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Local Action |
Timing |
Progress |
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Incorporate policies into the emerging Castle Point Plan that address open spaces, sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS), renewable energy, and energy storage—drawing on best practice examples and existing evidence from key stakeholders such as Natural England.
Incorporate policies in emerging Castle Point Plan covering carbon emissions, taking into account examples of best practice and lessons learnt through the work of the Essex CAC and model policies set out in the Essex Design Guide |
2025-2026 |
Underway |
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In collaboration with Essex County Council (ECC), adopt a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for Castle Point, prioritising the maintenance of existing routes and ensuring adequate funding for their upkeep.
Collaborate with Essex County Council (ECC) to introduce new cycling routes across the borough, promoting sustainable travel options. Exploring on demand bus routes. |
2025 |
Underway
Underway |
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The council will support local businesses by offering information on climate action/sustainability and by providing advice to businesses on how to access grants for retrofit and other climate action/sustainability measures. |
2025 -2028 |
Underway |
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Introduce a specific award for Green Business Practice as part of the Mayors Awards to celebrate and promote sustainable business practices. |
2026 – 2028 |
Underway |
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Work with businesses and community groups to develop the circular economy in Castle Point and establish/support local repair hubs which promote the sharing of repair skills and promote the repair, recycling and reuse of damaged and waste items.
Support and promote the Castle Point/Essex County Council Reuse Shop located at the Canvey Island Recycling Centre.
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2025 – 2028 |
Underway |
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Continue organizing regular Flood Forum meetings while actively engaging with the Environment Agency, Anglian Water and Essex County Council to address flood management and resilience strategies.
Increase the visibility and impact of the Flood Forum by raising its profile by utilising the Council’s website and other means of communication.
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2025-2028 |
Paused |
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Implement the Biodiversity First Considerations Report to achieve 30% of all land enhanced biodiversity.
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2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Engagement through Art — creating a community-driven commitment for climate action that reflects the commitments residents are ready to make. This commitment is inspired by art, placing artistic expression at the forefront rather than being simply guided by it. The project will actively involve the local Climate Action Group and Youth Council, with a focus on reaching groups often excluded from traditional paper-based surveys, including young people and individuals with disabilities. |
2025-2026 |
Complete |
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Engage residents, businesses, and educational institutions—including schools, colleges, and universities—in the implementation of the citizens assembly through targeted consultations, surveys, and public forums to gather feedback and ideas, ensuring active community participation in climate initiatives. |
2025-2028 |
Not yet actioned |
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Identify and apply for government grants, private investment, and other funding opportunities to support the delivery and implementation of local climate initiatives.
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2026-2028 |
Underway |
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Integrate with social media planning and activities to regularly signpost to online resources which promote climate action at the individual and household level.
Regularly update the Council website to feature links to online resources that encourage and support climate action at the individual and household level.
Promote and expand the ongoing property-level flood protection scheme launched by Essex County Council (ECC) LLFA through online resource that provides clear guidance, practical advice, eligibility criteria, and application support to residents and property owners. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Acquire a platform to robustly and accurately record, map, and accurately calculate emissions and emission savings across all 3 scopes, plus at a community level (Carbon accounting software). |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Report progress on the Climate Action Plan to Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee on a 6 monthly basis
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2026-2028 |
Underway |
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Prepare an annual report, to be approved by Cabinet, which set out progress against the actions set out in the Climate Action Plan and any adjustments necessary to progress towards the targets in the ECAC report. |
2026 - 2028 |
Underway |
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Implementation of relevant policies in the emerging Castle Point Plan, once that plan has been adopted.
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2026-2028 |
Underway |
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Organise community litter picking events in partnership with local residents, schools, and voluntary groups to help clean up public spaces, raise awareness of environmental responsibility, and foster local pride. Equipment and safety guidance will be provided, and collected waste will be logged to inform future waste reduction efforts. |
2025-2026 |
Underway |
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Explore installing EV charging points near Council-owned buildings to support and encourage the use of electric vehicles, including options for solar-powered chargers |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Expand tree planting in urban areas to help mitigate the urban heat island effect by cooling built-up environments.
Ensure active monitoring and prompt replacement of any trees removed across the borough to maintain canopy cover and ecological value. Explore the creation of micro forests to deliver rapid biodiversity gains and provide resilient green spaces in densely developed areas. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Increase biodiversity in Canvey Heights and Thundersley Common. Common Explore other areas such as Richmond & Shipwrights Park.
