West Northamptonshire Council

Climate · drafted 2026-07-01 · accepted · 18 finding(s)

← council-level findings on this theme

27 May 2025On 27 May 2025 West Northamptonshire's Strategic Planning Committee APPROVED a large ground-mounted solar farm at Land East of Crockwell Hill (2024/4395/MAF) despite officers identifying harm from the loss of best and most versatile agricultural land; the approval was moved by Cllr Bob Purser, seconded by Cllr Rosie Humphreys and carried unanimously. [1][2][3]

3 Jun 2025In June 2025, the Pensions Fund Committee (early in the new Reform administration's term) was told the Northamptonshire Pension Fund's existing policy was non-divestment with a 2050 net-zero decarbonisation target, in response to a member question challenging why the fund held environmental investments at all. [4]

1 Jul 2025At the Investment Sub-Committee on 1 July 2025, members questioned whether pursuing net zero was compatible with fiduciary duty, arguing ESG should serve returns rather than climate goals; the meeting only resolved to note the stewardship report and Climate Engagement Target List, with no vote to change the target. [5][6]

16 Jul 2025On 16 July 2025 West Northamptonshire Council's Cabinet approved its "Sustainability Strategy Review" (Agenda Item 7), withdrawing the council's declared net-zero targets — net zero in its own operations by 2030 and for residents and businesses by 2045 — and replacing them with a non-target "Sustainability Project". Councillor Nigel Stansfield presented the report and recommended "Option 4" (withdrawing from the current targets); Councillor Charlie Hastie proposed and seconded the recommendations, which Cabinet approved. [7][8][9]

16 Jul 2025The stated rationale was the policy position of the new (Reform UK) administration and affordability: the published decision records that the 2030 and 2045 net-zero targets would no longer be retained, and the minutes record Councillor Stansfield's argument that the 2030 target had not been funded. [10][11]

16 Jul 2025No dedicated climate-change committee, working group, cabinet portfolio or officer team was abolished or downgraded at West Northamptonshire. The Reform cabinet's 16 July 2025 'Sustainability Strategy Review' withdrew the council's net-zero target dates (a target rollback), but the same decision resolved to CONTINUE the council's sustainability programme - progressing the Investors in the Environment accreditation and the annual Sustainability Report - and members noted there had never been a dedicated net-zero budget to defund. The only governance-side change recorded was relabelling a Cabinet report section heading from 'Climate Impact' to 'Environmental Impact'; no climate governance body or officer team was disbanded, merged away or defunded. [12][13][14]

16 Jul 2025On 16 July 2025 Cabinet's 'Sustainability Strategy Review' (presented by Councillor Nigel Stansfield, moved and seconded by Councillor Charlie Hastie) dropped the Council's 2030/2045 net-zero carbon targets, but the same resolution explicitly kept the Council's voluntary annual carbon reporting in place, resolving to continue progressing Investors in the Environment accreditation and to keep publishing the annual Sustainability Report. A call-in of the decision led by Councillor Rosie Humphreys was rejected by the Place and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 19 August 2025, so the original decision -- including the continued annual Sustainability Report -- stood unchanged; no carbon reduction plan or GHG/carbon reporting was dropped or downgraded. [15][16][17]

16 Jul 2025At Cabinet on 16 July 2025, West Northamptonshire Council did not decline or hand back its Warm Homes: Local Grant funding: the report set out declining the grant as an alternative option that was rejected, and Cabinet instead resolved to proceed with delivery, delegating authority to procure a delivery partner (Dynamic Purchasing System / Framework) for the scheme, on a motion proposed by Councillor Nigel Stansfield and seconded by Councillor Laura Couse, which the Cabinet agreed. [18][19][20][21]

16 Jul 2025On 16 July 2025 Cabinet (proposed and seconded by Councillor Charlie Hastie) resolved to withdraw the Council's 2030 net-zero-in-own-operations and 2045 net-zero targets, and to have the Council's Estate Climate Strategy (its own-buildings/estate decarbonisation strategy) 'read as amended in line with this decision'; the option adopted replaces the target-driven approach with a narrower commitment to pursue sustainability projects 'for example, home energy improvements, increased biodiversity, and solar power generation where the business case supports cost savings' rather than as of right. This scales back the council's commitment to renewable generation on its own estate from a net-zero-target mandate to a cost-savings-conditional basis; reporting noted this made West Northamptonshire the first UK council to formally withdraw its net zero commitments. [22][23][24]

19 Aug 2025A call-in of the decision was heard by the Place and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 19 August 2025; a proposition to refer the decision back to Cabinet (moved by Cllr Keeble, seconded by Cllr Jonathan Harris) was lost 4 votes to 5, so no further action was taken and the original Cabinet decision to withdraw the net-zero targets stood and took effect immediately. [25][26]

