Bracknell Forest Council has responded to a call for it to scrap its net-zero climate change policies to save costs.
Bracknell Forest Council is facing pressure to ditch its net-zero climate change policies in a bid to save costs.
Recent financial reports reveal an underspend of £742,000 compared to the approved budget for 2024/25. However, the council could be looking at a whopping £18.75 million loss in government funding over the next three years due to the upcoming Fairer Funding Review 2.0.
Sandhurst Town councillor John Edwards has suggested cutting back on carbon reduction initiatives, highlighting the switch from diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) biofuel for the council's parks and countryside fleet. He noted that HVO is pricier than diesel, costing 10-15% more, according to fuel provider Prema.
Currently, the council operates two HVO vehicles and is trialling an HVO waste truck.
When questioned about potential policy changes to save taxpayer money, Councillor Kathryn Neil (Labour, Binfield South & Jennett's Park) mentioned that the council invites public feedback on its draft budget every December. She stressed the importance of local input in budget discussions.
Neil pointed out that Bracknell Forest Council, like many others, is grappling with budget pressures stemming from years of underfunding and upcoming funding changes. To tackle the predicted £18.75 million gap, service budgets may need to be slashed by at least 10% over the next three years.
Climate change remains a priority in the Council Plan for 2023-2027, with the council successfully reducing carbon emissions from 3,218 tonnes of CO2e in 2023 to 2,989 tonnes in 2024—a drop of 229 tonnes.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
