North Yorkshire Council

 

Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee

 

29 November 2024

 

Climate Change activity in the Scarborough and Whitby Area

 

Report of the Corporate Director - Environment.

 

1.0       PURPOSE OF REPORT

 

1.1       To provide an update on recent climate change activities that have taken place in the Scarborough and Whitby Area.

 

 

2.0       BACKGROUND

 

2.1       North Yorkshire Council’s Climate Change Strategy was approved by Executive in July 2023 in response to the declared climate emergency. The council’s Climate Change Delivery Pathway (CCDP)was approved by Executive on 20 August 2024 and sets out how the Strategy will be delivered.

 

2.2       The council’s overall progress on the climate change strategy is reported biannually to the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee, alongside an annual progress report direct to Executive. The most recent Overview and Scrutiny report was made on 17 October 2024.

 

3.0         CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVITY

 

3.1         A report on progress on the CCDP was made to 17.10.24 Transport Economy Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

3.2         GOVERNANCE

 

3.3         Territorial greenhouse gas emissions data was included in the above report for North Yorkshire area. Since Local Government Reorganisation this is the lowest level of administration for which the figures are available.

 

3.4       Carbon Disclosure Project

In September 2024 the council for the first time submitted a response to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). This international scheme is a voluntary reporting and accountability platform for local governments, investors and companies to help them understand their impact and take action. The council’s submission is now being independently assessed, with results expected in April 2025. This will provide a benchmark mark on our activity and the feedback will provide an opportunity to learn and continually improve on our climate progress.

 

3.5       Council Climate Scorecards

The council has provided information (principally via freedom of information requests) to the campaign group Climate Emergency UK for the completion of their Council Climate Scorecards process. A score and “league table” of all councils will be published in 2025.

 

 

4.0         MITIGATION: REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

 

4.1         Various decarbonisation and climate mitigation projects are underway in the Scarborough and Whitby area. A snapshot of activity over the past twelve months is given below:

 

4.2         UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) – capital and revenue grants

Six projects have applied for grant funding under UKSPF within the Scarborough and Whitby area, with a total of £89,842.00 in agreed grant funding. This has supported projects including solar PV installations and energy efficiency improvements for both business and community buildings.

 

Project name

Project

Community/Business

Danby Village Hall

Insulation, solar panel installation and EV Charge Point

Community

Animated Objects Community Arts Ltd

LED lights, Kinetic energy generation and rechargeable batteries

Community

Wread Head Hall Hotel

Renovation of derelict hayloft to a minimum of EPC C

Business

Wheeliams Ltd

Installation of borehole for heating and upgrade of insulation

Business

Ayton & Snainton Medical Practice

Improved roof insulation

Business

Burniston & Cloughton Village Hall and Playing Fields

Insulation, air source heat pump and electric heating installed. Solar panel and battery storage

Community

 

4.3         UK Shared Prosperity Fund – community and business decarbonisation audits

Specialist audits have been carried out for three community groups and buildings (Filey Bird Garden & Animal Park Ltd, Filey Playing Fields Association and Aikmo Medical t/a Peregrine House) under the support element of the UKSPF scheme and an earlier scheme. These enabled groups to gain a clear understanding of decarbonisation measures needed for their buildings, some of which have led to successful funding bids.

 

4.4         Devolution Deal Net Zero Fund (DDNZF)- decarbonising community buildings

DDNZF helps fund carbon and energy reduction measures in community buildings around North Yorkshire. Two projects from Scarborough and Whitby (Steven Joseph Theatre and Wreyfield Drive Methodist Church) have successfully applied for DDNZF funding to support their decarbonisation journeys.

 

4.5         Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)

Funding has originated from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) through the On-street Residential Charge Point Scheme (ORCS) and Connected Kerb. This is on a 13-year concession contract, with charge points currently owned by Connected Kerb. Following the end of this contract, ownership will transfer to North Yorkshire Council. This fund has supported the installation of 50 charging socket in Scarborough and 24 sockets in Whitby.

 

4.6         Home Upgrade Grant (HUG)

38 homes in the area have been supported to install over 80 energy and carbon saving measures between April 2023 and August 2024. These include the installation of Air Source Heat Pumps, Solar Panels and insulation. Between this time, it is estimated this fund has saved over £25,000 for the homes upgraded and reduced emissions by approximately 100kgCO2e.

 

 

4.7          Scarborough Dial a Ride – DDNZF Community Transport

The purchase of an Electric Vehicle for Scarborough Dial A Ride and Electric Vehicle Charge Point. Scarborough Dial A Ride supports Scarborough residents 60 or over, living with mobility issues or disability. This service provides individuals with the ability to access local amenities and further afield such as York and Leeds.

