Decision details

To award a contract to Vision 21 (Gloucestershire) Ltd for the development and management of the CheltenhamZero initiative to support the community in tackling the climate emergency. The contract will be for a period of up to three years at a cost of £25,000 per annum.

The council declared a climate emergency in July 2019, pledging to become a carbon neutral council and borough by 2030. Whilst the council is able to tackle emissions within its own estate it has limited influence on borough emissions. Partnership working is recognised as the best approach with the council participating and facilitating, but not leading, in order to encourage community ownership of the commitment to become a carbon neutral borough under the banner of CheltenhamZero.

As a first step towards engaging with the community on the climate emergency and developing the CheltenhamZero initiative the council worked with Vision 21, a well-established local sustainability charity, to deliver a virtual climate action conference in January 2021. Participants were invited from the business, education and community sectors and, as part of the conference, were asked to sign up in principle to the CheltenhamZero agreement.

The conference was a success and demonstrated the appetite across the community to tackle the climate emergency. The council subsequently drew up a brief to build on the success of the conference and manage the community response to the climate emergency in partnership with the Council. As a uniquely placed local sustainability charity with extensive connections, and having delivered a successful conference, Vision 21 was approached to submit a proposal in response to the brief.

The possibility of going out to tender was considered, but it was felt Vision 21 was uniquely placed in the local community to be able to develop and manage the community response to the climate emergency in partnership with the council.

Vision 21’s proposal was considered by an internal climate change group comprising:

·         Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Communities

·         Executive Director People & Change

·         Director of Environment

·         Townscape Manager

·         Other officers including Climate Emergency Programme Officer and Client Officer

Results of consultation were to agree to award contract to Vision 21.