West Midlands Combined Authority

Criteria met if there is public information about the combined authority working with a local community energy generation infrastructure project, such as wind, solar or hydro. Evidence of this could include:
Being formally listed as a partner on the community energy projects' website
Evidence on the combined authority's website of them providing funding, land or other support to the community energy project.

Criteria met if the combined authority convenes or is a member of a local retrofit partnership, that focuses on knowledge sharing or skills.
Evidence of this partnership is needed. At least two of the following must be visible:
1. A named partnership with a public membership list
2. A terms of reference or aims of the group
3. Evidence of previous meetings, via notes, agendas, videos or in news stories

Criteria met if the combined authority has contributed to research, strategy, evidence or business development in relation to home retrofit.

Criteria met if a combined authority has successfully bid on a government grant since 1st January 2020. The money doesn't have to be spent or the project completed in order to meet the criteria.

Criteria met if the combined authority has a skills strategy or similar which explicitly covers how they will create the green skills needed locally.

This information could be in a combined authority's skills strategy or other strategies.

This must be above and beyond providing green skills training in their adult education budget.

If the combined authority has run a Green Skills Bootcamp or equivalent programmes this is valid for a point. The programme must guarantee interviews with potential employers after completing training to be valid for a point.

The programme can be done in partnership with any organisation beyond the combined authority. It could include other councils, community groups, education providers, local businesses, key employers in the area or others.

Point awarded if the combined authority provides a supplementary employment or careers programme to encourage and promote green jobs.
Activities can include, but not limited to: stand alone websites, funding, or events promoting green careers at schools and colleges .

Criteria met if the Transport Plan is in date and the combined authority's area-wide net zero target is included within the transport strategy.

One of the key priorities in the Transport Plan must be to tackle the climate emergency or reduce emissions.

-5% of the total section score deducted if the combined authority details the expansion or building of new roads in the Transport Strategy.

Penalty mark of -15% of the total section score deducted if the combined authority details the expansion or building of new airports in the Transport Strategy.

A total penalty mark of -20% of the total section will be applied if the combined authority has detailed the expansion of building of new roads and airports.

Criteria met for each type of scheme where a member of the public can hire a vehicle (e.g. car/scooter/bike/mobility device) within the combined authorities area.

The following schemes will be awarded points:
- Car share scheme of any size in the area. Including:
- Community car clubs.
- Car clubs provided by private companies
- Hiring of combined authority vehicles when not in use
- Bike share scheme
- E-bike or cargo bike share scheme
- E-scooter scheme
- Mobility Devices
- Wheels 2 Work scheme

Trial schemes that are active at the time of marking will be accepted.

Points awarded if the combined authority has published a rail strategy, which includes the opening of new or the reopening of any stations or train lines.

Points awarded if the combined authority has invested in new zero emission train stock.

Points awarded if the combined authority has provided funding for extensive retrofit or opening of new or reopening of any stations and/or train lines.

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met if the combined authority has a target for the bus fleet to be completely zero emission by 2040.

Second tier criteria met if the combined authority has a target for the bus fleet to be zero emission by 2030.

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met if the combined authority has implemented, or has a firm timetable with a published date to implement, integrated ticketing for buses within the combined authority area.

Second tier criteria met if the combined authority has implemented, or has a firm timetable with a published date to implement, integrated ticketing across all public transport including buses, rail, trams and shared active travel schemes - where they have these modes of transport - within the combined authority area.

Criteria met if a combined authority has implemented a Clean Air Zone or Low Emission Zone that is currently in operation

For this question the Clean Air Zone or Low Emission Zone does not have to require charges for private vehicles.

Criteria met if a combined authority has implemented a Clean Air Zone or Low Emission Zone that is currently in operation and it charges for private vehicles.

For this question the Clean Air Zone or Low Emission Zone does have to require charges for private vehicles.

Criteria met if the Spatial Planning Strategy is in date and the net-zero target is included within the Spatial Planning strategy, although any date for the net-zero target would be sufficient.

One of the key priorities in the Spatial Planning Strategy must be to tackle the climate emergency or reduce emissions. The priority to take climate action must be a stand alone priority, listed as one of the councils core priorities or equivalent. If the core priority is a more general 'Sustainability', 'Environment' or 'Greener City/Area' and climate action is a priority within this core priority this would get the point.

Points awarded if the combined authority has a map detailing where solar energy can be built within the whole combined authority area.

Points awarded if the combined authority has a map detailing where wind energy can be built within the whole combined authority area.

Points awarded if the combined authority has a map detailing where a district heat network can be built within the whole combined authority area.

Criteria met if the combined authority has a map across its whole region detailing the opportunity areas for biodiversity opportunities. This could include mapping done as part of creating the local nature recovering strategy.

Criteria met if the combined authority has a natural capital investment plan.

Criteria met if the combined authority has publicly set a target to increase tree cover.