30 Sep 2025On 30 September 2025 the committee considered the Green Hill Solar Farm DCO (2025/3341/DCO), a nationally significant infrastructure project on which the council is a consultee; members raised strong concerns including the loss of agricultural land 'equivalent of 15 farms' and food security, but the committee did not formally object - it resolved (moved by Cllr Phil Bignell, seconded by Cllr Sally Keeble, carried 9-1) to grant delegated authority to respond to consultations and engagement during the DCO stages, embedding those concerns as representations. [27][28][29]

27 Nov 2025Rather than scrapping 20mph limits, Full Council on 27 November 2025 carried (as amended) a rural road-safety motion moved by Cllr Lister and seconded by Cllr Morton that resolved to develop a rural road safety plan and to implement 20 mph zones already proposed by parish and town councils, including Towcester's. [30][31]

2 Mar 2026At the Investment Sub-Committee on 2 March 2026, the Chair questioned whether the pool's (BCPP) practice of voting against oil and gas company resolutions was a legitimate sectoral policy versus 'neutral management', and the Head of Pensions characterised continued membership of LAPFF (a climate-engagement body) as an 'ideological rather than financial' decision; the Committee only resolved to note the report, taking no vote to change voting policy or leave LAPFF. [32][33]

16 Mar 2026At the Pensions Fund Committee on 16 March 2026, members raised that current climate-reporting plans might exceed statutory minimums, and officers confirmed the Committee would make decisions on the responsible investment strategy 'in the summer' that could change future investments; no published minutes as of April 2026 (the latest available) record that strategy review having taken place or any target having actually been weakened. [34][35]

19 Mar 2026On 19 March 2026 the Non-Strategic Planning Committee REFUSED a micro/battery energy storage project on a roadside verge at West Haddon (2025/3758/FULL), contrary to the case officer's recommendation - moved by Cllr Adrian Cartwright, seconded by Cllr Phil Bignell, carried 6-0 with 2 abstentions - but the refusal was on landscape-character and residential-amenity/fire-risk grounds under Policy ENV9, not on agricultural-land protection, and the site is a village-gateway verge rather than farmland. [36][37][38]

9 Jun 2026West Northamptonshire is delivering active travel, not rolling it back: on 9 June 2026 Cabinet adopted the Council's Active Travel Strategy, Rail Action Plan and Mobility Hub Action Plan (recommended by Cllr Last, seconded by Cllr Stansfield) — a framework focused on promoting active travel and improved air quality, with recommendations approved. [39][40]

West Northamptonshire's published minutes record no decision to delay, deprioritise, under-resource or scale back its statutory Local Nature Recovery Strategy or biodiversity duty. At the Planning Policy Committee on 17 September 2025, officers described the Local Nature Recovery Strategy as the operative tool for directing biodiversity net gain delivery — continued, not diminished, use of the LNRS. [41]

At Full Council on 27 November 2025, debating the Pension Fund Committee's 2024/25 annual report (proposed by Councillor Slope, seconded by Councillor Packer), members criticised the fund's prioritisation of non-financial objectives and were told a shift toward lower-cost global equities was being explored to improve underperforming returns; Council merely noted the report, taking no formal vote to alter the responsible-investment approach. [42][43]

