Wiltshire Council commissioned City Science to refine the Council’s Climate Delivery Plan, ensuring it was actionable, financially viable, and strategically prioritising high impact actions to maximise impact. The key objective was to deliver a high-level, accessible Delivery Plan that could be presented to senior leaders and external partners, whilst also providing a practical framework for internal tracking and monitoring.
City Science Response
Climate Delivery Plan Refresh: We conducted a comprehensive review of Wiltshire Council’s existing Climate Delivery Plan, focusing on simplifying and streamlining the structure to improve usability. Our approach included:
- Action Consolidation: The original plan, which contained 63 actions, was merged into 23 consolidated actions under 8 priority areas to make it more succinct and manageable.
- Gap Analysis: After consolidation, we performed a high-level gap analysis to ensure the plan comprehensively addressed key areas critical to decarbonisation. This analysis leveraged our expertise to identify any missing elements or actions that could enhance the plan’s overall effectiveness.
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Delivery Timescales: For each of the 23 actions, we developed KPIs to facilitate ongoing progress tracking. Additionally, we assigned delivery timescales, categorising actions into short-, medium-, and long-term horizons.
The refined actions and priorities were presented to senior leadership to secure their buy-in, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and readiness for implementation.
Overview of Refreshed Wiltshire Climate Delivery Plan
Action Impact Analysis: To support evidence-based decision-making, we provided a high-level impact analysis for each action. This analysis included:
- Carbon Impact Assessment: Using data previously modelled by Anthesis, a high-level carbon potential for each action was calculated and categorised into high, medium, or low impact, with clear rationale provided for each classification.
- Cost Estimates: We provided high-level capital and revenue cost estimates for each action, helping the council understand the financial implications of proposed initiatives.
By offering an overview of both the environmental and financial impact, the analysis enabled Wiltshire Council to prioritise actions that offered the greatest return on investment in terms of emissions reduction and feasibility.
Finance & Implementation Plan (FIP): Recognising that finance is often a critical barrier to climate action, we will deliver targeted support to help Wiltshire Council identify potential funding opportunities. Key activities included:
- Finance workshop: We will facilitate a dedicated workshop with Wiltshire Council’s Finance Directors and senior leadership. This session will cover:
- Emerging priority actions and their financial implications
- An overview of potential funding mechanisms
- Insight into the Council’s risk appetite and investment preferences (e.g., opportunities related to pension funds)
- FIP: Informed by the workshop discussions, we will develop a tailored report outlining viable funding and financing options for Wiltshire Council. This report will provide:
- Traditional funding options, such as government grants and public sector loans
- Innovative financing mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships, green bonds, and community investment schemes
- Recommendations on aligning specific funding opportunities with priority actions
This strategic approach will ensure that the Council is equipped with practical financing pathways to support the successful implementation of its Climate Delivery Plan.
Outcomes
City Science’s support enabled Wiltshire Council to refine its Climate Delivery Plan into a clear, actionable, and financially viable roadmap for achieving its climate goals. By streamlining actions, providing impact assessments, and developing a tailored financial plan, the revised Delivery Plan offers a practical framework for effective delivery.