Response 3837337

Response to request for information

Reference

3837337

Response date

30 October 2025

Request

Questions regarding local authority preparedness with regard to climate adaptation.

1. Does the council have a climate adaptation strategy?

   • If yes, is this rolled into the mitigation/Net Zero strategy or is it set out in the form of a separate/stand-alone document?

   • Please provide link to the document. 

2. Has the council conducted a climate risk assessment?

   • If yes, please provide link to the document

   • If yes, was it produced using the Local Partnerships Risk Areas Matrix?

   • What sectors does the climate risk assessment cover?

     • Public buildings

     • Residential buildings

     • New developments

     • Schools

     • Care homes

     • Roads and other transport infrastructure

     • Communication networks – telecom and ITC

     • Energy infrastructure

     • Local businesses

     • Other – please specify

3. Has the council also produced a local climate adaptation action plan with associated timeframe for implementing and reviewing the strategy?
   • If yes, please provide link to the document
4. What measures has the council put in place to withstand the climate impacts (e.g. severe heat, flooding, coastal erosion) experienced or predicted for your area? For example, by implementing:
   
   • Measures to alleviate flood risks and manage flooding
   • Measures to increase resilience of new building developments to climate impacts
   • Measures to reduce excess heat in new residential buildings
   • Measures to address overheating in schools, hospitals, care homes and other public buildings
   • Places for the public to gather in the event of a major climate disaster
   • Blue and green spaces
   • Strategies to manage climate-induced health problems
   • Improvements to make transport infrastructure more resilient
   • Nature based solutions, such a tree planting or creating wetlands
   • Coastal defences
   • SuDS (sustainable drainage systems)
   • Water efficiency measures
   • Ways of working with farmers to increase resilience of the food system and align adaptation objectives
   • Measures to enhance community engagement
   • Are there other key measures that you have taken? Please give details.
5. Does the council have access to all the necessary information, technical advice and support to deliver on adaptation planning and implementation?
6. Has the council identified funding gaps hindering its ability to implement adaptation action planning?
   
   • Which aspects would be priorities for additional funding?
7. Has the council identified shortfalls in its capacity, skills and experience to deliver required adaptation actions?
   
   • If yes what is needed?
8. Is the Council aware of, and does it have the capacity to draw in, external funds for climate adaptation measures?
9. Did the council submit a report to ARP4?
10. Has the council supported the call, as articulated by the LGA, for local authorities to be given statutory duties and powers, sufficient funding and robust support to lead on climate action including adaptation?

Response

1. Does the council have a climate adaptation strategy?

   • Yes - Carbon Neutral 2030 - Council Strategy

2. Has the council conducted a climate risk assessment?

   • Yes - Local Climates Impact Profile

3. Has the council also produced a local climate adaptation action plan with associated timeframe for implementing and reviewing the strategy?
   • Not applicable
4. What measures has the council put in place to withstand the climate impacts (e.g. severe heat, flooding, coastal erosion) experienced or predicted for your area? 
   
   • Measures to alleviate flood risks and manage flooding
   • Measures to increase resilience of new building developments to climate impacts
   • Measures to reduce excess heat in new residential buildings
   • Blue and green spaces
   • Nature based solutions, such a tree planting or creating wetlands
   • SuDS (sustainable drainage systems)
   • Measures to enhance community engagement
   • Purchasing land for carbon offset and biodiversity enhancement.
5. Does the council have access to all the necessary information, technical advice and support to deliver on adaptation planning and implementation? Yes
6. Has the council identified funding gaps hindering its ability to implement adaptation action planning?
   
   • Yes - housing upgrades and owned assets
7. Has the council identified shortfalls in its capacity, skills and experience to deliver required adaptation actions?
   
   • General staffing resource
8. Is the Council aware of, and does it have the capacity to draw in, external funds for climate adaptation measures? Yes - parish schemes, tree planting, partnerships with the third sector and national Government schemes.
9. Did the council submit a report to ARP4? Not applicable
10. Has the council supported the call, as articulated by the LGA, for local authorities to be given statutory duties and powers, sufficient funding and robust support to lead on climate action including adaptation? Not applicable