TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
2024
Securing the District’s future Charity Number: 1192634
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CONTENTS
| What We Do | 03 |
|---|---|
| Vision And Mission | 04 |
| Chair’s Report | 05 |
| Summary of Activities by Working Group | 08 |
| Public Benefit Confirmation | 22 |
| Financial Summary | 23 |
| Objects, Governance and Management | 24 |
| Appendix – Financial Accounts | 27 |
| Contact Us | 29 |
ANNUAL REPORT 2024
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WHAT WE DO
We are the leading climate action group in the Harrogate District We are a trusted independent voice and set a vision for the benefits of a thriving local zero carbon economy. We advocate for rapid decarbonisation, and we act to bring about this transition.
The goals we have set ourselves are founded on the climate science. Based on this challenging reality, they are not easy. But by building strong partnerships within the community, with local government, individuals and businesses, we believe that it is possible.
ANNUAL REPORT 2024
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OUR VISION
For the Harrogate District to become a leading sustainable carbon neutral District where the annual volume of greenhouse gases per person is minimised and any remaining emissions effectively neutralised, so that residents experience an improved and more equitable quality of life.
OUR MISSION
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EDUCATE our community on the need for urgent climate action and decarbonisation.
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ZCH brings together residents, businesses and organisations from different backgrounds and with different experiences to support the development of a thriving, low carbon, sustainable economy.
Together, we aim to:
ENGAGE collaboratively with organisations and political decision-makers around climate action.
03.
ENCOURAGE individuals, groups and organisations in taking effective climate action.
ANNUAL REPORT 2024
CHAIR’S REPORT
Strategies and Priorities
This has been a year of robust action for Zero Carbon Harrogate as we have been prominent in our local community, keeping the urgent response to climate change at the fore.
At a time when the value of climate action has been questioned in the international, national and local political discourse, we have deployed our three strands of work to continue to ensure we have strong community support, widespread engagement and can effectively leverage rapid decarbonisation:
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Educate our community on the need for urgent climate action and decarbonisation
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Engage collaboratively with organisations and political decision makers around climate action; encourage commitment and hold each other to account for delivery
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Encourage individuals, groups and organisations in taking effective climate action by sharing knowledge and information; run ‘proof of concept’ projects to build confidence, capacity and momentum
We have refocused our efforts to address the main sources of carbon emissions for our area and put in place a three-year plan providing clearer objectives for our trustees, staff and volunteer led working groups. Drawing on these our key areas of work in 2024 have been:
- Supporting volunteer led initiatives in our working groups Seeking funding to further our projects and to employ staff to extend our capacity Delivering sustained volunteer growth and engagement strategy.
2024 Key Achievements
Our Community Retrofit Programme
Directed by John Kerr, ZCH’s Retrofit Project Manager, significant progress has been made in upskilling local professionals with 14 Domestics Energy Assessors/Retrofit Assessors, 9 Retrofit Coordinators and 10 Retrofit Designers receiving funded training through the programme. A further 40 Builders and 9 Renewables Engineers (solar and air source heat pumps) have also been funded for training.
Initially financed by the Energy Redress Fund we moved to phase two of the programme from April with LEAD (local energy advice demonstrator) funding, working in partnership with North Yorkshire Council, Align Property Partners and community groups to provide over 300 retrofit whole house plans for householders, 4 public retrofit open evenings, attended by around 200 people and a Retrofit Fair in Harrogate, attended by over 60 people.
- Continued growth and delivery of our Retrofit Programme Building support and partnerships for sustainable transport initiatives Implementing a strategic programme of local political engagement Progressing our programme of business engagement with additional volunteer resource
Our Journeys
Recognising that transport is the largest single contributor to carbon emissions in the area we have been building on our successful Walk to School and Car Free Friday campaigns to develop wider partnerships with the objective of a long-term project under the banner of ‘Moving Ahead Together’.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Multi Academy Trust (MAT) CEOs, with responsibility for 29 local schools, attended our ‘School Commute’ focused School Leaders Sustainability Roundtable in March, from which we have established an ongoing working group for MAT leaders to collaborate on active and public transport projects. We are working in partnership with Northern Star Academy Trust and North Yorkshire Council.
