Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Environmental Services and Corporate Director Communities

Purpose of report

This report looks at the issues of cutting vehicle fleet emissions by the adoption of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel to replace standard diesel fuel. The report considers the reduction in emissions and the potential increase in revenue costs from moving to HVO.

 
Recommendations

The meeting resolves:

1.1           To support the change from standard diesel to HVO diesel commencing from Autumn 2025 leading to a substantial reduction in emissions during 2025/26 & 2026/26.

1.2           To note the small increase in fuel costs as a result of moving to HVO which can be contained within the existing fuel budget.

Resolved

(1)            That the change from standard diesel to HVO diesel commencing from Autumn 2025 leading to a substantial reduction in emissions during 2025/26 & 2026/26 be supported.

(2)            That the small increase in fuel costs as a result of moving to HVO, which can be contained within the existing fuel budget, be noted.

The Assistant Director Environmental Services and Corporate Director Communities submitted a report which looked at the issues of cutting vehicle fleet emissions by the adoption of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel to replace standard diesel fuel. The report considered the reduction in emissions and the potential increase in revenue costs from moving to HVO.

Resolved

(1)          That the change from standard diesel to HVO diesel commencing from Autumn 2025 leading to a substantial reduction in emissions during 2025/26 & 2026/26 be supported.

(2)          That the small increase in fuel costs as a result of moving to HVO, which can be contained within the existing fuel budget, be noted.

Reasons

To move to HVO fuel with the implementation plan commencing from Autumn 2025 will reduce fleet emissions in 2025/26 with the full year effect in 2026/27.

Alternative options

Option 1: Continuing using diesel until either Battery Electric Vehicles or Hydrogen Vehicles are available at an affordable price. Fleet emissions will remain very high until the current Large Goods Vehicles are replaced. This may take a considerable number of years