Commission to become a driver for citywide action.	Sustainability team		x
		We will seek a partner to deliver a step change in the roll out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across our streets, car parks and estates	Sustainable Projects Lead (Electric Vehicles)		x
		Continue to investigate and take action in relation to poorly performing private rental properties in terms of energy efficiency, excess cold, damp and mould related issues.	Housing Management	Maintain, Enhance & Protect	x	x
		Identify opportunities to introduce energy efficiency measures through the Disabled Facilities Grant Programme, Better Care fund and similar	Disabled facilities team		x	x
2.4 Expertise, Skills & Development	Internal knowledge & training	The council’s staff travel plan will be updated considering changes to commuting patterns resulting from the pandemic. The Plan will support staff who want to commute using sustainable transport.	Sustainable Transport Project Lead - Workplaces		x
	External knowledge & training	Launch of Net Zero 360 workshops to help increase knowledge on practical steps and support available for businesses to become Net Zero. 2 SCC staff to be trained up to deliver to SMEs.	Economic Development	Involving Communities of All Sorts	x
		Retrofit skills Complete feasibility for delivering Net Zero Training Hub in city to provide adequate training for upskilling and new leavers in retrofit technology. Work with partners to offer Retrofit Assessor qualification. Bringing together relevant stakeholders around whole retrofit agenda including assessing and understanding needs of supply chains.	Economic Development		x	x
2.5 Finance Mechanisms	Corporate Assets	Appoint a delivery partner for Corporate Assets Decarbonisation Scheme. Deliver the next phase of CADS. Establish an outline delivery programme and forecast outcomes to align with our net zero ambitions	Energy team (Energy Manager)	Maintain, Enhance & Protect	x
	Housing	Existing housing stock – Continue with ongoing programme delivered through Housing Revenue Account (HRA)	Property Services, Housing Assets	Maintain, Enhance & Protect	x	x
		Existing housing stock – Secure additional funding from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF)	Property Services, Housing Assets	Maintain, Enhance & Protect	x
2.6 Policy & Regulation	Climate Strategy & Action Plan	We will publish our Climate Strategy and Action Plan setting out how we will achieve our target of net zero carbon emissions.	Sustainability team		x	x
	Net Zero housing Plan	Existing housing stock – Produce a strategy with the capability to set out a pathway as stated in s.4.3 of the Housing Environmental & Sustainability Strategy, which aligns with the Corporate Plan (2022-2030) vision for a zero-carbon city by 2035	Property Services, Housing Assets		x
	Fleet Decarbonisation	Our council Fleet Modernisation plan will; Further increase the number of electric vehicles in our fleet and improve our charging infrastructure Complete a full business case for the introduction of telematics and Eco driver training Seek a supplier for a more sustainable drop-in replacement for diesel fuel Undertake a strategic assessment of our electric vehicle charging needs and opportunities.	Sustainability team		x
	Whole City Energy	Look to lead on the development of a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) with partners across the city looking at issues and opportunities associated with energy grids including the potential for local renewable generation or other investment.	Energy Team		x

Air quality

We will take actions that will improve the quality of life in our city. We want the Healthy Life Expectancy Indicator to be the best amongst our peers and to remove the difference cities like Southampton experience with rural areas in terms of deaths attributed to air pollution.

Clean air is essential for good quality of life, yet everyday people living in our urban centres can be exposed to potentially harmful levels of pollutants. In the UK alone, between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths per year can be attributed to air pollution. Poor air quality is now considered the largest environmental health risk in the UK and there is a growing body of evidence which links poor air quality to health issues including heart and respiratory diseases. These impacts are felt more by the most vulnerable in our society.

