URL: https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2916

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Environment

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: Proposed decision:   Adoption of the Kent County Council Environment Plan     Background Kent boasts a rich, diverse and unique natural environment that benefits the health and well-being of Kent residents and is crucial for sustainable economic and social growth.   The Kent environment is facing unprecedented challenges. Climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss, flooding and sea level rises, invasive species and pollutants contaminating our natural and marine ecosystems, air and water quality problems and resource depletion are all issues affecting the county.   The UK government has responded to environmental challenges by implementing several key policies and pieces of legislation including the 25-Year Environment Plan, the Environment Act 2021, the 2023 Green Finance Strategy and the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023.    The pace of legislative change has accelerated and KCC has responded by developing its own knowledge, strategies and action plans in response to the increase in duties and responsibilities required of the Authority.    The development of policy and strategy has resulted in an explosion of environmental activity that is delivering significant outcomes for and within Kent. However, this activity is, by design, often focused on a specific policy or target and does not benefit from a holistic approach.   Financial challenges including the withdrawal of both EU and UK government funding and the financial pressures on the Authority have reduced the ability to progress environmental activity at the pace and scale currently needed to deliver required outcomes.   Kent County Council’s Environment Plan outlines KCC’s role in delivering the national agenda locally and focuses on a holistic approach that delivers maximum benefits. The Environment Plan does not seek to replace previous strategies and policies but acts as an umbrella plan to provide clarity of priorities and action and enabling progress to be made most efficiently and effectively.   The Environment Plan recognises the interconnected principles of Environment, Growth and Health supporting mutual progress and providing significant co-benefits without requiring fundamental changes to current or future work.   The aim of the KCC Environment Plan is to safeguard and improve our environment, supporting healthy communities and sustainable growth. This mirrors the governments approach to consider environment not as a solo discipline but one embedded within health and growth to ensure long-term sustainability.   The Environment Plan aims to deliver on the following objectives to work towards the overarching aim:   •          Deliver green energy and reduce carbon emissions: enable the delivery of green energy infrastructure in the county, deliver net zero greenhouse gas emissions across KCC’s estate and operations and collaborate with partners to achieve countywide net zero emissions •          Adapt to a changing climate: assess the risks and impacts of climate change and reduce the impact on our residents by adapting to Kent’s future climate and more frequent severe weather •          Reduce flood risk and manage water resources effectively: mitigate flood risk and contribute to improving community flood resilience, sustainable drainage and water efficiency across the county. •          Protection and improve the natural and built environment: drive nature protection and recovery across the county, ensure that our habitats are abundant with wildlife and plants and drive environmentally sustainable development •          Manage resources through a circular economy: manage materials more efficiently by minimising wates and reusing and recycling materials, enabling the development of a circular economy in Kent •          Conserve and promote Kent’s natural beauty and heritage: ensure that Kent’s historical environment is sustained for future generations and promote public engagement with our unique countryside and natural beauty   Actions to meet each objective are set out in Section 6 of the Environment Plan.   An annual monitoring report of the plan will be provided that will outline planned activity for each year and show progress made against each action ensuring that the plan remains live and fit for purpose over time. The actions that support the delivery of the objectives will be reviewed as part of the annual report.   The adoption of the Environment Plan supports the national delivery of environmental outcomes. It also meets outcomes of priority 3 of Framing Kent’s Future 2022-2026, ‘Environmental Step Change’, which seeks to reach our Net Zero targets, protect and strengthen our natural environment, work with our partners towards Kent being Net Zero by 2050, explore options for carbon zero energy production and use and ensure that the county is well placed to adapt to climate change.  

Content: Proposed decision:   Adoption of the Kent County Council Environment Plan     Background Kent boasts a rich, diverse and unique natural environment that benefits the health and well-being of Kent residents and is crucial for sustainable economic and social growth.   The Kent environment is facing unprecedented challenges. Climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss, flooding and sea level rises, invasive species and pollutants contaminating our natural and marine ecosystems, air and water quality problems and resource depletion are all issues affecting the county.   The UK government has responded to environmental challenges by implementing several key policies and pieces of legislation including the 25-Year Environment Plan, the Environment Act 2021, the 2023 Green Finance Strategy and the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023.    The pace of legislative change has accelerated and KCC has responded by developing its own knowledge, strategies and action plans in response to the increase in duties and responsibilities required of the Authority.    The development of policy and strategy has resulted in an explosion of environmental activity that is delivering significant outcomes for and within Kent. However, this activity is, by design, often focused on a specific policy or target and does not benefit from a holistic approach.   Financial challenges including the withdrawal of both EU and UK government funding and the financial pressures on the Authority have reduced the ability to progress environmental activity at the pace and scale currently needed to deliver required outcomes.   Kent County Council’s Environment Plan outlines KCC’s role in delivering the national agenda locally and focuses on a holistic approach that delivers maximum benefits. The Environment Plan does not seek to replace previous strategies and policies but acts as an umbrella plan to provide clarity of priorities and action and enabling progress to be made most efficiently and effectively.   The Environment Plan recognises the interconnected principles of Environment, Growth and Health supporting mutual progress and providing significant co-benefits without requiring fundamental changes to current or future work.   The aim of the KCC Environment Plan is to safeguard and improve our environment, supporting healthy communities and sustainable growth. This mirrors the governments approach to consider environment not as a solo discipline but one embedded within health and growth to ensure long-term sustainability.   The Environment Plan aims to deliver on the following objectives to work towards the overarching aim:   •          Deliver green energy and reduce carbon emissions: enable the delivery of green energy infrastructure in the county, deliver net zero greenhouse gas emissions across KCC’s estate and operations and collaborate with partners to achieve countywide net zero emissions •          Adapt to a changing climate: assess the risks and impacts of climate change and reduce the impact on our residents by adapting to Kent’s future climate and more frequent severe weather •          Reduce flood risk and manage water resources effectively: mitigate flood risk and contribute to improving community flood resilience, sustainable drainage and water efficiency across the county. •          Protection and improve the natural and built environment: drive nature protection and recovery across the county, ensure that our habitats are abundant with wildlife and plants and drive environmentally sustainable development •          Manage resources through a circular economy: manage materials more efficiently by minimising wates and reusing and recycling materials, enabling the development of a circular economy in Kent •          Conserve and promote Kent’s natural beauty and heritage: ensure that Kent’s historical environment is sustained for future generations and promote public engagement with our unique countryside and natural beauty   Actions to meet each objective are set out in Section 6 of the Environment Plan.   An annual monitoring report of the plan will be provided that will outline planned activity for each year and show progress made against each action ensuring that the plan remains live and fit for purpose over time. The actions that support the delivery of the objectives will be reviewed as part of the annual report.   The adoption of the Environment Plan supports the national delivery of environmental outcomes. It also meets outcomes of priority 3 of Framing Kent’s Future 2022-2026, ‘Environmental Step Change’, which seeks to reach our Net Zero targets, protect and strengthen our natural environment, work with our partners towards Kent being Net Zero by 2050, explore options for carbon zero energy production and use and ensure that the county is well placed to adapt to climate change.   As Cabinet Member for Environment, I agree to:   To adopt the Kent Environment Plan on behalf of Kent County Council.   To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment to refresh and/or make revisions to the Strategy as appropriate during the lifetime of the strategy.   To delegate authority to the Corporate Growth, Environment and Transport to take relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of, and entering into required contract or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the decision.  

Date of Decision: December 13, 2024