Agenda item

Jamie Henderson (Cabinet Member for Environment, Coastal Regeneration and Public Health), and Elizabeth Milne (Head of Environment) was in attendance for this item:

1. The Cabinet Member introduced the report and explained that it represented the first annual update on the delivery of the Kent County Council Environment Plan.

a)    Members were advised that the report summarised progress made during 2025/26 against the six environmental goals established within the Plan and also set out priorities for the year ahead.

b)    The Committee was informed that positive progress had been made across all six goals and that environmental activity continued to contribute towards operational efficiency, service resilience and environmental improvement throughout Kent. Members were advised that achievements included reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the expansion of renewable energy generation, improvements in recycling performance, support for water resilience projects and continued investment in nature recovery initiatives.

c)      Members were advised that amendments would also be made to the published Environment Plan to reflect the adoption of Kent County Council’s Energy Efficiency Plan. Officers explained that the principal change involved shifting the emphasis from the previous net-zero target approach towards improving energy efficiency, reducing operating costs and lowering emissions across council services and assets.

2. Members discussed the following:

a)    Members welcomed the work undertaken by officers and the progress reported against the Environment Plan. Particular recognition was given to the collaborative work undertaken through the Environment Plan Cross-Party Members Group and the range of projects delivered across the authority.

b)    Questions were raised regarding the financial benefits generated (1.2 million KW) through solar energy projects and renewable infrastructure. Officers advised that additional financial information had subsequently become available and confirmed that the energy generated from KCC solar installations represented a significant financial benefit to the authority.

c)      Members expressed concern regarding the substantial reduction in tree planting activity compared with previous years and sought assurances that opportunities would continue to be pursued to expand tree cover across Kent. Officers explained that the reduction largely reflected the loss of external grant funding streams previously available through national tree planting schemes. Despite this, Members were advised that officers continued to pursue alternative funding opportunities and had recently secured additional funding to support future planting activity.

d)    Discussion took place regarding the need to ensure that newly planted trees were resilient to increasingly dry climatic conditions. Officers advised that future planting programmes would continue to consider climate resilience, species suitability and long-term sustainability. Reference was also made to work involving disease-resistant elm varieties and opportunities to increase biodiversity benefits through future planting initiatives.

e)    Members highlighted the importance of securing additional investment to support both Plan Tree and Plan Bee ambitions. Officers advised that a future Green Finance Strategy would seek to identify and secure wider funding opportunities for environmental projects and longer-term delivery of Environment Plan objectives.

f)        The Committee discussed the relationship between biodiversity objectives, nature recovery and wider planning and mineral extraction matters. Members reflected upon the importance of balancing environmental considerations with economic and infrastructure requirements across the county.

g)    Members welcomed the achievements delivered during the first year of the Environment Plan and recognised the importance of maintaining momentum across all six environmental goals. The Committee further acknowledged the challenges associated with securing external funding and supporting long-term environmental improvement across Kent.

h)    Additionally, Members raised further opportunities of private sector funding with discussions closing on the point of the NIAB site in hermitage lane site and the option to quarry on its land to prevent the issue faced by the Oaken Wood site.

RESOLVED to:

a) note the Environment Achievements and Updates Report and the priorities identified for 2026/27; and

b) note the proposed amendments to the published Environment Plan to align it with the Kent County Council Energy Efficiency Plan.