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2025-2028 |
Not yet actioned |
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Subject to identifying a suitable operator, EV charging points will be installed in public car parks where there is demonstrable demand—such as School Lane and Waterside. Installation at the Kiln Road Office car park will be deferred until the future use of the site is confirmed. Opportunities to install solar panels in conjunction with EV infrastructure should be explored to enhance sustainability and reduce energy costs. A procurement and funding search will be undertaken to identify a revenue-generating operator, with potential collaboration opportunities to be explored with Southend Council, Octopus Energy, or similar providers. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Ensure regular maintenance of watercourses and ditches on Council-owned land remains a key priority to support effective drainage and reduce flood risk. Develop clear mapping to identify responsibility for all relevant watercourses and drainage features. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Replace existing council-owned streetlights with smart, energy-efficient LED lighting, potentially incorporating a Passive Infrared (PIR) sensor system that activates the lights upon detecting motion.
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2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Pre-LGR decarbonisation of the Council Offices - Kiln Road. Current CO2 emissions from gas = 95,000 Kg per annum and from electricity =79,000 Kg per annum
Actions for 2025 – 2028
Note: Other actions are possible, but no further implementation is planned before the Government’s decision related to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Essex is confirmed.
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2025-2027 |
Underway |
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Decarbonisation of Waterside Farm Leisure Centre. Current CO2 (prior to part installation of Solar PV) = 455,138 Kg per annum
Actions for 2025 – 2028
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2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Decarbonisation of the Paddocks Actions for 2025 – 2028: Replacing and insulating the roof.
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2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Equip newly purchased workshop with state-of-the-art, sustainable, and climate-friendly assets, including a new heating system, water-saving features, solar panels, and rainwater harvesting systems.
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2026 |
Underway |
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Incorporate sustainability considerations, including energy efficiency, waste reduction, sustainable travel and local supply chain preferences within the quality criteria for the procurement of future contracts over £50k. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Future contracts with a value over £50k to require suppliers to provide data on their carbon footprint across scopes 1 to 3 to ensure that green credentials highlighted during the contract award stage are being met ongoing in the delivery of the contract for Castle Point. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Implement the Government’s Warm Homes Local Grant Scheme (or other relevant schemes) for the retrofit of privately owned homes. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Upgrading existing housing with modern insulation, and energy-efficient heating systems to shift Council properties to improved energy efficiency in line with requirement for EPC rating C by April 2030. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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New homes commissioned by the Council are constructed to operational net zero standards as per ECC guidance.
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2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Offer a Carbon Literacy course to all Members. Encouraging digital communication to reduce paper consumption in meetings and correspondence. Embed consideration of climate impact in the decision-making process for Cabinet and Council. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Offer a Carbon Literacy course to all its staff and other relevant courses
Explore extending Carbon Literacy course to local businesses |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Working with the Travel Planning team at ECC, prepare a travel plan for the Council which explores how the Council can encourage staff to make sustainable travel choices.
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2025 |
Underway |
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Implement Travel Plan |
2026-2028 |
Underway |
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Explore the introduction of a salary sacrifice schemes to offer staff affordable access to electric vehicles (EVs) and cycle to work schemes. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Shift to digital as default where possible, and expand the use of hybrid mail solutions to drive down the use of physical resources where email information is available.
Proactively encourage the use of emails for essential council communications.
Expand the use of the website and digital solutions for self-service to reduce the need to travel for transactions to occur in a high proportion of cases (services still to be available for those without access to digital services).
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2025
Project implementation over 2025/ 26
Ongoing 2026-2028 |
Underway |
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Ensure that other corporate policies and strategies align with the Climate Action Plan.
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2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Leisure facilities to actively promote walking and cycling, as part of a healthy, active lifestyle, offering secure bike storage, and organizing community programs or events. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Launch sustainability challenges for members and staff to reduce their carbon footprints, track progress, and reward achievements. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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To be compliant with the Simpler Recycling national policy in the context of LGR, the Council will take an incremental approach to waste collection as the implementation of a fully containerised solution across the Borough would not be financial prudent at this time. The Council will roll out a separate collection method for paper and card, providing the most suitable sack to support the service.
Businesses will need to go through a business case process to establish if recycling trade waste is commercially beneficial.
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2026 |
Underway |
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Improve the environment at and around recycling collection points, to encourage residents to use them through proper enforcement of the contracts. |
2025-2028 |
Underway |
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Improve the environment at and around recycling points, to encourage residents to use them through site level upgrades |
2026-2028 |
Underway |
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As part of the modernisation of the waste and recycling vehicle fleet, explore the option of utilising Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil due to the potential to reduce carbon emissions from the fleet by up to 93% |
2026-2028 |
Underway |