The Climate Change and Ecology Policy and Accountability Committee met on Wednesday 24 September 2025 to discuss the council's progress on its clean energy transition and the procurement of public realm works contracts with enhanced climate change requirements. Key decisions included noting the progress on the clean energy transition, which focuses on decarbonising heating systems and reducing energy bills, and commenting on the new public realm works procurement strategy that incorporates significant climate change considerations.

Public Realm Works Procurement

The committee received a presentation on the procurement of the Public Realm Works Contract, which will replace the existing contract with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea when it expires on 1 April 2026. The new contract will encompass six lots, including highways paving, asphalting, street lighting, highways maintenance management, public realm projects, bridges and structures maintenance, and drainage. A significant development is the integration of climate change requirements into the new contract, which were absent in the previous framework.

These new requirements include mandatory adherence to the council's Net Zero 2030 target, formal sign-up to the Low Carbon Commitment Charter, and the submission of a Carbon Reduction Plan. Contractors will be required to report on their Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, set year-on-year improvement targets, and outline how they will support the council's net zero goals. Mandatory environmental and carbon requirements will include the use of products with reduced greenhouse gas and air quality emissions, the prioritisation of electric or battery-powered tools, and the prohibition of chemical weed control.

For large organisations, a logistics and vehicle management plan will be required, promoting vehicle sharing, consolidated deliveries, and the use of electric fleets for smaller deliveries. They will also need to adopt PAS 2080 requirements for carbon management throughout project lifecycles and adhere to the BRE Framework for Responsible Sourcing. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be required to implement practical measures to reduce their vehicle fleet's CO2 impact and demonstrate waste reduction and circular economy practices.

Street lighting suppliers must align with the Energy Efficiency Street Lighting Programme, offer low-energy lighting options, and meet specific Ingress Protection (IP) and wind resistance ratings. Ground maintenance suppliers will focus on recycling green waste, using recycled materials, and implementing good environmental practices such as using peat-free soil and non-chemical weed control.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been designed to drive environmental performance, covering materials and embodied carbon, energy efficiency, carbon emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3), waste management, and behavioural/supplier development. Contractors will be required to submit monthly dashboard reports detailing carbon emissions, fuel and energy use, materials used, and waste generated. Innovation will be encouraged, with provisions for trialling new low-carbon technologies and participating in joint pilot projects. Non-compliance will result in corrective action plans, financial penalties, and potentially contract termination.

H&F Clean Energy Transition

The committee also received a presentation on the H&F Clean Energy Transition, highlighting the council's progress in delivering net zero energy and reducing energy bills, with a particular focus on decarbonising heating systems. The presentation emphasised that energy used in buildings accounts for nearly 80% of greenhouse gas emissions in Hammersmith and Fulham (H&F).

The council is leading by example by retrofitting its own housing stock and corporate buildings. This includes installing heat pumps, low-energy lighting, and solar panels across schools and corporate buildings. The Civic Campus heat network, powered by the London aquifer, is now operational and provides clean heating and cooling to over 200 homes and public buildings. Other initiatives include installing air source heat pumps in corporate buildings and schools, and a School Decarbonisation Strategy is in place for maintained schools.

In social housing, over 500 homes have received energy efficiency upgrades, and plans are in place to retrofit more than 1,000 homes over the next three years through the Warm Homes Social Housing Fund. The council is also developing clean heat networks in estates like Bayonne and White City, exploring the use of waste heat from sources such as data centres and the London aquifer.

To support residents more broadly, the H&F Healthy Homes initiative offers expert advice, home visits, and grant application support to help residents reduce energy bills and carbon emissions. This programme provides tailored services for fuel-poor households, owner-occupiers, and private renters, and will also assist residents in financing projects.

The presentation also highlighted the importance of electrifying heat, as electricity is increasingly generated from renewable sources, making technologies like heat pumps cleaner than traditional gas boilers. The council's Energy Masterplan identifies areas where heat networks are the most cost-effective way to decarbonise heat at scale. These networks are supported by national policy and have the potential to create jobs and attract investment.

Finally, the council is promoting clean energy through initiatives like the H&F Community Energy co-op, which allows residents to invest in local solar projects. Schools and other large buildings are being surveyed for solar potential, and free planning advice is available for residents considering clean energy projects.

During the discussion on the clean energy transition, Councillor Liam Downer-Sanderson raised concerns about the increase in the council's Scope 3 emissions since 2019, questioning the viability of reaching the net zero target by 2030. Officers clarified that while borough-wide emissions might have increased, the council's organisational carbon footprint, over which it has direct control, has decreased. They also highlighted that the new procurement contracts with their robust KPIs would drive future reductions.

Public speakers raised questions about the alignment of transport KPIs with the draft transport strategy, the process for feeding new ideas into the procurement strategy, and the progress on the Olympia development's active travel plans. There was also discussion on the role of heat pumps versus heat transfer systems, the challenges of retrofitting existing housing stock, and the importance of maintaining a focus on transport initiatives alongside building decarbonisation. The committee also heard about the positive impact of the council's decarbonisation efforts on residents' lives, particularly in West Kensington.

The meeting was attended by Councillor Nicole Trehy (Chair of the Climate Change and Ecology Policy and Accountability Committee), Councillor Callum Nimmo (Deputy Whip), Councillor Trey Campbell-Simon (Leader of the Green Group), Councillor Omid Miri, and Councillor Liam Downer-Sanderson. Officers present included Tim Price (Head of Clean Energy at H&F), Megan Kingsley-Walsh (Heat Decarbonisation Lead), and Peter Runacres (Head of Urban Futures at ECDC).