Point awarded if the combined authority has established a community biodiversity action fund or similar, provided the following criteria are met:
- The fund is at least £500,000 or higher. Where the overall amount of funding isn't clear, it will be assumed that funds awarding individual grants over £10,000 or up to £100,000 will meet this criteria.
- The fund is accessible to community groups, including where relevant parish councils

This is a ring-fenced fund that a combined authority has created to spend on biodiversity action locally for other organisations and volunteer groups.

The criteria must clearly be about biodiversity action projects and those who apply must complete some sort of application to define their planned biodiversity activities.

Criteria met if climate action (alternatively called sustainability or environment) is listed as one of the combined authority's core priorities or equivalent. It must have its own heading or section and a net-zero target date must be referenced.

The net-zero target date must be an area-wide target, either the UK Government's national target, the devolved nation's target or the combined authority's area-wide net-zero target.

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met if climate implications are listed or referenced for all council decisions at full council. Climate implications can be considered through Environmental Implications or an Integrated Impact Assessment if this includes a climate or environmental sub-heading or section.

Second tier criteria met if the council is using a detailed impact assessment tool to assess the climate implications of all council decisions.

Criteria met if the council has a stand alone environmental or sustainable procurement policy, or a complete section on Sustainable or Responsible Procurement, Climate Change or Action or something similar within their procurement policy that makes explicit reference to the council's Climate Action Plan and an area-wide net zero target date.

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met if the council has a mandatory requirement for tenders to do any of the following:
- Demonstrate how they will meet energy efficiency requirements or minimise energy consumption.
- Demonstrate how they will minimise waste in their products and services. This could be through recycled, natural, biodegradable or renewable materials being used, through not using single use plastic or other non-recyclable materials or through ensuring products and services last for as long as possible.

Second tier criteria met if the council's procurement policy includes any of the following:
- The council aims to source low or zero carbon energy wherever possible.
- The council aims to phase out the use of fossil fuels from their council fleet.
- The council references the waste hierarchy in its policy, for example by stating that it encourages the councils to consider if repeat procurement requests are always needed.

Criteria met if the council has a role such as Chair of Environment Committee, Cabinet Member for Environment, Chair of Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee or any title with the words Climate Change, Climate Action, Climate Emergency, Environmental Sustainability, Environment or similar in it.
This role can be merged with another role, such as Environment and Transport.

Point awarded if the combined authority has established a community climate action fund by attracting external investment or similar, provided the following criteria are met:
- The fund is at least £100k or higher
- The financing of the fund has come from attracting external investment
The fund is accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises and/or the public sector
- More general community or environment funds will be awarded if they specify that climate change projects will be supported.

To account for funding released in stages, the point will be awarded if the funding or support has been offered since 1st January 2022.

Criteria met if the combined authority has commissioned, written and published a study of different decarbonisation pathways and scenarios to reach net zero carbon across the region by the local area-wide target.

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met for signing or supporting at least 2 open letters or public statements, including those led by other combined authorities or organisations since 1st January 2023.

Second tier criteria met if the combined authority or its mayor has led at least one open letter or public statement since 1st January 2023.

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met if the council is a member of any one of the following organisations or has contributed to one case study of the following organisations.

Second tier criteria met if the council:
- is a member of 3 or more of the following organisations
- has contributed to case studies with 3 of more of the following organisations.
- any combination of the above.

Membership organisations:
- UK100 (Including the Countryside Climate Network)
- ADEPT
- Blueprint Coalition
- ICLEI
- Carbon Neutral Cities
- UK Green Building Council
- Sustainable Scotland Network
- Carbon Disclosure Project (including submitting to the CDP since 2019)

Case studies:
- Friends of the Earth & Ashden case studies
- LGA (Local Government Association) climate change case studies
- UK100 case studies
- WRAP case studies

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met if the council has established a way for residents to influence the implementation of the council's climate action. This may be through:
- a community engagement group
- introducing community, resident or activist representation on a council climate change committee/group
- convening or using a local climate action network to improve the implementation of their climate action plan
- broader forms of community engagement work such as a series of workshops across the area for different groups of residents.

Second tier criteria met if there is an overarching framework such as a dedicated climate public engagement plan to inform this work.

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met if the combined authority's ongoing engagement (under 5a) specifically aims to engage those most affected by climate change and climate action policies.

Second tier criteria met if the combined authority's climate action plan has undergone an equalities impact assessment to identify who is most affected by climate change and climate action policies.

Criteria met if the combined authority has funded or commissioned area-wide research to increase understanding of the local challenge and support constituent councils.

Criteria met if the combined authority has created a climate commission or other similar body, to bring together experts and stakeholders, provide independent advice and guide climate policy in the area.

Criteria met if the combined authority has 3 or more schemes to provide free support or free tailored advice to businesses in the local area to decarbonise, including through collaborative measures with local businesses, other local authorities, or via the Local Enterprise Partnership.

One single overarching scheme with three different approaches to support local businesses will also be awarded the point.