CONCERNS have been raised over Winchester City Council's ability to meet its target of carbon neutrality by the end of the year. 

Time is running out for the authority after a report to cabinet said more needed to be done to achieve it.

The city council declared a climate emergency in 2019, and set itself the ambitious goal of being carbon neutral by the end of 2024. 

The report rates certain aspects red, amber or green. Red is classed as being a 'major concern'. For the council's target, it rates the timeline and carbon as red and budget as green. 

It forms part of the Q3 performance report, which will be discussed at the cabinet meeting on Thursday, March 14. 

Cllr Danny Lee, Green Party, told the Chronicle that he was concerned the council would miss the target. 

He said: “There are pressures on the council from a budget perspective which has been a challenge. 

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“But it is a concern we have a climate emergency and a nature emergency which are interlinked. You can't achieve one without addressing the other. We want to know what the plan will be going forward because time is running out. 

“Looking back, I would say the ambition is where it should be. Whether the appropriate KPIs were identified early enough is questionable. I would suggest we could have got this earlier, but it's a question of time and resources. 

“I'm hoping the council will do more because time is ticking on if we want to get close to missing the target by a little rather than a lot.”

Cllr Lee added that one way the council could reach the target is by introducing more electric vehicle charging points across the district. 

In the report to cabinet, it set out tasks to help reduce carbon. It said: “Revisit decarbonisation proposals for owned and occupied property and proactively seek funding for building retrofit. 

“Reconcile estimated and actual gas and electricity invoices to eliminate over-billing and hence over-reporting of carbon emissions. 

“Sustainable transport officer to bring forward workplace travel plan which includes policies in relation to air travel, promote car sharing and introduce shared electric vehicle for business travel etc.

“Completion of agreement to purchase biomethane from local supplier. Gas supplied to WCC will become carbon negative under this agreement. Negotiations with Everyone Active to continue on their options for green energy supply. £100k in asset management budget for further solar PV on council roofs. 

“Progress securing export payments from existing solar PV infrastructure. Discussions to be initiated with SDNPA Authority as to options to reserve or purchase carbon credits at a future date.”

The council has another target of making the whole district carbon neutral by 2030. The progress colours for this target are amber and green.