Decision

The Cabinet has decided to change council vehicles' primary fuel type to HVO fuel to reduce carbon emissions and potentially increase spending on fuel.

Analysis

outcome: Cabinet approved the change to HVO fuel for council vehicles, noting the financial implications and potential carbon savings.

summary: The decision is to change the primary fuel type for council vehicles from standard diesel to HVO fuel and potentially increase spending on fuel.

topline: The Cabinet has decided to change council vehicles' primary fuel type to HVO fuel to reduce carbon emissions and potentially increase spending on fuel.

reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious due to potential financial implications and the need to balance cost savings with environmental benefits.

affected_stakeholders: ["Council employees", "Taxpayers", "Environmental groups"]

contentiousness_score: 5

political_party_relevance: There are no mentions or implications of political parties influencing the decision.

URL: https://democracy.thanet.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=5389

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The proposal is to change the primary fuel type for the council vehicles from standard diesel to HVO fuel and approve the potential increase of spend on fuel.

Content: The proposal is to change the primary fuel type for the council vehicles from standard diesel to HVO fuel and approve the potential increase of spend on fuel. Cabinet agreed the following:   1.  To approve the key decision to change TDC’s primary fuel type from standard diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil fuel;   2.  To note the maximum additional cost per annum of adopting the use of HVO and that as identified in the Financial Implications section, this approach will also offer financial savings to the vehicle replacement programme which will offset the additional cost of HVO fuel;   3.  That, where it is not possible to replace an end of life combustion engined vehicle with an electric equivalent, the latest and most efficient new combustion engined vehicle will be selected as a replacement and will be powered by HVO fuel. Note that any future vehicles purchase over £250k will still be the subject of a future Cabinet decision report in line with the key decision threshold. The change will reduce the carbon produced by TDCs fleet by over 90%. The fleet is TDCs largest carbon producer (40%). This could equate to 1300 tonnes of carbon saved. To not make the change or to do it for only selected vehicles. It was agreed that the potential increase cost represented the best value in regards to the amount of carbon reduction.

Date of Decision: July 24, 2025