What is the Council doing about climate change?

Dover District Council (DDC) has acknowledged the serious impact of climate change globally and declared a Climate Change Emergency, having already confirmed support for the Kent and Medway Energy and Low Emissions Strategy, Kent Environment Strategy and Kent Fuel Poverty Strategy, and signed the Emissions Reduction Pledge 2020. 

A cross party Climate Change Member Group has been established, to oversee the implementation of Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan.The Action Plan sets out actions to reduce emissions from Council activity, operations and what influence the Council can bring to improve the environment and future sustainability of the district. 

Council action to support the climate change agenda includes:

Assets & Estate

• Solar Panels have been installed on the Dover Museum Store at Whitfield Court.
• Around 2750 streetlight units have been replaced with energy saving LED's within the district.  Inefficient streetlights at Burgoyne Heights have been replaced with 64 LED streetlights.
• The Danes and Marke Wood Pavilions, the Grand Shaft, Deal Pier Office, Dolphin House Communal Stairwell and Council owned and controlled public conveniences have had internal lighting upgraded to LED.
• Advertising screens on Council owned bus shelters are powered down 20% of the day (between 12am and 5am) to save energy.
• Electric ovens and hobs are being installed in the new kitchens at Dover Town Hall to reduce the carbon emissions from catering equipment. Lighting is being upgraded to LED fittings throughout with the main venue benefitting from automatic lighting control system (presence/ absence detection).

• Dover District Leisure Centre has been ranked Kent’s best leisure centre for energy efficiency, carbon footprint and energy consumption. The centre has a highly efficient combined heat and power plant, 70 solar panels on the roof, electric vehicle charging points, facilities to promote cycling and sustainable travel plans.

 

Housing

•  Two new low-carbon Council homes have been built by DDC which include solar panels, triple glazing, and air source pumps at Foxborough Close, Woodnesborough.

                                                                                           

 

• Insulation/heating grants for fuel poor/vulnerable households - helping residents achieve affordable warmth whilst at the same time reducing the household's carbon footprint and therefore improving the energy efficiency of the district’s housing stock.

• Cutting edge solar panel systems installed on the roof of 16 new studio flats at Walter Hammond Close, Dover.

• Bomford Place named residential project regional winner (Southeast) by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).  The affordable housing project is designed and built with high levels of insulation, natural ventilation, and double-aspect windows to make the most of natural light to minimise the energy needed for heating and lighting.

 

• Solar Together Kent is a group-buying scheme that brings households together to get high-quality solar panels at a competitive price, to help deliver the district's and Kent's vision of carbon net-zero.

Governance

•  The Corporate Plan that sets out the vision and clear direction for all services delivered by the Council, acknowledges its leadership role ‘in delivering a better environment for everyone and helping to inspire individuals, businesses and other organisations to commit to act to reduce the District’s carbon footprint. Climate change is therefore embedded in each of the key themes.’ 
•  Annual Emissions are published on the Council’s website and reported in the Council’s Performance Report
• It is a requirement that any impacts on the climate or environment are detailed in all Cabinet Reports.
•  The Council’s Taxi licensing policy offers a 25% reduction in the licence fee for any vehicle that is electric, hybrid or LPG converted.

• The Council offers Town Centre and Green Energy grants to small business to renovate, bring back to use, and increase energy efficiency of their premises.  The Federation of Small Business has awarded Dover District Council ‘Best Programme of Business Support in the Southeast’ in recognition of this support for small businesses.

• Sir Roger Manwoods School was one of the successful applicants to the Green Initiatives Grant Programme (part of The Open Legacy Fund provided by the Royal & Ancient).  The fund launched by the R & A, Dover District Council, Kent County Council and Sandwich Council has helped a local school improve its carbon emissions by 30 tonnes per year due to the installation of 345 solar panels. See press release.

Natural Environment

•  70 trees have been planted in memory of HM Queen Elizabeth II  in Council parks and open spaces throughout the district.
• Dover District Council planted over 100 new trees across the district as part of National Tree Week. The trees were provided through a carbon off-setting scheme with Eco Green Communities to offset the manufacture of 25 eco dog waste bins installed across the district.

 

• 120 trees planted on the site of the Dover Leisure Centre.
•  The Kearsney Parks have maintained The Green Flag Award® (key elements of which are enhancing wildlife habitats and providing facilities for people to learn about the heritage and biodiversity of the parkland).

 

• Key refurbishment works to refurbish all 12 timber groynes have been undertaken to maintain the sea defences at St Margaret’s Bay and protect the area for the future.

Waste

• Dover District Council (DDC) has won the prestigious Keep Britain Tidy Great British Spring Clean Award. DDC won the award for its wide-reaching campaign to tackle litter. 
• In support of the Great British Spring clean DDC launched a new Environmental Awards Scheme to recognise our district’s unsung heroes (individuals, schools, groups and businesses) who work hard to improve the appearance of the Dover District and help to maintain our environment. 
•  The Environmental Protection Team conduct educational talks on the topics of littering and dog fouling including interactive games about biodegrading.

 

Air Quality

• Kent REVs Up for Cleaner Air provides businesses with the opportunity to try an electric van.  The aim is that organisations will see the benefits and easing of owning an electric vehicle and be encouraged to invest post trial.
• Dover DC is finalising the updated AQ Action Plan to be published for consultation early 2023 – will include measures to improve AQ across the district.
• DDC has worked with the Kent & Medway Air Quality Partnership to develop an interactive education tool for children, parents and teachers to learn about air quality, its effects and how to reduce air pollution.  The Environmental Protection Team will be promoting this in 2023.

 

Local Development Plan

•  The Council’s Local Plan includes policies to help adapt to climate change and preserve the environment, whilst helping to deliver improvements to infrastructure. 
• DDC Planning Committee granted permission for a 24MW solar farm with battery storage on land in Guston near Dover. The development is set to help avoid 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted each year and is capable of providing sustainable energy to power around 7,000 homes.

 

Transport

•  The Council operates an employee Cycle to Work Scheme, and access to new ‘eco-friendly’ electric or hybrid cars through the Salary Sacrifice Low Emission Car Scheme.
• The Civic car, a pool car and the Environmental Protection team vans are now all electric.  8 electric charging points installed on the Council’s estate to provide charging for fleet vehicles.