Agenda item

To submit the report of the Chief Executive.

The report of the Deputy Chief Executive incorporating the Towards Net Zero Strategic Plan 2026-2031 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

Councillor Ieuan Williams, Portfolio Member for Highways, Waste and Climate Change presented the report noting that the proposed Plan will continue to advance the Council’s aim of becoming a net zero organisation. It builds on the progress and lessons from the previous Towards Net Zero Strategic Plan 2022-2025 as outlined in the End Point Report. The new plan acknowledges that the Council’s 2030 target for achieving net zero status is not feasible within current resources, the time available or the scale of the decarbonisation required. It therefore proposes aligning with the net zero carbon Wales by 2050 target set by the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.

The plan outlines how the Council will continue its transition by reducing carbon emissions, increasing carbon absorption and strengthening organisational resilience to a changing climate. It identifies six key priority areas covering assets and housing emissions, Council transport emissions, supply chain emissions, land use, nature recovery and biodiversity, organisational development, and strategic projects and climate resilience.

Councillor Ieuan Williams highlighted the financial implications of working towards net zero and he noted that Welsh Government funding is not included in the settlement, though grants are available and the Council can access interest free borrowing for some activities. He also explained the monitoring and governance arrangements and recommended that the Climate Change Manager oversee all service level net zero action plans and consolidate them into a single plan. He further proposed that an elected member either from the Executive or Scrutiny be appointed to the Net Zero Steering Group.

Councillor Jeff Evans, Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee reported on the committee’s 21 January 2026 meeting at which members considered the Towards Net Zero Strategic Plan 2026-31. The committee received an update on the achievements of the previous plan and the Council’s priorities under the new plan. Members were also assured regarding the monitoring and governance arrangements in place to ensure progress. The committee had sought further assurance on matters relating to the Council’s assets and transport, as well as the key risks and challenges in reducing carbon emissions. Having reviewed the plan, the committee resolved to recommend the Towards Net Zero Strategic Plan 2026-31 to the Executive for approval.

The Executive welcomed the plan and acknowledged the substantial progress achieved under the previous plan. Members recognised the challenges involved in achieving net zero but emphasised its importance for the wellbeing of future generations and the wider environment.

The Chief Executive also acknowledged the work undertaken to bring all parts of the Council together on the net zero agenda. He emphasised that this is a long-term  journey particularly given the Council’s many other duties and responsibilities. He noted that although  the Council has a good track record of securing grants and has a clear understanding of its net zero goals and how to achieve them, it does not currently have the capacity to deliver them at the required scale due to limited resources.

He confirmed that work to prepare an overarching overview has begun. He also explained that because of the strategic importance of net zero, the steering group sits within the remit of the Council Management Team to provide leadership and direction alongside other key strategic responsibilities. He assured members that further consideration will be given to the Portfolio Member’s request regarding elected member involvement, including how it might be accommodated to enable greater engagement and influence in this work within the current governance arrangements.

It was resolved to adopt the new Towards Net Zero Strategic Plan 2026-2031.