The Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sport Committee is scheduled to discuss the Richmond Climate and Nature Strategy Action Plan for 2026-27 and the West London Waste Plan. The committee will also receive an update on the Community Bluescapes flood resilience project at Barn Elms South Side and review the Richmond Corporate Plan's end-of-year performance report for 2025/26.

Richmond Climate and Nature Strategy Action Plan 2026-27

The committee is set to consider the Richmond upon Thames Climate and Nature Strategy Action Plan for 2026-2027. This plan outlines the actions the Council intends to take to address climate change and enhance nature across the borough. It is expected to incorporate priorities from the new Administration's election manifesto and align with the Richmond upon Thames Climate and Nature Strategy 2025-2030. The report details actions across several focus areas, including Our buildings, Our travel and air quality, Our nature, Our resources, and Our resilience.

Key proposals within the action plan include the establishment of a Richmond Community Energy Co-operative and a Community Energy Accelerator Fund, aimed at supporting locally-owned renewable energy and the decarbonisation of community buildings. The plan also outlines priorities for accelerating the decarbonisation of homes, increasing sustainable travel options, protecting and enhancing biodiversity, moving towards a zero-waste economy, and strengthening the borough's resilience to climate change impacts. Furthermore, actions are detailed for the Council to become a carbon-neutral organisation by 2030 and to support climate action within communities. The report also includes financial implications, with continuing investment of £0.5m (plus an additional £1m per annum in the capital programme) allocated for 2026/27, alongside £0.2m to support the community energy cooperative and accelerator fund.

Approval of the West London Waste Plan (Regulation 19) for public consultation and subsequent submission to the Secretary of State

The committee is scheduled to consider the approval of the Proposed Submission version (Regulation 19) of the West London Waste Plan (WLWP) for public consultation. This plan, jointly prepared by the London boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Richmond upon Thames, and the Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), provides a framework for managing waste across the sub-region until 2041. The report seeks approval to proceed with public consultation on the plan, which has been informed by previous consultations and evidence base studies. The WLWP aims to ensure sufficient capacity for managing Household, Industrial, and Commercial (HIC) waste, as well as Construction and Demolition (C, D & E) waste, and Hazardous waste. It proposes safeguarding four existing waste sites within Richmond: Townmead Civic Amenity site, Kew Gardens Compost, Central Depot in Twickenham, and Sharpes Oil at Arlington Works. The report details the progress made to date, including consultation responses on the Regulation 18 draft, and outlines the next steps in the plan-making process, including submission to the Secretary of State for independent examination. The financial implications involve an agreed £29,500 annual contribution towards the review of the WLWP.

Community Bluescapes - Barn Elms South Side Flood Resilience Proposal

An update on the Community BlueScapes flood resilience project is scheduled, focusing on the proposed construction of flood resilience works at Barn Elms South Side. This project, part of DEFRA's Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme, aims to improve flood resilience in the Beverley Brook catchment through community co-production, education, and the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). The report highlights the flood risk context in the Beverley Brook catchment, including issues of surface water flooding, fluvial flooding from the brook, and tidal influence from the River Thames leading to tide-lock conditions. Proposed interventions at Barn Elms South Side include removing a section of the existing flood defence berm to allow controlled overtopping onto the floodplain, thereby increasing downstream flood storage. Hydraulic modelling suggests this would reduce flood depths to properties and green spaces. The estimated project cost is £125,000, funded by the DEFRA programme, with construction planned for August 2026, pending Environment Agency approval of a Flood Risk Activity Permit (FRAP). The project aligns with Richmond's Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, Climate and Nature Strategy, and Adaptation and Resilience Strategy.

Richmond Corporate Plan 2025/26 end-year performance report

The committee will receive an update on the performance of the Richmond Corporate Plan (RCP) for the 2025/26 financial year. The report includes progress on RCP actions and performance against key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to the committee's remit. Out of 15 indicators with comparable data, 11 have shown improvement, 3 have declined, and 1 remained the same. Of the 18 indicators with targets, 15 are rated 'Green', 1 is 'Amber' (positive direction of travel), and 2 are 'Red'. Areas of improving performance include reductions in household waste per head, increased household waste recycling rates, higher participation in arts programmes, faster clearance of fly-tips, and improved street cleanliness. Areas of underperformance include tree planting targets, with the full programme completed in May 2026, and reports of non-collection of domestic waste, although recent months show improvement. The report also details financial implications, procurement, legal, consultation, and wider corporate implications, including policy alignment with the Climate and Nature Strategy and environmental considerations.