Embed the action plan(s) in other policies and programmes

Embed the Action Plan (or plans) within council and partner:

• Policies and strategies

• Plans and programmes
• Policies and strategies

As council and partner policies and strategies are refreshed, ensure that they reflect the vision, strategy and targets in the Climate Change Plan. If your Action Plan has been developed by a partnership, also embed the vision and targets into partner policies and strategies. Key policies and strategies to consider are shown in the box below.

Plans and programmes

The detailed implementation measures contained in the Climate Change Action Plan, i.e. the actions, responsibilities and timescales (see drafting the action plan) should be embedded into the annual plans and programmes of council departments and partners that are responsible for implementation. This would include relevant business, service and / or departmental plans, and also relevant programmes, such as a housing improvement programme.

Service and partner plans and programmes should also specify how the measures will be resourced. This might range from undertaking tasks within existing staff time and resources to reallocating capital and revenue expenditure to give greater priority to adaptation and mitigation measures. Some of these decisions may have been made when the Action Plan was being prepared, others may need to be finalised at this stage. For more information see the section on resourcing the action plan.

1. Cambridgeshire County Council introduced cross cutting portfolios for Council Members in summer 2007. The lead Member for Environment and Community Services is responsible for integrating climate change and development into the council's activities. The Director of Environment and Regulation is the corporate climate change "lead".

2. Devon County Council's Making Devon Greener Programme Board, chaired by the Director of Environment, Economy & Culture has formal ownership of the Climate Change Strategy. There are quarterly progress reviews which are frequently attended by the Executive Member for the Environment and member champions for climate change, biodiversity and energy.

3. Stroud District Council contracted Severn Wye Energy Agency to deliver its Climate Change Programme.

4. Stockton Renaissance Partnership Board (the LSP) has integrated work on climate change into three of its thematic partnerships.