Given that travel related emissions have remained stubbornly static over many years, we have convened a cross-sector group to start to work in partnership to identify local barriers and seek solutions for a modal shift to active, shared and public transport. We are pleased to be working on this with North Yorkshire Council, Harrogate Bus Company, Northern Rail, North Yorkshire Disability Action, Harrogate District Cycle Action, Harrogate BID and Harrogate Chamber of Commerce.
residents. While the full development of a Neighbourhood Plan will take some years, engaging widely to ensure that the necessity for policies which support a low carbon economy is essential.
Our Staff and Volunteers
This year we were sorry to say goodbye to Kath Clark our Operations Manager, in March after a year in the role, helping us to extend our project work. John Kerr has continued in his Retrofit Project Manager role throughout the year.
We were pleased to receive Shared Prosperity Funding that enabled us to employ, Sunita Soundur three days a week as ZCH Climate Action Coordinator (CAC). Sunita has brought vital communications experience to the role. She dynamically supports our volunteers, gradually growing and strengthening our team.
Our Local Government
We value our good relationships with elected representatives and officers in all layers of government, which is essential for our ongoing advocacy work. We have held discussions ranging from emerging climate action strategies to project planning for our retrofit programme. This year we have built stronger links to the emerging York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority team.
Additionally, from May we were pleased to support the North Yorkshire Climate Coalition, by employing a two day a week Climate Action Coordinator, Ed Lee, on their behalf, while they gained the necessary charity status to take this on.
This year we have welcomed Dean Gregory as trustee.
Our Funding
We were pleased to be able to offer an independent non-party political space for hustings for both the Mayoral elections in May and the Parliamentary Elections in July ensuring that policies to address decarbonisation and climate adaptation were recognised as a priority.
Our Town Plan
Taking the initiative in 2023 we collaborated with the Harrogate Civic Society to set up and driving forward the Harrogate Town Plan Forum. Nearly 50 local organisations have attended the forum along with many local
We are grateful to our funders without whose support we would have a much more limited reach and impact. Our members form a valuable part of this support as do the individuals who have made generous donations to the charity this year.
We are pleased to have been successful in securing grant funding totalling £66,805 this year from the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme, the LEAD (Local Energy Advice Demonstrators) Project and the Shared Prosperity Fund.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Priorities for 2025
We continue to be challenged by the breadth of issues that need addressing to reach net zero locally. However, we remain focused on where most greenhouse gas emissions are generated in our local economy and where we can have most impact. The ZCH Trustees and Working Group Leads have reviewed our three-year plan and decided the focus of our 2025 workstreams.
We will continue with our Educate, Engage and Encourage approach.
Key areas of work to support these priorities in 2025 will be:
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Retrofit Project : Seeking funding to take the project into a 3rd Phase. ‘Moving Ahead Together’ Sustainable Transport Project : Seeking long term funding, to deliver a series of behavioural change campaigns in partnership with others to build on Walk to School Days and Car Free Fridays.
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Continue to Progress Other Effective Projects : Seeking funding to secure the employment of our Climate Action Coordinator to: enhance the work programmes of our working groups; communications; volunteer engagement and retention; and fundraising Climate Adaptation : Increasing awareness raising of the likely adaption measures needed for the Harrogate area and advocacy to ensure policy and practical action
We are grateful to all our volunteers, supporters and partners for their love of the Harrogate area and their dedication to enacting the change needed to decarbonise here.
We continue to be a volunteer-led charity, and our work simply would not be possible without their time, expertise and enthusiasm.
Jemima Parker Zero Carbon Harrogate Chair
- Good Governance : Recruiting new Trustees with appropriate skills to strengthen our leadership.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Buildings and Retrofit Project
2024 was the year in which we started to make a dramatic difference to the local retrofit economy, working closely with partners to increase the number of trained retrofit suppliers and providing services and events to enhance the knowledge and confidence of local people across the county.
In April we commenced working with North Yorkshire Council, Align Property Partners and community groups to deliver the LEAD (local energy advice demonstrator) one stop shop project. Funding for this programme came from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, via the North Tees Combined Authority.
The programme aimed to complete a significant number of retrofit assessments and whole house plans in selected neighbourhoods across North Yorkshire. The purpose of this was to help householders start making energy efficiency improvements to their homes. Direct advice and information to the public was provided through events in the form of retrofit open evenings. At the same time training was provided to engineers and contractors and specialist workshops were run to support builders. Our role was to coordinate all the training, including some delivery.
