The Place and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee convened to address a call-in regarding a cabinet decision on the Sustainability Strategy Review. Councillor Rosie Humphreys initiated the call-in, supported by several other councillors, to enable scrutiny of the implications of resolutions endorsed by the cabinet on 16 July 2025. The committee was scheduled to consider whether to refer the decision back to the cabinet, refer the matter to the full council, or take no further action.

Call-in of Cabinet Decision on Sustainability Strategy Review

The main item for discussion was the call-in of a cabinet decision concerning the Sustainability Strategy Review. Councillor Rosie Humphreys, supported by Councillors Christine Ware, Stewart Tolley, Andrew Simpson, David Tarbun, Rufia Ashraf, Keith Holland-Delamere, and Rebecca Breese, requested that the committee review the cabinet's decision made on 16 July 2025.

The specific resolutions that prompted the call-in were:

• Approval of the proposal to discontinue the targets for achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030 for the council's own operations and by 2045 for residents and businesses.
• Amendment of the council's existing strategies, including the Climate Change Strategy, Estate Climate Strategy, and Construction & Maintenance Climate Strategy, to align with the decision to remove the net zero targets.
• Changing the heading of the 'Climate Impact' section in cabinet reports to 'Environmental Impact' to reflect a broader approach.

Councillor Rosie Humphreys and the supporting councillors outlined several reasons for the call-in, including concerns about the potential impact on inward investment, the coherence of the council's policies, and compliance with the Climate Change Act 2008¹. They also raised concerns about the decision-making process.

We have serious concerns about the decision-making process employed to arrive at this recommendation.

Call in on Sustainability Strategy Review Cabinet Meeting 16th July Agenda item 7

Specific concerns were raised regarding the removal of interim targets, the alignment of council policies with the National Planning Policy Framework², and the potential weakening of the council's commitment to addressing climate change.

Councillor Rosie Humphreys proposed alternative courses of action, including the establishment of a cross-party task and finish group to review sustainability policies, explore the affordability of climate mitigation schemes, and develop interim targets in line with the Climate Change Act 2008.

Sustainability Strategy Review Cabinet Report

The cabinet report on the Sustainability Strategy Review, authored by Martin Wilson, Sustainability Manager, proposed a revision of the council's climate change targets. The report recommended that the cabinet confirm the council's commitment to environmental sustainability, but approve the proposal to no longer retain the net zero carbon emission targets for 2030 and 2045.

The rationale behind the recommendations included aligning with the policy position of the new administration, focusing resources on projects that directly benefit local people and businesses, and recognising the limited ability of the council to materially affect global warming.

The report acknowledged potential risks to the council's reputation but suggested that these could be mitigated through continued commitment to sustainability initiatives, the Investors in the Environment accreditation, and the annual Sustainability Report.

The report also included an Equality & Anti-Poverty Screening Assessment, which concluded that the proposed decision would have no negative and some positive anti-poverty impacts.

Investors in the Environment Accreditation Report

Appendix A of the cabinet report included the 2024 Investors in the Environment Accreditation Report. The report highlighted that West Northamptonshire Council had achieved Bronze level accreditation with a score of 82%. The report commended the council for embedding sustainability into its operations and policies.

The report identified several strengths, including the publication of the council's first sustainability report, active support for staff training, and the achievement of targets for reducing electricity and gas consumption. However, the report also suggested areas for improvement, such as adding a revisions table to the Environmental Policy, developing a plan to achieve net zero goals, and including refrigerant gases in the carbon footprint calculation.