In Southampton, road transport is the most significant contributor to poor air quality while contributions from background and industry sources are also significant. The council recognise that despite improvements made in air quality, pollution still has a large effect on the health of residents and visitors and that any improvement in air quality will benefit public health

Main theme	Action	What will this look like?	Lead team / officers	Cross cutting themes	Now (by 2024)	Medium term (2025-27)	Long term (2027-30)
3.1 Monitoring & Measuring	Monitoring air quality	We will continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of The Local NO2 Plan and compliance with air quality limits.	Sustainable Projects Lead (Air Quality)		x	x
		We will continue to develop and extend our air quality monitoring network consisting of diffusion tubes, automatic stations and new innovative low-cost monitors and develop ways to improve public visibility of air quality across the city.	Sustainable Projects Lead (Air Quality)		x	x
3.2 Involving Communities of All Sorts	Engagement programme	We will deliver a new Air Quality Engagement Programme consisting of wood burning, schools, and healthcare-based engagement projects to reduce the impact of air quality on health through positive behaviour change.	Sustainable Projects Lead (Air Quality) Sustainable Schools Officer		x	x
3.3 Maintain, Enhance & Protect	Incentivise cleaner public transport	We will complete the ‘Hants 2025’ try before you buy scheme for taxis, create a marketing campaign to promote the benefits of EV taxis, and explore opportunities to continue delivering further incentive schemes. We will work in partnership with transport providers, such as bus operators, to decarbonise the public transport system.	Sustainable Projects Lead (Air Quality)/ Transport Policy	Finance Mechanisms	x	x
3.4 Expertise, Skills & Development	Support city stakeholders	We will continue to engage and support key city stakeholders including Port of Southampton, University Hospital Southampton, The University of Southampton to deliver wider benefits for the city.	Sustainable Projects Lead (Air Quality)	Involving Communities of All Sorts	x	x
3.5 Finance Mechanisms	Funding	We will continue to secure additional funding to deliver further projects working towards continual improvement in the city’s air quality, while delivering co- benefits for decarbonisation and other aspects of the sustainability agenda.	Sustainable Projects Lead (Air Quality)	Maintain, Enhance & Protect	x	x
3.6 Policy & Regulation	Air Quality Action Plan	We will deliver our new Air Quality Action Plan which sets out 60 new measures we will deliver or explore over the next five years. This includes delivering the air quality engagement programme, enhancing smoke control areas, further incentivising low emission transport modes and supporting sustainable transport programmes	Sustainable Projects Lead (Air Quality)	Maintain, Enhance & Protect	x	x

Natural environment

Improving resilience of habitats to a changing climate and developing our natural capital to ensure it continues to deliver ecosystems services.

Natural capital is stocks of natural assets which include geology, soil, air, water and all living things. It is from this natural capital that a wide range of ecosystem services are derived, for human wellbeing and quality of life. This includes services such as provision of food and water, regulating the climate through carbon storage and natural flood defences, as well as cultural aspects such as reducing stress and anxiety.

Natural capital is a concept that is becoming increasingly relevant, with the Government’s 25 year plan for the environment offering new policies that recognise the monetary value of the natural environment and the services that it gives us every day. These assets are extremely valuable - the UK’s nature, landscapes and waterways and the services and benefits they provide are worth almost £1 trillion to the UK economy (according to the Office of National Statistics). For example, on hot days in 2017, the cooling effect of trees and bodies of water helped to save the UK £248m by maintaining productivity and lowering air conditioning costs.

Therefore it is essential for Southampton to invest in natural capital for sustainable business and to tackle climate change, reduce pollution, manage flood risk and build stronger, more sustainable natural resources. This includes Nature-based solutions which are proven ways of storing and reducing carbon emissions in, and better stewardship of the land which has other critical environmental, social and economic benefits.

