Posted on Wednesday 1st October 2025
'Aiming for uncosted, unfunded targets in 25 years’ time is imposing real burdens on the county council here and now.'
Staffordshire County Council is to aim its environmental focus on the immediate future rather than pursuing unfunded targets a generation away.
Delivering projects which make a measurable difference now, helping businesses reduce energy costs, and leaving the environment in a better place for the next generation are all priorities.
The authority is proposing that it rescinds the Climate Change Emergency agreed by the authority in July 2019 and focus on immediate actions instead that deliver value-for-money.
Andrew Mynors, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Connectivity, said:
Aiming for uncosted, unfunded targets in 25 years’ time is imposing real burdens on the county council here and now.
We have a responsibility to make sure our wonderful environment is protected and enhanced, and this means taking real tangible actions that make a difference immediately.
Our focus will be on ensuring we take actions that not only support our environment but also drive value-for-money for businesses, communities and the council itself.”
The authority’s Business Energy Advice Service is available across the county to help cut costs and it’s benefited scores of businesses from pubs to major employers by assessing their needs free of charge, helping them access grants and reducing both costs and energy consumption.
Successful examples include Stafford Rangers FC, who were able to purchase new LED floodlights which significantly cuts costs and energy use and Lower Drayton Farm – a family attraction in South Staffordshire – which used solar energy to reduce costs in its play barn and café.
The county council now has an additional £1m government funding allocation for the programme following the rapid uptake of energy assessments and strong demand for grant support across Staffordshire.
In recent years Staffordshire County Council has moved its services into more energy-efficient buildings, upgraded windows and heating systems in schools, and installed thousands of energy-saving LED street lights.
Andrew Mynors said:
I’m entirely in favour of practical energy-saving measures which reduce energy consumption and cut costs at the same time for businesses, consumers and taxpayers.
But the language of ‘Climate Emergency and long-term targets for the authority to be ‘Net Zero’ distract the focus from the council’s core priorities on the economy, education, supporting vulnerable residents and ensuring value-for-money service delivery.”
The Cabinet will be providing more detail on its Environmental Strategy, and action plan, later this year.