As a local authority, we can have a positive influence through how we organise our operations and services; the regulations and policies we set; the goods and services we buy; the investments we make; and the example we set to others. The council is investigating, considering, and embedding new ways of working that help decarbonise the designing and commissioning of highway activities.
We look at carbon emissions not just for an isolated project, but also during the lifespan of an asset (referred to as whole-life carbon costing). This will include selecting treatments, materials and operations that have a low carbon impact across their service life. The council declared a climate emergency in June 2019 and our response to the climate emergency will have a significant impact on the management of highway assets. As we move towards creating a more climate friendly and resilient borough, there are going to be new types of assets on the network such as electrical vehicle charging points and additional maintenance implications for sustainable transport infrastructure and modern technologies.
Additionally, where appropriate, highway schemes will address environmental attributes such as tree planting, providing wildlife habitats to support biodiversity and enhancing the natural landscape.
To meet the challenge of climate, change the council is investing in 2 new gully cleansing vehicles and developing a risk-based approach to all cleansing rounds, based on slit levels.