Three-Year Plan 2023-26: A City fit for the Future

Priorities	Outcomes
Reduce our carbon footprint, improve our environment and lead the response to reducing greenhouse gas emissions	Engage with partners, stakeholders, staff and councillors to identify new actions as part of a refreshed Climate Emergency Action Plan, which will go live in autumn 2024.The Plan will continue to deliver measures to cut carbon emissions and benefit the environment Develop plans to enhance the use of green energy and explore opportunities to introduce heat networks across the city Deliver the Economic Growth Strategy to support businesses to reduce their carbon emissions and contribute to the economic opportunities carbon reduction presents
Improve health, wellbeing and our environment by promoting and enabling active travel and sustainable transport	Work with businesses and communities on active travel and sustainable transport initiatives that help boost the local economy through easing congestion and enhance the lives of Colchester residents by improving air quality and promoting health and wellbeing
Conserve and enhance our biodiversity	Work with communities and grant funders to pursue the ongoing development of Cymbeline Meadow into a nature reserve Ensure new developments increase canopy cover by 10% by planting new trees as set out in the Local Plan Policy CC1 (Climate change) Undertake an ecological survey of Middlewick Ranges
Lead the way with our waste & recycling collection approach	Introduce a new recycling and waste strategy for Colchester by autumn/winter 2024 Delivery of the 2024/25 actions required as part of our waste and recycling Fit for the Future ambitions including a new household collection policy Introduce new offers to the Business Waste Service by 31 March 2025 to ensure the same set of recyclable waste streams are collected for recycling or composting, in line with new regulatory changes (“Simpler Recycling”)

Three-Year Plan 2023-26: A City fit for the Future

Respond to the climate emergency