References (43)
  1. Minutes, 27 May 2025 “The Committee considered the application for the installation of a ground-mounted solar farm to export electricity, comprising photovoltaic panels and associated infrastructure and works.”
  2. Minutes, 27 May 2025 “the loss of the land for the period that the arrays would be in situ would not harm the agricultural industry”
  3. Minutes, 27 May 2025 “Councillor Bob Purser proposed the application be approved, the proposal was seconded by Councillor Rosie Humphreys and on being put to the meeting was declared carried unanimously.”
  4. Minutes, 3 June 2025 “The Fund does not divest from any sector, it takes a measured approach not to overweight specific investments. The policy at present considers the net zero target date of 2050 for its decarbonisation pathway.”
  5. Minutes, 1 July 2025 “Sustainability of the fund was key, rather than achieving net zero.”
  6. Minutes, 1 July 2025 “Global discussions about whether net zero was achievable could undermine whether ESG provided the best long-term outcomes for the fund.”
  7. Minutes, 16 July 2025 “At the Chair’s invitation Councillor Nigel Stansfield presented the report”
  8. Minutes, 16 July 2025 “He recommended Option 4 listed within the report, which involved withdrawing from current targets”
  9. Decisions, 16 July 2025 “Approved the proposal to no longer retain the current targets for achieving net zero carbon emissions: to be net zero in its own operations by 2030 and for residents and businesses by 2045.”
  10. Decisions, 16 July 2025 “In line with the policy position of the new administration, the decision has been made to no longer retain the 2030 and 2045 net zero targets.”
  11. Minutes, 16 July 2025 “The 2030 target had not been funded, and pursuing it would require diverting funds from essential services.”
  12. Decisions, 16 July 2025 “Continued to progress the Investors in the Environment accreditation and publish the annual Sustainability Report”
  13. Decisions, 16 July 2025 “Changed the Cabinet report heading within the Implications section from Climate Impact to Environmental Impact, giving a more rounded approach to this section.”
  14. Minutes, 19 August 2025 “There was never a dedicated budget for net zero 2030.”
  15. Decisions, 16 July 2025 “Continued to progress the Investors in the Environment accreditation and publish the annual Sustainability Report to evidence the Council’s continued commitment to action on the environment through sustainability.”
  16. Minutes “Councillor Charlie Hastie proposed the recommendations Councillor Charlie Hastie seconded.”
  17. Minutes “RESOLVED: That no further action is taken, in which case the original Executive decision detailed below is effective immediately.”
  18. Decisions, 16 July 2025 “Decide not to deliver the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme to residents and decline the allocated grant funding”
  19. Decisions, 16 July 2025 “Cabinet delegated authority to the Director of Communities and Opportunities to procure a delivery partner for the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme using a Dynamic Purchasing System or Framework and to negotiate and award a contract to the preferred partner.”
  20. Minutes, 16 July 2025 “The Council has secured £2.6 million in grant funding over three years”
  21. Minutes, 16 July 2025 “Councillor Nigel Stansfield proposed the recommendations Councillor Laura Couse seconded. The Cabinet agreed to the recommendations”
  22. Minutes, 16 July 2025 “Councillor Charlie Hastie proposed the recommendations Councillor Charlie Hastie seconded. Cabinet approved the recommendations, making West Northamptonshire the first UK council to formally withdraw from its net zero data commitments.”
  23. Decisions, 16 July 2025 “Provided that all the Council’s existing strategies on these subjects (notably the Climate Change Strategy, Estate Climate Strategy and Construction & Maintenance Climate Strategy) be read as amended in line with this decision.”
  24. Decisions, 16 July 2025 “Withdraw the current 2030 and 2045 net zero targets and focus on sustainability projects to provide tangible benefits for residents; for example, home energy improvements, increased biodiversity, and solar power generation where the business case supports cost savings.”
  25. Minutes, 19 August 2025 “The proposition was seconded by Councillor Jonathan Harris and on being put to the meeting was declared lost with four Councillors voting in favour and five voting against.”
  26. Minutes, 19 August 2025 “no further action is taken, in which case the original Executive decision detailed below is effective immediately”
  27. Minutes, 30 September 2025 “The loss of significant quantity of agricultural land, equivalent of 15 farms, and the impact on food production/food security and tenant farmers”
  28. Minutes, 30 September 2025 “The proposition was seconded by Councillor Sally Keeble on being put to the meeting was declared carried with 9 voting in favour and 1 abstention.”
  29. Decisions, 30 September 2025 “Green Hill Solar Farm Agreed the position as set out in the officer’s report subject to additional comments”
  30. Minutes, 27 November 2025 “Draw up a plan to implement those 20 mph zones already proposed by parish and town councils, including the current proposal by Towcester Town Council.”
  31. Minutes, 27 November 2025 “Upon a vote, the amended motion was carried.”
  32. Minutes, 2 March 2026 “The Chair noted that BCPP had consistently voted against oil and gas proposals. Was this a sectoral policy position rather than neutral management?”
  33. Minutes, 2 March 2026 “The Head of Pensions stated that the cost of LAPFF membership was very low, and thus the decision would be ideological rather than financial.”
  34. Minutes, 16 March 2026 “It was important to understand the legal minimum requirements around climate reporting. Current plans might exceed statutory obligations.”
  35. Minutes, 16 March 2026 “There would be decisions to be made by the Committee when the responsible investment strategy was discussed in the summer, which could drive changes to future investments.”
  36. Minutes, 19 March 2026 “for the construction and operation of a micro energy storage project at verge to the south of Northampton Road and opposite Scarff Way, West Haddon”
  37. Minutes, 19 March 2026 “It was proposed by Councillor Adrian Cartwright and seconded by Councillor Phil Bignell that application 2025/3758/FULL be refused contrary to the Case Officer’s recommendation”
  38. Minutes, 19 March 2026 “The motion was put to the vote with six votes cast in favour of the proposal, no votes cast against with two abstentions, therefore the motion was carried, and the application was refused.”
  39. Minutes, 9 June 2026 “focusing on promoting active travel, sustainable growth, healthier lifestyles, improved air quality and thriving local centres”
  40. Minutes, 9 June 2026 “RESOLVED: that Cabinet: a) Endorsed the Active Travel Strategy, Rail Action Plan and Mobility Hub Action Plan, as appended to this report and approves their adoption.”
  41. Minutes “Regarding S106 contributions towards biodiversity net gain, it was explained that the starting point was to deliver onsite, with offsite provision in specific circumstances. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy was the best tool to look at the most appropriate locations for the delivery of BNG.”
  42. Minutes “Members criticised the prioritising of non-financial objectives beyond statutory requirements.”
  43. Minutes “Members were advised that a shift towards global equities and lower-cost investments was being explored to improve returns”