In 2024, the LEAD one stop shop delivered:
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Over 300 retrofit whole house plans for householders
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Four public retrofit open evenings, attended by around 200 people One Retrofit Fair in Harrogate, attended by over 60 people Training for:
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14 Domestics Energy Assessors/Retrofit Assessors 9 Retrofit Coordinators
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10 Retrofit Designers
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9 Renewables Engineers (solar and air source heat pumps) 40 Builders
Air Tightness Training Workshop for builders, September 2024
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Buildings and Retrofit Project
In addition to the work on the LEAD programme, we organised and ran our first ever Retrofit Fair in November. Nine local suppliers and contractors set up their stalls and answered questions from the public. A retrofit case study was presented on video loop and a brief presentation introduced attendees to the idea of a Heat Party. We were very pleased that over 60 people attended on a cold and dark November evening.
ZCH Home and Retrofit Fair, November 2024
ZCH Home and Retrofit Fair, November 2024
We have built on our existing relationships with local suppliers without whose support we would find it hard to do much of our work. We have also developed a strong relationship with a major rental agency, recognising that almost 20% of residential properties in our area are owned by landlords.
Our Retrofit Programme Manager, John Kerr, continues to represent us at the National Retrofit Hub and we have been part of the strategic discussion with York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority about the future of retrofitting in our area.
Homeowners event open evening, August 2024
York and North Yorkshire’s Retrofit Strategy Engagement workshop, October 2024
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Energy Group
During the year a key focus for the Energy Group was undertaking a programme of contacting those locals responsible for running village and community halls, to communicate the benefits of retrofitting their properties. We were delighted that the Harlow Hill community ‘Green Hut’ won Shared Prosperity Funding after a retrofit assessment and are undertaking whole building thermal efficiency improvements in early 2025.
Next year efforts will be redoubled to encourage more face-to-face meetings with other organisations to provide advice on how best to seek funding for and deliver retrofitting schemes. We identified the VCSE Energy Efficiency scheme as a possible funding source and advised community groups of its potential.
Successful delivery of retrofitting projects to village and community halls will not only allow them to reduce their carbon emissions but should also help make significant energy cost savings.
Other highlights
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Following a campaign of advice on the Solar for Schools scheme, delivered by ZCH to schools in the District in 2021, we were delighted to learn that Ripon Grammar School took the decision this year to help reach carbon zero, through this scheme, by installing some 990 solar panels on school buildings, which will ensure a quarter of its electricity is supplied through green energy.
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In September we gave a talk to the Starbeck Library Group about the work of ZCH and our efforts to educate, engage, and encourage communities in taking effective climate action. October saw us participating in the Ripon Together Green Fair where 25 wide ranging ‘green’ organisations were represented sharing sustainability messages with a common call to achieve carbon reductions as soon as is possible.
Talk at Starbeck Library, September 2024
Ripon Together Green Fair, October 2024
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Advocacy and Engagement Group
Our advocacy and policy engagement grows as the years roll by. Without strong and sustained advocacy for local climate change policies that accelerate our pathway to being a zero-carbon town, we risk major implications in the decades to come. Furthermore, we have become increasingly active around climate adaptation polices so that our residents, institutions and businesses are prepared to meet the challenges of the climate change that is already unfolding in our everyday lives
We seek to engage with all the political groups on North Yorkshire Council (NYC), particularly with the work of the Harrogate & Knaresborough Constituency Area Committee, to whom we presented our work and our desire for deeper partnerships in November 2024.
We continue to value the relationships with officers and elected members of NYC and want to build strong partnerships across the Council’s range of responsibilities as it seeks to become an operationally carbon-neutral authority by 2030. Having declared a climate emergency in 2022, NYC then adopted a Climate Change Strategy in 2024, to which we contributed feedback although consultation was limited. We can see that meeting NYC’s 2030 net zero target is going to be extremely challenging and we will continue to press for stronger policy and practical action.
