Vision

The Staffordshire Sustainability Board (SSB) is a collaborative forum for the democratically elected bodies of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

Together, we aim to influence positive change and empower communities, organisations, and individuals to secure a sustainable future for our County.

The board supports and champions resource efficiency to deliver long term value for money and environmental benefit, where there is alignment with individual organisations Net Zero commitments this will further enhance and potentially increase pace on deployment of green technologies.

The board will deliver environmental improvements within our remits to ensure resilience is achieved in line with our key strategies.

The board will support waste services in delivering efficient, value driven operations with consideration of waste minimisation through reduction, reuse and recycling, contributing to a cleaner, greener future.

This vision will be refreshed in 2028.

Context

The Staffordshire Leaders and Chief Executives Group has committed to work collaboratively to successfully achieve waste and sustainability targets in line with local opportunities and best practice within the region.

Collectively, the Councils have an influence on a significant proportion of activities and operations within the geographical area and agree that we should come together, collectively for the benefit of our communities and to realise cost saving mechanisms for the benefit of our residents.

This collaboration is to enable and facilitate change, where possible, throughout the geographic area of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent as a whole. Work in the longer term will also bring into the discussion and actions, waste management and environmental concerns.

Throughout all the activities and discussions that resonate from the SSB, we shall actively engage with external organisations that can bring specialist knowledge, understanding and facilitation to the board.

The SSB will comprise senior members of each authority and supported by a team of advisors drawn from across the authorities.

Council commitments

As a commitment, the combined councils will within their own boundary initiate the following but acknowledge that the larger scope of environmental change and resilience is within the wider community of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent.

1. Powering a Sustainable Future

Councils will collaborate to shape a shared energy vision that supports sustainability, resilience, and economic growth, including transitioning to cleaner, low-emission energy sources such as renewables.

We will:

• promote energy efficiency across homes, businesses, and public buildings
• support access to affordable and cleaner energy options
• engage with National Grid and energy operators to align future supply with local development needs
• identify local energy needs and explore funding opportunities for community-based energy projects
• share best practice and technical insights to strengthen local energy resilience

Each authority will tailor its approach to reflect local priorities and capacity.

2. Working together for a Sustainable Staffordshire

Councils will collaborate with local partners to deliver practical, cost-effective approaches that benefit communities across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

We will:

• explore joint models for delivering multi-agency EV infrastructure, attracting investment, and supporting local jobs
• integrate adaptation measures into council services and planning, including flood resilience, heat preparedness, and emergency response
• coordinate clear, consistent messaging to help communities build resilience and take informed action

Each authority will tailor delivery to local needs while contributing to shared goals through partnership and knowledge exchange.

3. Local Nature Recovery

Councils will work together and with communities to restore, enhance, and protect Staffordshire’s natural environment, supporting biodiversity, climate resilience, and the well-being of current and future generations.

We will:

• support community groups in creating roadmaps for action to address biodiversity loss, climate change, and human well-being by increasing natural spaces and the connections between them
• create, restore, enhance, and protect biodiverse habitats and ecological functions across all landscapes
• develop ecological corridors and networks to link habitats, enabling the free movement of species, nutrients, and natural processes
• ensure that education and engagement with future generations are integral to all nature recovery activities

Each authority will tailor its approach to local priorities while contributing to shared regional goals through partnership and knowledge exchange.

4. Sustainable Travel Planning

Councils will work together to promote and enable sustainable travel across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, supporting healthier communities and cleaner environments.

We will:

• support the delivery of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans
• support the implementation of the new Local Transport Plan
• identify and pursue funding opportunities for sustainable travel projects, including active travel and low-emission transport
• share best practice and collaborate with partners to improve connectivity and reduce transport-related emissions

Each authority will tailor its approach to local needs while contributing to shared regional goals.

5. Communications

Councils will contribute to coordinated, countywide communications that actively engage communities and support the Board’s sustainability, environmental, and waste objectives.

We will:

• commit to the shared 3-year communications plan, reviewed annually, with flexibility for authorities to adapt based on governance structures - the plan will be covering key themes such as transport, biodiversity, waste, and adaptation
• ensure messaging is clear, consistent, and accessible to help communities build resilience and take informed action
• work collaboratively to ensure communications activity delivers value for money and reflects local priorities

Each authority will tailor its communications to local audiences while contributing to shared regional messaging.

6. Baseline Reporting

Councils will prepare and publish annual baseline analyses of their organisational carbon footprints to support transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making.

We will:

• publish carbon emissions data from the previous financial year by October each year
• use consistent reporting methods to enable comparison and shared learning across authorities
• share tools, templates, and expertise to improve data quality and reporting capacity

Councils will support tracking and achieving progress against their environmental goals, including the Councils adopted Net Zero ambitions.

Each authority will retain flexibility to set and pursue its own targets, while contributing to a shared understanding of regional progress.

7. Recycling and Residual Waste

Councils will work together to deliver efficient, customer-focused recycling and waste services, in collaboration with the Staffordshire Waste Partnership.

We will:

• promote waste reduction and support residents to reduce, reuse, and recycle
• apply the waste hierarchy consistently across services and communications
• develop a Joint Resource and Waste Strategy by summer 2026, setting shared principles for the next 20 years
• ensure services are financially efficient, legally compliant, and responsive to local community needs
• encourage circular economy practices through education, engagement, and partnership working

Each authority will contribute to shared goals while tailoring delivery to local priorities.