Main theme	Action	What will this look like?	Lead team / officers	Cross cutting themes	Now (by 2024)	Medium term (2025-27)	Long term (2027-30)
4.1 Monitoring & Measuring	Rolling programme of biodiversity monitoring	With the help of Southampton Natural History Society and other local groups, we will continue with a rolling programme of species- specific projects to support important wildlife including bats, hedgehogs, amphibians, dormice and swifts, entering data from monitoring surveys/casual sightings onto Living Record and I-Record	Ecologist	Involving Communities of All Sorts Maintain, Enhance & Protect	x	x
	Habitat monitoring	Continue with meadow surveys of areas of grassland where we are changing mowing regimes (with help from SNHS, Rangers and Volunteers) to monitor how the grassland is responding to the changes of management and are improving in terms of species diversity to encourage more pollinators.	Ecologist		x	x
4.2 Involving Communities of All Sorts	Increase participation by communities across the city support existing volunteers and encourage wider participation	We will build upon our internet presence to create practical space to support existing volunteers and encourage wider participation.	Ecologist		x	x
		Continue our city-wide conservation task volunteer programme, including delivering conservation tasks.	Community Campaigns Officer and Lead Ranger		x	x
4.3 Maintain, Enhance & Protect	Partnerships	Continue with the partnership with Hants and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, maintain a Wilder Southampton project, engaging with them on Green Grid project delivery on private land, SCC housing land and highways	Service Manager – Sustainability		x	x
	Deliver habitats improvements in the semi natural greenspaces	Work towards renovating priority ponds to benefit both wildlife and visitors.	Ecologist, Natural Environment Manager		x	x
		Ranger service to engage with local residents and volunteers to implement management of semi-natural green space (ie. Greenways). Team of 6 Rangers in place May 2023.	Lead Ranger	Involving Communities of All Sorts	x	x
4.4 Expertise, Skills & Development	Wildlife Awareness training for all staff in relevant services areas	Wildlife Awareness training for all staff in relevant services areas (such as Trees, Property, Land Management and Maintenance) to ensure all our activities and statutory duties are in line with wildlife legislation	Ecologist	Policy & Regulation	x	x
4.5 Finance Mechanisms	Finance	Explore Mechanisms for assigning value to natural capital and nature-based solutions to offer a carbon offset scheme which will benefit the people of Southampton.	Sustainability team		x	x
4.6 Policy & Regulation	Review and progress Natural Environment Strategies and Plans	Develop and publish Biodiversity Strategy and Green Infrastructure Strategy and Delivery Plans offering a framework for the strategic improvement of our outside spaces, priority projects and detailing how we will response to the 2021 Environment Act and making sure addressing challenges to climate change are realised.	Ecologist, Natural Environment Manager	Maintain, Enhance & Protect	x
		Recognising multiple benefits that Trees can offer in terms of mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. Our Tree Protection Team will complete a review of our most at risk trees to ensure they are afforded the utmost protection. Tree Management Plan to ensure adequate protection of existing trees. Identify capacity and priorities for additional tree planting.	Arboriculture Manager	Maintain, Enhance & Protect Measuring & Monitoring	x	x
	Planning Guidance	Start to develop Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure Planning Guidance for integration into Local Plan as a Supplementary Planning Document. Link with all relevant other guidance e.g. Public Realm toolkit	Ecologist, Natural Environment Manager		x

Resources, waste and water management

In order to tackle climate change we need to consider the best use of our resources including energy and water conservation and implementing a circular economy.

In our current economy, we take materials from the Earth, make products from them, and eventually throw them away as waste – the process is linear. In a circular economy, by contrast, we stop waste being produced in the first place.

We must transform every element of our take-make-waste system: how we manage resources, how we make and use products, and what we do with the materials afterwards. Only then can we create a thriving circular economy that can benefit everyone within the limits of our planet.

The circular economy gives us the tools to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss together, while addressing important social needs.

It gives us the power to grow prosperity, jobs, and resilience while cutting greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and pollution.

Sustainable transport

We will encourage, promote and incentivise the use of sustainable and active travel.

We want to use transport improvements to support the sustainable economic growth of Southampton by preparing, investing and maximising how an already congested transport system operates, so it becomes more connected, innovative, and resilient.

By doing this we will make Southampton an attractive place to live which promotes our residents quality of life, improves safety, with inclusive access to transport regardless of their circumstances. By widening peoples travel choices they can get around actively, healthily and, at the same time, improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.