Test Support

Choose your cookies

Cookies are small files, placed on your device, which can be used to recognise it, and store information about your preferences or past actions.

Some cookies are essential and help make our website work properly, while others are not.

You can make a choice about which cookies you want us to use now, or read our privacy policy before you decide.

Choose your cookies

Choose which cookies you want us to use on our cookie preferences page.

Skip to main content

Our progress

In the last 2 years, we’ve made progress towards the targets we’ve set, both across our own buildings and the services we provide.

In the last six years, we've made positive progress, both across our own buildings, the services we provide to residents, and in influencing wider change. Some of the highlights from the previous year can be found below.

Read our Annual reports

You can read our:

Buildings

  • Published a report by the Carbon Trust to understand the Council’s own carbon footprint: Carbon trust report
  • Taken steps to eliminate single-use plastics from our offices at Swale House (read the full report here)
  • Reducing our use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertiliser whenever possible, and encouraging the use of compost from food waste recycling.
  • Started to plan an eco-refit of our offices at Swale House
  • 2,400 trees were planted in our country parks over winter 2021/22 and a baseline audit of our existing trees and potential sites for further planting have been identified. The next phase of tree planting will be carried out via our successful bid to the LATF.
  • COVID19 has accelerated the move to virtual meetings, resulting in business and commuting miles falling dramatically
  • The council purchases green electricity and green gas. All electricity is sourced from renewable energy, and gas is sourced from anaerobic digestion.
  • A full survey of all of our lighting assets in Swale, both within our open spaces and within our off-street car parks has been undertaken. Plans are being drawn up to upgrade to LED lighting units that have not already been converted, as LEDs consume up to 80% less energy.
  • Worked in partnership with D S Smith Papermill to ensure disposable hot drink cups are collected and recycled adequately. D S Smith has also recently funded the purchase of 2500 biodegradable tree guards
  • Coppicing in Perry Wood has been increased to 2 hectares a year, as set out in the management plan. Coppicing enhances biodiversity, allowing wildflowers and insects to thrive as light reaches the woodland floor. The timber is being used locally.

Swale House

Our main office, Swale House was first opened in the 1970’s. Since then, the availability of new technology has meant we’ve now got an opportunity to improve its efficiency, helping to reduce the council’s impact on climate change.

We have now:

  • Installed new windows
  • Installed new roofing
  • Switched to LED lighting
  • Insulation of the under-croft
  • Internal  alteration to facilitate renting out space  to external parties
  • The installation of 200 solar panels on the roof

Master’s House

Master’s House in Trinity Road, Sheerness is a Victorian period property that was formerly the local office for Swale Borough Council. Since the opening of the Gateway in 2011, the tenant has sublet the space for community purposes, however significant work now needs to be carried out to continue to lease the building. These works will also contribute towards achieving net zero carbon across our estate.

The low carbon refurbishment project of Master’s House includes:

  • Low energy air source heat pump
  • LED lighting
  • Installation of solar panels
  • Roof insulation
  • Internal wall cladding
  • New windows and external doors
  • Alterations to internal partitions
  • New toilets and kitchens
  • IT infrastructure cabling
  • Solar PV panels
  • Upgrade electrical supply
  • Improved disability access including 8-person/disabled access platform lift and disabled toilet