
Reform council scraps net zero target
West Northamptonshire council agreed on Wednesday to refocus its sustainability work to 'ensure its efforts deliver the greatest value to local residents and businesses'.
It means the council will no longer be tied to a target to reach net zero by 2030, nor to encourage residents and businesses to do the same by 2045.
The Telegraph understands that existing plans to replace the council's fleet of cars with electric vehicles has been scrapped, and work to install charging infrastructure to power the cars will no longer take place.
But some green initiatives that could save residents money will continue, including a home insulation grant scheme and a plan to save water in public buildings.
Mark Arnull, the council's leader, said it 'simply cannot afford net zero' and that the decision would deliver better value for money for voters.
'Every year our council faces financial challenges to deliver the statutory services we have to provide by law,' he said.
'The previous administration set no budget to fund net zero and instead set undeliverable targets that, if attempted, would likely send the council bust.'
'The Reform UK administration is fully committed to creating a more sustainable West Northamptonshire and being responsible custodians of our local environment.
'We want to further prioritise our focus on delivering practical, high-impact projects that make a real difference to people's lives.'
'Reduce energy bills'
Reform's rejection of net zero policies was followed by the Conservatives earlier this year, when Kemi Badenoch announced that reaching the target by 2050 across the UK was no longer achievable.
A national, legally-binding target was first introduced by Theresa May's government in 2019, shortly before she left office.
Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, has begun an 'an exercise in radical truth-telling' to politicians who are sceptical of net zero, and says that extreme weather changes are threatening the 'British way of life'.
Richard Tice, Reform's deputy leader, said: 'I am proud that a Reform UK council will be the first council in the country to scrap its net zero goals in order to prioritise practical, realistic projects that improve lives, reduce energy bills, and support local businesses.
'Reform UK is the only party that is committed to scrapping net zero in its entirety to save jobs and put more money in people's pockets.'
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