Performance Improvement Plan 2024 to 2025 Year-end Update p5
Improvement Objective 3:
Planet - We will reduce our environmental impact and improve sustainability.
By:
- Moving towards cleaner energy and reducing our consumption.
- Delivering an effective and efficient Waste Management Service.
- Supporting biodiversity.
- Reaching environmental standards and targets.
- Sharing learning and best practice.
Who is responsible:
- Director of Community
- Interim Director of Operations
Why are we doing this?
- The actions set out to achieve this objective align with the key priorities identified through public consultation.
They demonstrate how the Council is leading by example, whilst also working to engage and educate on sustainability.
They assist the development of the borough’s electric vehicle charging network, they focus on providing an effective and efficient waste management service, and they demonstrate support for biodiversity within the borough. - Our citizens identified help to reduce consumption, waste and litter, and awareness and assistance in tackling climate change as the two most important things the Council could do to be more environmentally friendly.
Adopting environmentally sustainable transport ranked third and protecting plants and animals ranked fourth (MEABC Citizens Survey 2022). - Measures to address climate change, environmental awareness, and the importance of respect for the local and natural environment, were points raised throughout the Community Planning Review (2022) consultation.
- The phase out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is 2035.
The pages that follow outline our progress towards achieving our outcomes for citizens.
|
Outcome 1 - Energy-saving and clean energy projects within Council buildings. |
|
|---|---|
| Measure 1 |
6 energy-saving projects delivered by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
We successfully delivered 8 energy saving projects this year, exceeding the target of 6. These included LED lighting upgrades at facilities such as the Showgrounds, Larne Leisure Centre, People’s Park, Oakfield Community Centre, Carrickfergus Civic Centre, Carrickfergus Town Hall, and Sir Thomas Dixon building. |
| Measure 2 |
4 clean-energy projects delivered by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
Solar PV installations were delivered at the Sullatober Depot and Portglenone Marina, while battery storage systems were installed at Springwell Street Car Park and Sullatober Waste Transfer Station. Data logging technology and analytics platforms were also added to the Showgrounds, Carrickfergus Civic Centre, Larne and Carrickfergus Leisure Centres, Portglenone Marina, Springwell Street Car Park, and Sullatober sites to inform future investment opportunities in renewable generation and storage. |
| Measure 3 |
Approximately 77,000kg CO2e savings by 31 March 2025 (lifecycle saving - 1.5m kg). |
| Status: Achieved |
A carbon reduction of 77,301kg CO2e has been achieved. |
| Measure 4 |
Approximately £80,000 savings through energy projects by 31 March 2025 (lifecycle savings - £1.6m). |
| Status: Achieved |
Annual financial savings have increased to £85,756. |
|
Outcome 2 - Expansion of electric vehicle chargepoints within the borough. |
|
| Measure 1 |
12 fast chargers procured through the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) by 30 September 2024. |
| Status: Achieved |
The contract was awarded in December 2024. |
| Measure 2 |
Installation date for ORCS chargers confirmed by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Delayed but progressing |
This project is expected to be completed by September 2025. Future updates on this project will be provided to the Council’s Environment and Economy Committee. |
| Measure 3 |
6 upgraded charge stations through ESB by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
All 6 charge stations are installed. The locations are Tower Road Larne, Narrow Gauge Larne, Havelock Carnlough, Coast Road Glenarm, Larne Link Road Ballymena and Henry Street Ballymena. A supercharging hub was also installed in Larne. |
|
Outcome 3 - Achievement of our statutory Waste Management targets. |
|
| Measure 1 |
At least 50% of household waste collected sent for recycling by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track |
From April to December 2024, 52.67% of household waste collected was sent for recycling. Verified data up to the end of March 2025 is not yet available for all 3 statutory Waste indicators, and will be reported through our Performance Improvement Plan for 2025/26. |
| Measure 2 |
A maximum of 16,387 tonnes of biodegradable collected municipal waste sent to landfill by 31 March 2025. |
|
Status: On track |
From April to December 2024, 11,566 tonnes of biodegradable collected municipal waste was sent to landfill. |
| Measure 3 |
Less than 75,797 tonnes collected municipal waste arisings by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track |
From April to December 2024, there were 58,405 tonnes of collected municipal waste arisings. |
|
Outcome 4 - Delivery of our Tree and Woodland Management Strategy. |
|
| Measure 1 |
5,000 trees planted within the borough by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
Almost 370,000 trees were planted or distributed for planting across the borough last year. |
|
Outcome 5 - Achievement of environmental targets and accreditations, where viable. |
|
| Measure 1 |
Re-certification of International Management Standard ISO14001 by 31 August 2024. |
|
Status: Achieved |
Re-certification was obtained for another 3 years in August. No non-conformances or observations for improvement were identified. |
| Measure 2 |
A minimum of Gold Status in the NI Benchmarking Survey by 30 November 2024. |
| Status: Achieved |
We achieved Platinum level, and were the top performing council in Northern Ireland. |
| Measure 3 |
Gaps identified in the 2023 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey addressed by 31 October 2024. |
| Status: Achieved |
We have taken various steps to address the gaps identified, including the development and agreement of waste harmonisation plans to improve recycling performance, LED and solar PV installations to increase our renewable energy generation, and flood-risk mapping. We also monitor and report on Scope 1, Scope 2, and four categories of Scope 3 carbon emissions. Several biodiversity projects were also progressed. Our most recent initiative in Larne Town Park is beginning to take shape as the pilot site for our new Nature Recovery Plan. Here, we’re combining habitat restoration with community action. Volunteers and local schools have created a thriving community orchard and introduced new wildflower planting, while grassland areas are being left uncut in summer to benefit pollinators and small wildlife. Woodland edges are being carefully restored by gradually removing invasive species and planting native trees to support long-term ecological health. Plans are also underway to develop a looped nature trail, making the park even more accessible for people to experience nature up close. Once the pilot is complete, the Nature Recovery Plan will go to public consultation ensuring that our long-term vision for biodiversity is shaped by those who use and care for these spaces most. |
|
Outcome 6 - Opportunities to engage in environmental education programmes. |
|
| Measure 1 |
10 community engagement sessions held on Waste and Recycling, and Climate and Sustainability by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
By December we had delivered 10 community engagement sessions. In January, we also engaged with local businesses as they developed their Climate Action Plans, through the Collaborative Growth Network. |
| Measure 2 |
Support for the Eco-Schools programme, with a 5% increase in the number of schools with Green Flags by 30 June 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
The number of Eco-Schools with Green Flag status has increased by 5%. An awards ceremony will take place in June to recognise participating schools. |
| Measure 3 |
Delivery of 5 circular economy waste initiatives by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
We delivered 5 key initiatives to promote sustainability, reduce waste, and support our local communities, including the School Uniform Scheme, Christmas Toy Container Scheme, Community Fridges, Community Repaint Scheme, and the Spectacle Reuse Scheme. |