 

4.8          Heather Hopper - DDNZF Community Transport

The purchase of an Electric Vehicle for Heather Hopper and Electric Vehicle Charge Point. Heather Hopper is a volunteer run service which facilitates residents of the Upper Esk Valley who may struggle to access adequate public service provision due a number of reasons including health, age and socio-economic reasons.

 

4.9         School Streets pilot

Seamer and Irton Community Primary School is currently undergoing a trial period as a designated School Street. An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order has been made to introduce a pedestrian and cycle zone. The intention is to reduce congestion and improve road safety at school start and finish times and facilitate sustainable trips to and from the school. This pilot scheme (mirrored in Harrogate) is being monitored and reviewed to decide on potential continuation and roll-out to other areas in North Yorkshire.

 

5.0         ADAPTATION: PREPARING FOR THE CHANGING CLIMATE

 

 

5.1         Work to develop an Adaptation section of the CCDP will be concluded in 2025 and this is now the focus of policy development. The Council is working alongside the Combined Authority who will be commissioning a comprehensive Climate Risk and Vulnerability report for North Yorkshire. This will identify detailed geographical areas of risk for climate change.

 

5.2         Linked to this work, the area committee has previously received a 2024 Resilience and Emergencies Annual Update from the Head of Resilience and Emergencies in October 2024, and receives regular updates on emergency planning.

 

5.3         As a result of climate change, the Scarborough and Whitby area can expect to see weather changes in line with wider regional projections, specifically, hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters. Extreme weather events such as intense rainfall and heatwaves are likely to become more frequent.

 

5.4         Environment Agency flood warning and alert areas exist along the River Esk and some of its tributaries, with coastal regions being subject to coast flooding events from hightides and storms. There were 22 flood alerts issued for Scarborough and Whitby areas associated with the North Sea and 15 for the River Esk catchment between September 2023 and September 2024.

 

5.5         Concrete Coasts is an Environment Agency funded project managed and run by the Yorkshire Marine Nature Partnership. It is designed to support the biodiversity at coastal sea defences. Currently there is one pilot project of 6 muscles boxes in the inter-tidal zone on the slipway near Scarborough Sea Life Centre. Currently monitoring is being conducted by the University of Hull, however engagement with local groups is being undertaken to look at the potential for these to conduct continues monitoring. The Concrete Coast project is exploring additional sites around Scarborough South Bay to install further measures to support local marine biodiversity.

 

6.0         CONTRIBUTION TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES

 

6.1         The Council has declared a Climate Emergency and pledged to play its part in tackling the causes and impacts of climate change.

 

6.2         The activities outlined above contribute towards the council climate change strategy objectives, and deliver the following specific Council Plan ambitions:

·                Place and Environment:

o      A clean, environmentally sustainable and attractive place to live, work and visit

o      A well connected and planned place with good transport links and digital connectivity

o      Communities are supported and work together to improve their local area

o      Good quality, affordable and sustainable housing that meets the needs of our communities

·                Economy

o      Economically sustainable growth that enables people and places to prosper

o      Culture, heritage, arts and sustainable tourism all play their part in the economic growth of the county

·                Health and Wellbeing

o      People are supported to have a good quality of life and enjoy active and healthy lifestyles

o      Reduced variations in health through tackling the root causes of inequality

·                People

o      In times of hardship, support is provided to those that need it most

·                Organisation

o      A carbon neutral council

 

7.0          ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

 

 

7.1          This report is for information only.

 

8.0          FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS)

 

8.1          This report is for information only.

 

9.0          LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

9.1          This report is for information only.

 

10.0       EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

 

10.1       This report is for information only and an Equalities Impact Assessment is therefore not required.

 

11.0       CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

 

11.1     This report is for information only and a Climate Change Impact Assessment is therefore not required.

 

12.0     REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

12.1     As requested by the Area Committee, this report outlines some of the local activity being undertaken to address climate change, contributing towards the council’s climate change strategy objectives. The activities described above enable the council as an organisation, as well as resident in the Scarborough and Whitby area, to make climate responsible choices.

 

 

 

 

 

13.0

 

13.1

RECOMMENDATION

 

It is recommended that the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee note the recent climate change activities that have taken place in the area, which are outlined in this report.

 

 

 

 

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:

1.            North Yorkshire Council Climate Change Strategy

2.            Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee, report on the CCDP, 17 October 2024

 

Karl Battersby

Corporate Director – Environment

County Hall

Northallerton

29.November.24

 

Report Author – Ed Rouse, Climate Change Business Partner