In the past year we have worked closely with the North Yorkshire Climate Coalition, which comprises 25 other local climate action groups, to influence the Council across its full range of responsibilities. ZCH sits on the Coalition’s Steering Group and leads on its growing engagement with our new Mayor David Skaith and his Combined Authority, helping ZCH to build a strong relationship with this recent and increasingly important expression of devolved government.
ZCH team with Mayor David Skaith at the North Yorkshire Wider Partnerships Conference, October 2024
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Advocacy and Engagement Group
2024 was a big year for elections, and we actively engaged in the democratic processes leading up to the Mayoral election in May and the General Election in July. Our efforts to inform and facilitate debate surpassed anything we had done in previous years; as well as running local hustings events for both sets of candidates at the Wesley Centre – each of which drew a good crowd – we undertook live broadcasting and extended one-to-one conversations with each of the General Election candidates, so that Harrogate & Knaresborough residents could question candidates about climate change issues and we could dig beneath the surface of their manifesto commitments.
ZCH’s Mayoral Hustings, May 2024
ZCH’s General Election Hustings, June 2024
Behind the scenes of our live one-to-one conversations with Election Candidates, June 2024
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Advocacy and Engagement Group
We have made it a priority to build a strong relationship with our new Member of Parliament, Tom Gordon, to ensure that he is properly and independently briefed to engage on climate change issues at Westminster, as well as meeting with our past MP, Andrew Jones, to conduct an ‘exit conversation’. We are always ready to learn!
Meeting with Tom Gordon MP, August 2024
2024 also saw a substantive ZCH input to the newly formed Harrogate Town Plan Forum – a joint initiative with the Harrogate Civic Society. This has sought to provide the groundwork for a new Neighbourhood Plan for the town, and it is our sincere hope that this initiative will be adopted and taken forward by the proposed Harrogate Town Council.
Harrogate Town Plan Forum, September 2024
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Schools Group
Building on ZCH’s partnership with Northern Star Academy Trust, which was established in 2023, we have continued to convene the School Leaders Sustainability Roundtable events to provide a forum for the CEO’s and other senior staff members of Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) to come together hear about opportunities for key climate positive decision making and local cross Trust collaboration.
Our 2024 Roundtable focused on the School Commute and was hosted at the Harrogate Bus Company’s Academy in Starbeck. Seven Trust leaders, representing 29 schools in the Harrogate area, were inspired by speakers presenting on the Leeds City Council School Streets programme, the electrification of the Harrogate bus fleet by Transdev and they were invited to contribute to the development of the North Yorkshire Local Transport Plan by Karl Battersby, NYC Corporate Director Environment.
This event raised multiple issues around decarbonising travel to school and consequently we have established a spin off School Commute Roundtable with plans for an initial meeting in January 2025 with senior staff from four MATs who have responsibility for journeys to their schools. At this event local campaigner Hazel Peacock is scheduled to attend to share news on the successful School Streets project at Oatlands Junior and the increasingly regular and popular ‘Bike Bus’ events.
School Commute Meeting, March 2024
‘Bike Bus’ event, February 2024
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Schools Group
Based on planning in late 2024 we aim to hold our 2025 School Leaders Sustainability Roundtable programme with a presentation about how we can effectively embed climate education into the curriculum, from guest speaker Prof. Leigh Hoath, Co-founder of Climate Adapted Pathways for Education (CAPE) and Deputy Dean of the School of Education at Leeds Trinity University.
Prof. Leigh Hoath, Co-Founder of CAPE
Transport
In 2024 we convened an engaged group of key transport stakeholders and influential figures with quarterly meetings to establish a strategic focus for the ZCH transport working group aligned with community concerns and priorities. Together we have explored how we can move forward effectively with realistic, practical ideas for collaborative partnership work to address climate issues that add value to our community.
Regular attendees include representatives from Harrogate Bus Company, Northern Rail, North Yorkshire Council Highways Department, Harrogate District Cycle Action, Disability Action North Yorkshire, Harrogate Chamber of Commerce and Harrogate BID to ensure a diverse range of local voices are considered in our sustainable transport work and we continue to engage with North Yorkshire Council on transport matters.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Transport Group
ZCH’s Key Transport Stakeholders meeting, October 2024
Transport Stakeholders Members touring the latest electric 36 bus model
Additionally, we gave a presentation to the Harrogate Town Plan Forum (HTPF) offering suggestions on how the emerging Neighbourhood Plan could include policies that support more low carbon travel and in 2025 we will continue to support the HTPF in facilitating their current Transport subgroup.
