URL: https://democracy.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=72

Decision Maker: Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: 5.1 - Question from Councillor Karen Davies   On page 9 of the Police and Crime Plan, under the heading of ‘Sustainability’ you set out your commitments to – Reduce carbon footprint Support ecological resilience Support decarbonisation projects and Encourage partnership working to respond to the climate emergency. How do you propose to fulfil these commitments? Does this include sourcing electricity and gas outside the national framework?  What, in relation to these commitments, would success look like? Response from the Police and Crime Commissioner   In relation to partnership working, the force is a member of the All Wales Sustainability and Decarbonisation Committee and recently undertook a TIA Sustainability Audit. As a non-devolved body, when initiatives are launched by Welsh Government, the benefits of those are unclear and requires the force to make a case to be considered part of those activities. The force works with other emergency services to tackle climate change through the National Police Estates Group and its Environment and Sustainability Group. The force also employs a dedicated Sustainability and Decarbonisation Officer and interacts with County Councils through the various networks under the Public Services Board. A recent example of working on solutions with emergency services, including the Ambulance Trust and the Fire Service, and unitary authorities relates to the electric vehicle charging infrastructure that is needed across Mid and West Wales, which is being endeavoured towards. The aim of partnership working is to reduce individual cost implications. In terms of the specifics of reducing carbon footprint, have endeavoured over recent years to get a baseline for that position and seen small changes to working practices, such as working remotely and working from home using digital technology. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has significantly reduced its floor space at Police Headquarters to reduce its footprint and enable an increase in the footprint of other partner agencies. The Welsh Ambulance Trust now works at Police Headquarters and occupies a full floor at one building at headquarters, which has served a purpose in carbon reduction due to needing to drive less frequently to and from work and meetings. To work on the baseline, building energy efficiency improvements have been completed to reduce the carbon footprint throughout the force’s buildings. An example would be putting solar panels up on stations and have seen the investments in question at Cardigan Police Station, for example, and trying to identify the quantum value of that saving from a cost avoidance more than cost reduction point of view due to energy price increases over the last 5 to 10 years. Looking to develop a wider solar farm at Police Headquarters. There are planning implications to this and infrastructure issues relating to linking to the National Grid, which all need to be taken into consideration. Although uncertain of the specific up-to-date figure, it was noted that the energy bill for Police Headquarters was in the region of £500,000 every year. Cost at this level is due to the 24-hour nature of the service provided at Police Headquarters, but also the energy used by resources including IT Infrastructure, namely servers and the air conditioning that ensures that servers are held at certain temperatures. In terms of ecological resilience, projects have been developed, such as the HQ Solar Farm, but also when projects are created, an ecology assessment is undertaken at that time. Wildlife boxes at various locations across the estate have also been installed. In addition to the electric vehicles and HQ Solar Farm decarbonisation projects, LED lighting has also been introduced, which has had a significant impact on reducing carbon footprint. In terms of what success would look like, it would be to ultimately protect communities and the commitment to net zero to ensure reduction in carbon footprint and protect ecology as well. For example, when building the new custody provision in Carmarthenshire at Dafen, a proportion of the site needed the ability for the ecology disrupted by the new build to be relocated. Ultimately, the aim is that everything done has a minimal impact on the environment.

Date of Decision: April 29, 2025