Skip to main content

Issue - meetings

Climate Change Strategy

 

 

Meeting: 09/07/2025 - Executive (Item 366)

366 Climate Change Strategy pdf icon PDF 69 KB

Purpose:

To approve the West Oxfordshire Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030.

 

Recommendation:

That the Executive resolves to:

1.         Approve the West Oxfordshire Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030 to achieve districtwide net zero by 2050 and climate resilience.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Andrew Prosser, Executive Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, introduced the item, the purpose of which was to approve the West Oxfordshire Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030. Councillor Prosser summarised the item making the following points:

 

  • West Oxfordshire had declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019 and committed to carbon neutrality by 2030 for Council operations.
  • Recent surveys had demonstrated that local public support for climate action remained strong.
  • The strategy had set out the actions over the next five years towards district wide net zero by 2050.
  • The strategy was not focused solely on the Council’s own emissions from operations, but also on what would be done to influence emissions across the district.
  • The strategy supported achievement of the vision in terms of local clean energy; community resilience and independence; continuous retrofit programmes; tackling fuel poverty; active travel; ultra-low emissions transport; new developments meeting high energy and environmental standards; nature recovery; community led climate action.
  • The strategy was aligned with the Paris Agreement and the UK 2050 targets. It also worked closely with other Oxfordshire authorities.
  • The achievements and challenges of the Council over the last five years in terms of climate action were listed. Councillor Prosser summarised the priority actions from the strategy and noted that there were challenges to overcome but stated the Council was playing its part and was on the right track with this strategy.

 

In the discussion the following points were raised:

 

  • The substantial increase in tree planting in the district was noted. Tribute was made to the Town and Parish Councils efforts in this area.
  • The value of planting meadows as well as trees to sequester carbon was highlighted.
  • It was noted that it was also important to encourage the more sustainable use of water for water resilience.
  • The recommendations on this item received from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had all been accepted.

 

Councillor Prosser proposed accepting the recommendations of the report.

 

Councillor Enright seconded the recommendations.

 

This was voted on and approved unanimously.

 

RESOLVED:

That the Executive:

1. Approved the West Oxfordshire Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030 to achieve districtwide net zero by 2050 and climate resilience.

Meeting: 02/07/2025 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 27)

27 Climate Change Strategy pdf icon PDF 69 KB

Purpose

Pre-decision scrutiny of an Executive report seeking approval of the West Oxfordshire Climate Change Strategy 2025-2028.

 

Recommendation

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves to:

1.    Note the report and agree any recommendations it wishes to submit to the Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Andrew Prosser, Executive Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, introduced the item and the Climate Change Team and made the following points;

  • The strategy outlined actions over five years to achieve district-wide net zero by 2050.
  • The new strategy built on the previous strategy (2021–2025), aligned with the Council Plan 2023–2027, and supported the Nature Recovery Plan to 2030.
  • The strategy was guided by national and Oxfordshire-level frameworks, including the Path to Zero Carbon and the Adaptation Route Map.
  • West Oxfordshire had declared a climate emergency in 2019 and had committed to carbon neutrality by 2030.
  • Definitions of carbon neutral, embodied carbon, and net zero were clarified.
  • Achievements included: ranking as the top rural district for climate action, the launch of the Cap Zero retrofit project, the emissions reductions, EV infrastructure rollout, food strategy development, and planning tools.
  • Challenges remained such as behaviour change, funding constraints, and the need for collaboration.
  • Priority actions included local energy planning, expanding Cap Zero, retrofitting buildings, green skills training, enforcing energy standards for landlords, implementing the food action plan, improving waste services, enhancing active travel and EV infrastructure (including freight and taxis), progressing Salt Cross and the Local Plan and developing a carbon market, climate adaptation planning, and air quality management.
  • The strategy was guided by principles of community empowerment, partnership working, support for vulnerable groups, and maximising co-benefits.

 

The Committee made a number of recommendations to the Executive, which are included as an annex to these minutes. In response to Members’ request, the Climate Change Manger also stated that they would organise a Q&A with members.

 

Councillor Cooper left the room at 18:49 and came back shortly after at 18:50.[AB1] 

 

The Executive Member and the Officers thanked the Committee for their questions and suggestions[AB2] .

 

Resolved: That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the report, and recommend that the Executive accept the suggestions in the annex to these minutes.

 

 [AB1]Do we need to say this given that it was not a decision making meeting? Happy to go with what you think.

 [AB2]Also for the previous item, should the record also show that the Chair thanked the attendees?

 

Related Pages