Draft business plan and budget proposals for continued investment in Net Zero supported by environment and green investment committee

Draft business plan and budget proposals that would see continued investment in Net Zero and review how the county manages waste disposal were scrutinised and supported by a majority of the environment and green investment committee members on Cambridgeshire County Council.

The committee has a significant role in ensuring ‘net zero carbon emissions for Cambridgeshire by 2045, and their communities and natural environment are supported to adapt and thrive as the climate changes’, as part of their strategic framework and the council’s approach for achieving the vision of a greener, fairer and more caring Cambridgeshire.

This is why, the council plans to prioritise:

- Reviewing our waste service to ensure the best value for money for residents whilst also improving the long-term environmental performance of our waste disposal arrangements and the potential to make savings from 2026 onwards

- The council will continue its journey to achieve its net zero targets and respond to climate change through investment in decarbonisation, enhancing the natural environment and improving water management.

Other proposals include:

- Support local communities to develop local green energy generation projects by working with local groups to implement schemes through the Community Energy Action Plan

- Deliver significant upgrades in the county’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure over the coming three years

At its meeting in December, members of the strategy, resources and performance committee began debating the draft business plan and budget.

This plan has now been scrutinised by the environment and green investment committee.

The feedback from all the council’s January policy and service committees, as well as feedback from their online public consultation and the views of town and parish councils, other local and public authorities, business representatives and trade unions, will be debated again by the strategy, resources and performance committee when it meets in January.

This committee will then put forward the final draft of the business plan and budget for debate and decision at the full council meeting on February 11.

Cambridgeshire county council’s 2025/26 business plan and budget will identify where to spend more than £1billion to deliver services and support for residents and communities across the county.

Rising demand for these services, along with the increased costs and changes from the government, continues to impact the council’s available funding.

For 2025/26 the council has a budget gap of £34.2 million that we need to address. That means they must also continue to make difficult choices about levels of council tax and where they can generate additional income, as well as where they invest and make savings.

Cllr Lorna Dupre, chair of the environment and green investment committee at Cambridgeshire county council, said: “Our priorities as a council are to ensure a greener, fairer, and more caring Cambridgeshire.

“We are aiming to do that, despite the challenging financial circumstances we are facing as a county.

“To date, we have enabled the council to reduce its direct carbon emissions by 42% and developed several major energy projects that will not only provide income during the business planning period but also provide renewable energy sources for the council and some of our communities.

“We will also be reviewing our waste service. Each year, we dispose of around 320,000 tonnes of household waste, which costs £50 million per year.

“We need to ensure we get the best value for money for our residents.

“Although we do not receive sufficient funding from the government to meet the needs of the growing population in Cambridgeshire, we are committed to ensuring the council delivers value for money in the services it provides.

“That is why the majority of this committee supports the proposals today.”

The views of all policy and service committees, and the views of residents, partners and business representatives, will be put before the strategy, resources and performance committee on January 28.

This is so it can make a final recommendation on the business plan and budget to full council, which meets to debate and agree this plan on February11.