Form climate change impact assessment

Climate change impact assessment

The purpose of this assessment is to help us understand the likely impacts of our decisions on the environment of North Yorkshire and on our aspiration to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2030, or as close to that date as possible. The intention is to mitigate negative effects and identify projects which will have positive effects.

This document should be completed in consultation with the supporting guidance. The final document will be published as part of the decision-making process and should be written in Plain English.

If you have any additional queries which are not covered by the guidance please email climatechange@northyorks.gov.uk

Version 2: amended 11 August 2021

Title of proposal	Crisis & Resilience Fund (CRF) – Housing Payments Policy 2026–27
Brief description of proposal	The proposal introduces the Crisis & Resilience Fund (CRF) Housing Payments Policy, which replaces Discretionary Housing Payments from 1 April 2026. The policy sets out how North Yorkshire Council will provide discretionary financial assistance to low‑income households experiencing housing cost shortfalls or housing‑related financial hardship, ensuring continuity of support while aligning delivery with national CRF guidance and the Council’s No Wrong Door / One Front Door approach.
Directorate	Resources
Service area	Customer, Revenue & Benefits
Lead officer	Marcus Lee – Head of Welfare and Benefits
Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the impact assessment	Marcus Lee – Head of Welfare and Benefits
Date impact assessment started	March 2026

Options appraisal

Were any other options considered in trying to achieve the aim of this project? If so, please give brief details and explain why alternative options were not progressed.

The policy change was the only option as:

The CRF replaces DHP nationally from 1 April 2026, and delaying implementation would risk disruption to support.
Failure to implement the CRF Housing Payments Policy would create legal, reputational and hardship risks for residents.
Interim delivery arrangements were necessary to ensure continuity of support while a longer‑term model is developed in line with CRF guidance.

What impact will this proposal have on council budgets? Will it be cost neutral, have increased cost or reduce costs?

Please explain briefly why this will be the result, detailing estimated savings or costs where this is possible.

The CRF Housing Payments Policy is cost neutral to the Council’s base budget.

Funding is provided through a ring‑fenced Government grant as part of the Crisis & Resilience Fund. The policy enables the Council to administer Housing Payments within allocated funding and existing resources, with financial governance and monitoring arrangements in place to ensure compliance with grant conditions.

There is no additional capital spend, and no direct environmental capital cost associated with the policy.

How will this proposal impact on the environment? N.B. There may be short term negative impact and longer-term positive impact. Please include all potential impacts over the lifetime of a project and provide an explanation.		Positive impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant)	No impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant)	Negative impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant)	Explain why will it have this effect and over what timescale? Where possible/relevant please include: · Changes over and above business as usual · Evidence or measurement of effect · Figures for CO₂e · Links to relevant documents	Explain how you plan to mitigate any negative impacts.	Explain how you plan to improve any positive outcomes as far as possible.
Minimise greenhouse gas emissions e.g. reducing emissions from travel, increasing energy efficiencies etc.	Emissions from travel	x			Delivery of the CRF Housing Payments Policy relies primarily on existing digital, telephone and partner‑referral routes. This reduces the need for face‑to‑face appointments and travel for both customers and staff, particularly important in a large rural authority such as North Yorkshire. Over time this contributes to reduced travel‑related emissions compared to traditional, office‑based application models.
	Emissions from construction		x
	Emissions from running of buildings		x
	Emissions from data storage	x			CRF Housing Payments will be administered using existing council systems and platforms. As these systems are already in operation, any additional data storage demand is minimal. Over time, alignment with consolidated corporate systems supports more efficient digital processing.
	Other		x
Minimise waste: Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost e.g. reducing use of single use plastic		x			CRF Housing Payments applications and decision‑making are largely digital, reducing reliance on paper forms, correspondence and manual processing compared to historic processes. This supports waste reduction and more efficient use of resources
Reduce water consumption		x			Reducing the need for paper-based processes lowers water usage associated with building operations and resource production.	.
Minimise pollution (including air, land, water, light and noise)		x			Energy-efficient digital services reduce reliance on fossil fuels and minimise pollution from travel and physical resource use.		.
Ensure resilience to the effects of climate change e.g. reducing flood risk, mitigating effects of drier, hotter summers		x			The CRF Housing Payments Policy supports residents experiencing financial hardship, including those affected by rising fuel and housing costs linked to climate pressures. Digital and remote delivery models are resilient to climate‑related disruption such as extreme weather and transport disruption, ensuring continued access to support during adverse conditions.	.
Enhance conservation and wildlife			X
Safeguard the distinctive characteristics, features, and special qualities of North Yorkshire’s landscape			x				.
Other (please state below)

Are there any recognised good practice environmental standards in relation to this proposal? If so, please detail how this proposal meets those standards.

Sustainability & Carbon Reduction

The CRF Housing Payments Policy aligns with the Council’s Climate Change Strategy and net carbon neutrality ambitions by:

Using digital‑first service delivery wherever possible.
Reducing unnecessary travel in a rural county.
Supporting residents facing climate‑related cost pressures (e.g. heating and energy affordability);
Ensuring efficient use of existing systems and infrastructure rather than creating new environmental burdens.

Summary Summarise the findings of your impact assessment, including impacts, the recommendation in relation to addressing impacts, including any legal advice, and next steps. This summary should be used as part of the report to the decision maker.

The Climate Change Impact Assessment concludes that the Crisis & Resilience Fund Housing Payments Policy has no significant negative environmental impacts. The proposal delivers small positive impacts through reduced travel, digital service delivery and improved resilience to climate‑related disruption.

The policy is operational in nature, makes use of existing systems and buildings, and does not involve construction or additional resource‑intensive activity. No mitigation is required, and opportunities to enhance positive impacts will be pursued through continued digital access and partnership working.

Sign off section

This climate change impact assessment was completed by:

Name	Marcus Lee
Job title	Head of Welfare & Benefits
Service area	Customer Revenue and Benefits
Directorate	Resources
Signature	Marcus Lee
Completion date	1 April 2026

Authorised by relevant Assistant Director (signature): Margaret Wallace

Date:2 April 2026