Walk to School Day, now in its third year, enjoyed consistent success and support from the community throughout 2024. Harrogate Town AFC has continued to lend its mascot ‘Harry Gator’ to make the event days more fun, while North Yorkshire Council has continued to lend ‘Spike the Road Safety Hedgehog’. Every half term in 2024 around 15,000 pupils across 47 schools have lowered their carbon footprint on their journey to school or college – a fantastic effort in our community.
To extend the Car Free Friday’s campaign, we intend to organise further promotion in 2025 with Harrogate Bus Company who continue to support the campaign by providing 2-4-1 tickets on Fridays to encourage local commuters and the public to join in this positive climate action.
Car Free Fridays day at St Aidan’s School, June 2024
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Natural Climate Solutions Group
We recognise that biodiversity loss, leading to weakened ecosystems, leaves our landscapes, communities, country, and our neighbouring countries much more vulnerable to the effects of climate breakdown. A resilient natural world has a significant role to play in the race to net zero. Put simply, without enough nature recovery the climate emergency will not be resolved. Our Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) Group has been active in:
Advocacy
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We continue to be an active member of the White Rose Forest (WRF) partnership forum, and ancient woodland group, meaning ZCH has influence on how our community forest develops. An example is raising awareness of the ancient Forest of Knaresborough and advocating for its being a feature of WRF as it develops over the coming years. We have been working with Councillors of Knaresborough Town Council’s climate emergency sub-committee and Knaresborough Connectors as they take forward a project whose aim is to increase and improve Knaresborough Town’s green spaces. This project is eligible for WRF support from its Green Streets funding stream, and Ian has been acting as the sub-committee’s liaison with WRF.
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Natural Climate Solutions also feature in the work of ZCH’s Planning Group to promote green and blue infrastructure into our urban environment to support climate resilience and biodiversity.
Supporting Action
- We have been assisting Rotary of Harrogate with its longstanding Trees for Nidderdale tree planting scheme, providing volunteers to help with their tree planting days.
Treeplanting volunteers, June 2024
Trreeplanting volunteers, November 2024
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Natural Climate Solutions Group
Community Guidance
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ZCH’s Natural Climate Solutions lead, Ian Fraser, has been guiding Long Lands Common through WRF’s funding pathway and securing support and funding for this community woodland and nature recovery project: Ian has been assisting with the plans for delivering the objectives of this nature recovery project so that by 2027-28 key features of the site’s development, such as woodlands, and other attributes and infrastructure, will likely have been established.
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In 2024 support was given to the Board of Long Lands Community Benefit Society as it starts to manage and maintain their sites and deliver environmental and community benefits. They now own Knaresborough Forest Park and Long Lands Community Food Forest, in addition to Long Lands Common, - land holdings of approximately 38 hectares.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Planning Group
We have continued to monitor applications to the local planning authority (now North Yorkshire Council) for major developments where with careful planning and building stipulations there would be the potential for significant carbon savings. 2024 was again a relatively quiet year because of the adverse economic environment, with high interest costs, the cost-of-living crisis and general political uncertainties putting a dampener on local new development.
However, we carry on taking every opportunity to advocate for more sustainable new development, with an emphasis on low energy building, local renewable energy generation and use, elimination of fossil fuel for heating, sustainable access and transport provision, and protection of existing, together with incorporation of new habitats to protect nature and deliver additional natural capacity for carbon storage.
We continue to engage with the Council as regards the emerging replacement Local Plan, though we have been disappointed by the opportunities for public contribution to date. We are very concerned by early pronouncement by the Westminster Government of much higher draft housing delivery targets for North Yorkshire and how this will impinge on the sustainable development of the area.
Our planning input into the Harrogate Town Plan Forum continues, with a strong emphasis on sustainable transport, taking the lead with a presentation and follow up subgroup on this theme. In early 2025 we have been invited to contribute to what is hoped will be a thoughtprovoking presentation to the forum on Sustainability, Climate Adaptation and Mitigation in the expectation that it will play an important role in shaping future town development.
