Business case and project templates
We have updated our business case and project templates to include a mandatory section on climate change impacts, ensuring new activities identify and detail these impacts in proposals.
Carbon emissions baseline report
We have worked with an external consultant to establish the Council’s carbon emissions baseline and to streamline the Council’s emissions monitoring, measuring, and reporting methodologies. This has also estimated carbon emission trajectories for various mitigation pathways out to 2030 and 2050. The report can be viewed online
Carbon literacy training
Approved at Corporate Management Committee in April 2023, the Council is currently rolling out carbon literacy training to members and senior officers. Carbon literacy training provides an understanding of the causes and impacts of everyday carbon emissions offering a starting point to enact real change. Training for members took place from June to July 2023, and senior officers in November 2023. Officers are exploring approaches to deliver training to any newly elected members and a wider cohort of Council officers in the 2024/25 financial year. The report taken to the Corporate Management Committee on 20 April 2024 is available from page 12-17 of the Public Reports Pack.
Runnymede talks
The Council’s flagship magazine, Runnymede Talks, is now printed on FSC approved paper. The FSC system allows organisations to identify, buy and use paper and other forest products made with materials from well-managed forests and or other recycled sources. FSC approval means the paper used helps to ensure our forests are alive for generations to come.
Sustainable fleet management strategy
The Council’s Sustainable Fleet Management Strategy sets out to provide an environmentally sustainable operational fleet which delivers safe, reliable services to the community and was affordable to the Council. One of the three guiding objectives is around the reduction of harmful greenhouse gases and other local pollutants from the Council’s fleet.
The Strategy was approved at Full Council in April 2024 having been endorsed by the Environment and Sustainability Committee and the Corporate Management Committee. To read the policy in full, visit our page dedicated to this Strategy.
Reducing emissions from the council fleet
The Council’s Meals at Home service is now operated with 4 Electric Vehicles which have the benefit of reducing emissions whilst maintaining this important service for residents. We are continuously reviewing opportunities to transition a greater proportion of our fleet to EV and ensuring that the necessary infrastructure to facilitate this is available where required.
As part of our move to a more sustainable fleet, the Environment and Sustainably Committee on 7 March 2024 unanimously approved the transition from diesel to Hydrogenate Vegetable Oil (HVO) to power the Council’s entire 80 vehicle fleet. Runnymede is the first Council is Surrey to make this transition and is expected to reduce the Council’s fleet emissions by up to 90%. Read more information about the transition online.
Sustainable Procurement Policy
At Full Council on 27 April 2023 the Council adopted its new procurement strategy, with a renewed focus on sustainable procurement and delivery of social value when purchasing goods, works and services are the highlights of Runnymede Borough Council’s new corporate procurement strategy.
When submitting a tender or quote in order to supply the Council, potential suppliers will be asked to demonstrate how they can meet additional relevant criteria such as social value, sustainability and carbon reduction, which support the Council's objectives and aims laid out in its Climate Change Strategy.
To find out more, see what Councillors said about the policy or review the policy on our purchasing and procurement page.
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