FOI Request on Local Authority Preparedness with regard to Climate Adaptation
Case reference EIR2025/00927
Received 28 October 2025
Published 24 November 2025
Request
QUESTIONS REGARDING LOCAL AUTHORITY PREPAREDNESS WITH REGARD TO CLIMATE ADAPTATION
Qu.1/. Does the council have a climate adaptation strategy?
o If yes, is this rolled into the mitigation/Net Zero strategy or is it set out in the form of a separate/stand-alone document?
o Please provide link to the document.
Qu.2/. Has the council conducted a climate risk assessment?
o If yes, please provide link to the document
o If yes, was it produced using the Local Partnerships Risk Areas Matrix?
o What sectors does the climate risk assessment cover?
Public buildings
Residential buildings
New developments
Schools
Care homes
Roads and other transport infrastructure
Communication networks – telecom and ITC
Energy infrastructure
Local businesses
Other – please specify
Qu. 3/. Has the council also produced a local climate adaptation action plan with associated timeframe for implementing and reviewing the strategy?
o If yes, please provide link to the document
Qu.4/. What measures has the council put in place to withstand the climate impacts (e.g. severe heat, flooding, coastal erosion) experienced or predicted for your area? For example, by implementing:
o Measures to alleviate flood risks and manage flooding
o Measures to increase resilience of new building developments to climate impacts
o Measures to reduce excess heat in new residential buildings
o Measures to address overheating in schools, hospitals, care homes and other public buildings
o Places for the public to gather in the event of a major climate disaster
o Blue and green spaces
o Strategies to manage climate-induced health problems
o Improvements to make transport infrastructure more resilient
o Nature based solutions, such a tree planting or creating wetlands
o Coastal defences
o SuDS (sustainable drainage systems)
o Water efficiency measures
o Ways of working with farmers to increase resilience of the food system and align adaptation objectives
o Measures to enhance community engagement
o Are there other key measures that you have taken? Please give details.
Qu.5/. Does the council have access to all the necessary information, technical advice and support to deliver on adaptation planning and implementation?
Qu. 6/. Has the council identified funding gaps hindering its ability to implement adaptation action planning?
o Which aspects would be priorities for additional funding?
Qu. 7/. Has the council identified shortfalls in its capacity, skills and experience to deliver required adaptation actions?
o If yes, what is needed?
Qu.8/. Is the Council aware of, and does it have the capacity to draw in, external funds for climate adaptation measures? e.g.
o Combined Authority funding
o Parish Council funding for small scale schemes - water butts, tree planting
o Business contributions through Partnership Funding
o Community Infrastructure Levy
o Partnerships with third sector organisations such as Woodland Trust.
Qu.9/. Did the council submit a report to ARP4?
o If yes, please provide a link
Qu.10/. Has the council supported the call, as articulated by the LGA, for local authorities to be given statutory duties and powers, sufficient funding and robust support to lead on climate action including adaptation?
o If yes, please provide link documenting this support
Your help with this request in most appreciated.
Response
S/N Question Response 1 Does the council have a climate adaptation strategy? Climate Adaptation is captured in the Councils Climate and Environment action plan. The current Climate Action plan and Climate and Ecological strategy hosts key elements of Adaptation. 1.1 If yes, is this rolled into the mitigation/Net Zero strategy or is it set out in the form of a separate/stand-alone document? This is not set out in a standalone document. 1.2 Please provide link to the document. https://www.southderbyshire.gov.uk/our-services/climate/climateand-environment-emergency/what-the-council-is-doing/climateenvironment-action-plan 2 Has the council conducted a climate risk assessment? No- This is still in development. 3 Has the council also produced a local climate adaptation action plan with associated timeframe for implementing and reviewing the strategy? No-This is still in development 4 What measures has the council put in place to withstand the climate impacts (e.g. severe heat, flooding, coastal erosion) experienced or predicted for your area? For example, by implementing: A comprehensive highlight of measures would be covered in the Climate Adaptation plan. Measures to alleviate flood risks and manage flooding Building of SUDS and Underground water retention structures. Richard Page Measures to increase resilience of new building developments to climate impacts The Council encourages new developers to incorporate Passive design measures into their building design Measures to reduce excess heat in new residential buildings The Council encourages the adoption of Cooling Hierarchy Blue and green spaces Yes Improvements to make transport infrastructure more resilient Yes Nature based solutions, such a tree planting or creating wetlands Yes -Tree planting, partnering with Trent River Trust to create wetlands. SuDS (sustainable drainage systems) Yes. SuDS have been constructed. Water efficiency measures Rainwater harvesting and grey water use is being implemented. Measures to enhance community engagement No-This is still in development 5 Does the council have access to all the necessary information, technical advice and support to deliver on adaptation planning and implementation? yes 6 Has the council identified funding gaps hindering its ability to implement adaptation action planning? Yes 6.1 Which aspects would be priorities for additional funding? - Funding to implement more nature-based solutions - Funding to increase building resilience for the vulnerable. 7 Has the council identified shortfalls in its capacity, skills and experience to deliver required adaptation actions? Yes 7.1 If yes, what is needed? Additional Training. 8 Is the Council aware of, and does it have the capacity to draw in, external funds for climate adaptation measures? e.g. Combined Authority funding Yes Community Infrastructure Levy The Council does not operate CIL, we use S106 Agreements Partnerships with third sector organisations such as Woodland Trust. Yes - We work with third sector organisations on specific projects including The TrentRiversTrust on the Pessall Brook and providing advice to the Woodland Trust on planning application DMPA/2022/1006 9 Did the council submit a report to ARP4? No 10 Has the council supported the call, as articulated by the LGA, for local authorities to be given
Documents
This is South Derbyshire District Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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