Following a motion from Liberal Democrat councillors, Herts County Council has revealed that it will cost somewhere between £275 million and £500 million to make the county's schools carbon neutral. This figure only includes schools that are the responsibility of the council. Costs for schools which are academies will be on top of this as will any carbon offsetting that may be required.
The internationally important beech woods in Ashridge have been placed on a critical risk warning following a report. Wildlife, plants and trees are all suffering.
The woods are a popular place for dog walkers and people wanting to get out of the town for a healthy walk in the countryside. However the report implies they are now too popular. This together with climate change affecting the fauna and flora are suffering as a consequence.
Conservative County Councillors have once again voted against providing meal vouchers during the holidays for children who get free school meals during term time. In response to a Liberal Democrat motion calling for this to be done, the council's Resources Panel was told by council officers that the extension of the government's Household Support Fund would probably allow this to happen, subject to confirming the rules of the fund. Lib Dem County Councillor Steve Jarvis proposed that the panel should support this, assuming it was confirmed to be allowed.
Herts County Council has been awarded nearly £6 million pounds to introduce 27 electric buses in Stevenage - which is good news - but this is much less than some other councils who made more ambitious bids. In comparison Oxfordshire County Council successfully bid for £32 million for 159 electric buses from the same government fund.