Harrogate Town Plan Forum, November 2024
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Business Group
Our Business Group was established in 2023 out of a desire to help our local businesses to understand how to decarbonise and support them in this process and whilst it has so far met with mixed results, we feel that overall satisfactory progress has been made.
We are justifiably proud of the extraordinarily successful Carbon Literacy Training programme ZCH has delivered this year with support from colleagues at Full Circle and it is our intention to continue rolling it out throughout 2025
Carbon Literacy Training, November 2024
Carbon Literacy Project Graphic
Partnering with the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, ZCH was invited to lead one of their monthly meetings, providing an informative and dare we say fun evening on the practicalities of decarbonising a small business. We hope that this will be an annual event with another in planning for early 2025.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP
Business Group
Following useful meetings with senior members of the Harrogate BID Team, 2024 saw us being invited to be key members of the new BID Sustainability Group and starting to lay foundations for what we hope will be the formation of another productive partnership.
Proposals include:
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Undertaking a survey of their membership to ascertain levels of carbon literacy and current carbon reduction ambitions
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Analysis of survey findings
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Followed by a presentation to a BID Board meeting on how ZCH might best support their members achieve carbon reductions and potential associated cost savings
The Peer-to-Peer Business Sustainability Board Programme we planned to launch in 2024, disappointingly failed to attract the necessary support from local companies. Three similar business support options have emerged being provided by other bodies, so we were delighted to signpost to these instead.
Based on interaction to date we hope to further strengthen our partnership working with Harrogate College and identify additional business networking groups that we might link with to spread the carbon negative message through ZCH’s offer of education, engagement, and encouragement.
ZCH with Harrogate BID’s Chief Executive Matthew Chapman
Harrogate College’s Sustainable Development Goals display
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
PUBLIC BENEFIT CONFIRMATION
Public Benefit Confirmation
In accordance with the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, the ZCH Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.
Details of ZCH’s purpose and activities in the year to 31 December 2024 which demonstrate its compliance with the Commission’s guidance are provided throughout this report, specifically:
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A review of the significant activities undertaken by ZCH to carry out its charitable purposes for the public benefit – see Chair’s Report and Summary of Activities by Working Group sections
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Details of purposes and objectives and strategies adopted, and activities undertaken to achieve those purposes and objectives – see Chair’s Report and Objects, Governance and Management sections
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Details of the achievements by reference to the purposes and objectives set - see Chair’s Report and Summary of Activities by Working Group sections
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Financial Summary
The accounts of ZCH for the year ended 31 December 2024, together with the Independent Examiner’s Report are presented in the Appendix. These accounts were prepared on a receipts and payments basis, according to the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP).
ZCH finished the year with an overall surplus of £5,174 (2023: £1,237) which comprised a surplus in Restricted Funds of £4,738 (2023: deficit of £8,144) due to the receipt of grants in the financial year and a small surplus in Unrestricted Funds of £436.
During the year ZCH received grants from the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme, North Yorkshire Council LEAD (Local Energy Advice Demonstrators) Project and the Shared Prosperity Fund totalling £66,805 (2023: £52,446). As mentioned in the Chair’s Report, these grants have enabled ZCH to progress with several projects, including providing decarbonisation and retrofit training and advice to suppliers and residents of North Yorkshire and staffing for our Educate, Engage and Encourage Project, as well as providing support to the North Yorkshire Climate Coalition.
Expenditure for the period totalled £65,515 (2023: £62,136), which included staff costs of £56,842 (2023: £42,023).
The Trustees were pleased with the overall results and ZCH’s ability to meet the future financial requirements of the various projects it has committed to.
The accounts were prepared by the ZCH Treasurer, a Charity Accountant. Although there was no external audit of the accounts, they have been reviewed by an Independent Examiner in line with the Charity Commission's requirements for small charities.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
OBJECTS, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Overview and Governing document
ZCH is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), incorporated and registered as a charity on 3 December 2020. ZCH was established under a constitution document dated 3 December 2020, which established the objects and powers of the CIO as well as setting out key matters of Governance.
ZCH is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Our Charity Commission Registration number is 1192634.
