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Progress on delivery

Monitoring our progress

Acting to address Climate Change

Council actions on climate mitigation (reducing greenhouse emissions) and climate adaptation (resilience to climate change risks) can be split into:

  • An internal / corporate focus for the Council;
  • Efforts to enable and facilitate actions across Mid Devon communities.

How do we monitor progress with the Council’s Carbon Footprint? Find out more.

Biodiversity Duty Action Plan

The Council’s ‘biodiversity duty’ is a statutory duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity (habitats and species) set out by the Environment Act 2021 and the amended Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC Act). Council actions and monitoring will focus on the Biodiversity Duty Action Plan, which contains aims, actions and goals for the Council and its partners. 

Work to enhance nature includes: 

  1. actions taken in its role as a Local Planning Authority
  2. actions outside that role e.g. Boosting Nature in Green Spaces.  

Corporate Plan and Climate Strategy priorities

The table below briefly summarises actions and progress in achieving the Council’s Corporate Plan 2024-2028 with particular emphasis on the Climate Change Strategy 2025-2028. Climate impacts, i.e. the emissions of greenhouse gases, are measured as Tonnes of CO2 Equivalent (tCO2e).  

Ref

Relevant priorities in the 2024-2028 Corporate Plan

Notes on actions taken

 1.1

Demonstrate climate leadership through achieving ambitious net zero targets.
  • The Council is delivering Net Zero new-build modular housing. Delivery is going well, with projects winning multiple awards. 

  • Further invest-to-save projects undertaken at Council facilities will reduce emissions. 

  • Measure: the Council's carbon footprint.  Targets: 16,000 t CO2e 24/25. 15,500 t CO2e 25/26. 15,000 t CO2e 26/27. 14,500 t CO2e 27/28. Find out more.

  • Measure: Carbon emissions avoided
    (renewables and green transport). Target: 60 tCO2e.
    Progress - emissions avoided by use of fleet EV: 21 tCO2e in 2024/25, 12 tCO2e April-Sept 2025. 
    Progress - emissions avoided by use of solar power: 88 tCO2e in 2024/25, 90 tCO2e April - December 2025. 

1.2

Support the district’s response to the climate emergency.

 
  • Measure: Electric car charger points installed
    across Mid Devon District Council sites. Aiming for 10 more EV chargepoints by 2030. 
    Progress: 6 chargepoints installed 2024/25; 4 chargepoints installed 2025/26. 

  • Measure: Secure external funding to deliver
    carbon reduction in the district. Target £100k annually. 
    Progress: 2024/25 £473,881; 2025/26 £472,500.

  • The Housing Strategy responds to the Council’s Net Zero priority. 

1.3

We will work with stakeholders to introduce planning policy which reflects the key issues and challenges facing the district.
  • Plan Mid Devon sets the need to address Climate Change as the over-arching priority for the next Local Plan. 

  • Our 2023 interim Climate Emergency Planning Policy Statement helps to enable and ask for developments to address climate issues.

  • The Council is a supporter of the National Custom and Self Build Association and welcomes proposals for these projects. 

  • Community Land Trust projects have been supported. 

1.4

We will ensure that biodiversity is increased across the district.

1.5

We will value and protect Mid Devon’s natural and built environment.

 

2.3

We will support the health, wellbeing, and safety of our residents.
  • We support towns and parishes to develop their community emergency plans.  

  • Energy Boost Mid Devon is a partnership project between ECOE Advice and mid Devon District Council. Funded by the Council’s climate change and sustainability budget, it boosts expert advice available to Mid Devon homes and it provides a £15,000 Energy Efficiency Fund to help those who can least afford the home improvements.

3.2

We will build, promote, and encourage the building of energy efficient and low carbon homes and communities. ​

 

3.4

We will invest in our homes. We will upgrade our social housing by installing energy efficiency measures and renewable energy.

 

4.4 

We will support business and economic development across Mid Devon, enabling job creation, and sustainable tourism growth.

 

4.5

We will work with partners to ensure that Mid Devon has the infrastructure it requires to meet its potential.​

 
5.2 We will further increase our recycling services, enabling our communities to achieve even higher levels of recycling.

 

 5.3

We will maintain our leisure services and ensure they are fit for the future. ​​

 

5.5 

We will continue to improve and transform our services. (e.g. digital)