Hi, Did anyone else ask questions to WC as to why their council owned building company is acting irresponsibly and disregarding the councils own targets of achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2030? The response to my question can be seen below;

Agenda Item 15 – Stone Circle Company Business Plans

To Cllr Pauline Church Cabinet Member for Finance, Procurement and Commercial Investment

Question

Why is the building company owned by Wiltshire Council intentionally proceeding with plans that contradict its own commitment of being Carbon Neutral by 2030? *See point 19

Response

Stone Circle development company is required to provide a business plan to its shareholder the Council each year setting out the business it intends to undertake. This is a high level plan and the current plan has been revised to take into account the change in the loan finance the Council will provide. Before a development proceeds the company is required to provide the Council a project plan that sets out the detail of the proposed development. Those proposals will need to be in accordance with planning policies and also be viable. It is at that stage the Council would need to decide whether to allow a development to proceed based on the recommendation of the company and whether the proposed development should be carbon neutral or the Council could look to offset the carbon from that development.

I would be interested to find out what other peoples views are on this. Personally, I think it sounds like green-washing as they haven't alluded to how they plan to offset the carbon from the development... if only we could offset extinction, ey? 😜