Objects
The constitution document defines ZCH’s objects (purpose) as, for the public benefit, the advancement of environmental protection and improvement by promoting a zero carbon, sustainable society in the Harrogate District through: (a) The advancement of the education of the public in subjects relating to sustainable development and the protection, enhancement and rehabilitation of the environment and the prudent use of natural resources; in particular, but not exclusively, by raising awareness, and providing information and advice, in accordance with scientific evidence on climate change and encouraging and supporting local residents to reduce their carbon emissions and live in a more sustainable way; and (b) The promotion of a sustainable economy and local regeneration.
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Member involvement in Working Groups, education, providing information, events, signposting and advocacy, to enable the citizens of the Harrogate District to reduce their carbon emissions and conserve and protect the physical and natural environment.
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Promoting low carbon solutions across the district in building, energy, transport, and food and promoting natural climate solutions such as tree planting and rewilding.
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Supporting and actively encouraging the reduction of energy and food wastage, the use of renewable energy, energy efficient building and retrofit, low carbon means of transport and reforestation.
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Engaging with local decision makers, business leaders, schools, and the general population to promote and enable carbon emission reduction.
Trustees and Organisational Structure
The constitution allows for a minimum of three and a maximum of 12 Trustees to be appointed. Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
At each AGM one third of Trustees must retire from office. Retiring Trustees may be reappointed but may not serve for more than three consecutive terms. They may be reappointed after an interval of at least three years.
ZCH seeks to carry out its purposes through:
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
OBJECTS, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
IIn accordance with the ZCH constitution ZCH’s first AGM was held on 22 June 2022.
Our Trustees are responsible for setting ZCH strategy and overseeing the running of ZCH activities.
All Trustees are members of the ZCH Management Committee. During the year under review the Management Committee met quarterly, providing strategic direction and overall oversight of ZCH activities, governance matters and progress against objects.
In November 2022 Programme Group meetings were established in addition to Management Committee meetings, with Programme Group meetings providing a more focused forum for detailed operational review, while Management Committee meetings continue to focus on strategic direction and governance matters. From their inception, Programme Group meetings have been held in two out of three months in the quarter, with the Management Committee meeting in the third month. Programme Group Meetings are attended by the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and all Working Group Leads.
Key matters discussed at Programme Group meetings are escalated to all Trustees at Management Committee meetings for review and approval, as necessary.
ZCH activities are principally delivered via eight Working Groups (see Summary of Activities by Working Group section for further details). Working Groups meet regularly to plan and deliver ZCH activities.
All Trustees, unless otherwise stated, served for the entire period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024:
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Jemima Waterlow Alice Parker (Chair) Timothy Charles Larner (Vice Chair) Chris Arnott (Vice Chair and Secretary) Ian Arthur Fraser
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Danny Wild Louise Mc Manus
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Dean Gregory (Appointed 27-06-2024) Karen Elizabeth Kelsey-Wilson (Retired January 2024)
ZCH employed Kath Clark as Operations Manager on a three day a week basis from March 2023 on a one-year contract until 31 March 2024. In March 2024, this role was revised to one of Climate Action Coordinator and we were lucky enough to appoint Sunita Soundur to the position on a three-day a week basis. John Kerr's employment as Retrofit Programme Manager on a four day a week basis, originally for a two-year contract to February 2024 has continued throughout 2024 and been further extended to 31 March 2025.
From May 2024, Ed Lee was employed as Climate Action Coordinator for North Yorkshire Climate Coalition on a one-year contract for two days a week utilising SPF funding.
Unfortunately, this role will cease in May 2025 as the Coalition is not able to take over responsibility for the role.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
OBJECTS, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Risk Management, Policies & Procedures
The Management Committee regularly reviews major risks to which ZCH is exposed. A risk register is maintained and reviewed at Management Committee meetings, with updates made as required.
A Conflicts of Interest register is also maintained and reviewed at each Management Committee Meeting.
As part of our risk mitigations processes and governance review, during the year a further comprehensive review of policies and procedures was completed, updating the ZCH Handbook to provide a clear Policy and Procedures Guide for all Trustees, volunteers, and employees. The ZCH Handbook is shared with all new Trustees, volunteers, and employees as part of their induction training and is always available for reference on our internal portal.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
APPENDIX – FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS
Receipts and Payments Accounts for the period ended 31 December 2024 and Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of 31 December 2024
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024
APPENDIX – FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees
28
ANNUAL REPORT 2024
29
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024