Strategic Priority 4: Housing Service Operations

Action required:

• Quantify our operational carbon footprint of key activities by April 2026.
• Establish an agreed action plan to target higher polluting practices by April 2027.
• By April 2029 establish methods, processes and alternative activities which reduce carbon emissions across our activities.
• Working with vehicle fleet managers across the council establish a scheme to replace the housing fleet of 61 vehicles with electric vehicle replacements and agree policies for charging with users by 2027.
• Identify all non-digital paper generating activities, agree action plans and budgets to support full digital 'paperless' processes by April 2024.
• Eliminate paper-based activities where practicable by April 2025.
• Maximise Repairs Service Workforce planning to limit unnecessary travel by repairs operatives across the district by 2025.
• In conjunction with the senior leaders of the council:- Establish a hybrid working model which both supports the business activities and strategic aims of the council, but also reduces the carbon footprint of its employees in commuting to work. - Develop and support a cycle to work scheme
• Through our procurement processes support New Forest based Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) with advice and assistance to gain low carbon/renewable energy installation certification and additional skills on tendering to help them secure large scale retrofit and installation contracts.
• Complete an options appraisal of carbon off setting initiatives to offset the residual carbon emissions generated by our social housing stock, post the completion of retrofit programmes by April 2028.
• Through 2022 monitor the energy usage of communal areas across the social housing stock to assess:- Peak demands- Average usage- Reason for use- Alternative provision which reduces costs and carbon emissions.