SmartCarbon caught up with Richard Davis, Sarah Sandiford and Cat Lowman of Leighton Linslade Town Council to understand how carbon accounting has formed an important part of the organisation’s response to announcing a Climate Emergency and how the support of SmartCarbon is helping the council team to collect meaningful data to inform decisions within the community.
When Leighton-Linslade Town Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2021, it wasn’t simply making a statement of intent. The council recognised that if it was going to make meaningful environmental decisions on behalf of its community, those decisions had to be backed by evidence rather than assumptions.
For a publicly funded organisation accountable to residents, councillors and local businesses alike, the team within the council knew that every environmental investment must be justified. That meant establishing an accurate carbon baseline before deciding where time, money and resources should be invested.
Working alongside SmartCarbon, the town council has spent the last few years building that evidence base, developing a carbon reduction action plan and embedding carbon impact into its long-term decision making.
In particular, the core team responsible for collecting and reporting on data has included Deputy Town Clerk, Sarah Sandiford, Head of Grounds and Environmental Services Richard Davis and Grounds Support Officer Cat Lowman.
Building a credible starting point
Before engaging with SmartCarbon, the council had already introduced a number of practical environmental improvements.
Committee papers had moved from paper to digital, saving around 70,000 sheets of paper each year, while drinking water refill stations and other small initiatives demonstrated the council’s desire to reduce environmental impact across the community.
However, once the Climate Emergency declaration had been made, the team were able to progress with their wider strategy and begin to collect the data needed to inform the future environmental actions of the council on behalf of the community.
As Sarah explains:
“We were very aware that we needed an accurate measurement of our baseline before we could even start to think about where to go next.”
“But carbon accounting is such a specialist field and, like most town councils, we don’t employ someone with that expertise because it simply isn’t viable. We knew we needed to work with a specialist partner who could provide the evidence and technical knowledge we didn’t have in-house.”
While many organisations face challenges around carbon reporting, local government introduces another layer of complexity. Unlike commercial businesses, every significant investment is subject to public scrutiny, political discussion and transparent procurement processes.
According to Richard Davis, who joined the council after spending many years working in the commercial sector, the challenges are often greater than those he experienced in private industry.
“In the commercial world you have much more direct control over your operations. As a council we’re balancing environmental ambitions alongside public accountability, political priorities and supporting local businesses. Those competing priorities make every decision much more complex.”
The council also faces difficult choices around procurement. Supporting local suppliers remains an important priority, but many smaller contractors simply don’t have the resources to undertake detailed carbon reporting themselves or invest in greener technologies at the same pace as larger organisations.
“There are always different priorities to balance,” Sarah explains. “Our role is to establish the facts and provide the evidence so that councillors can make informed decisions.”
Turning carbon data into better decisions
Since working with SmartCarbon, the council has completed its carbon baseline and developed a carbon reduction action plan. Rather than simply producing a report, the information now feeds directly into major strategic decisions across the organisation.
Whether reviewing waste contracts, planning future fleet replacement or considering long-term investment, carbon reporting and the data it produces has become part of the conversation.
Richard says,
“The reports give us the evidence we need. When we’re putting forward procurement decisions or discussing future investment with councillors, we’ve already got credible data showing where the biggest opportunities for reducing carbon emissions are.”
One example is the council’s future vehicle fleet. Working towards its 2030 ambitions will require significant investment in electric vehicles over the coming years, something that requires careful financial planning and public engagement. In this regard, the council are undertaking a detailed feasibility study to assess both financial and carbon impacts in order to make investments that deliver on both.
“Having the data means those conversations aren’t based on opinion,” Richard says. “They’re based on evidence.”
Giving officers the confidence to lead
Alongside consultancy support, SmartCarbon has helped develop the council’s internal knowledge. Grounds Support Officer, Cat Lowman, recently completed SmartCarbon’s ISEP-certified Carbon Accounting course delivered through Northumbria University before taking responsibility for managing the council’s carbon reporting.
Coming into the role without a specialist environmental background initially felt daunting. She says,
“I was surrounded by ecologists and environmental specialists. But the training was brilliant and Molly at SmartCarbon has been incredible throughout the process. Every question was welcomed and I never felt uncomfortable asking for help.”
She notes that the ongoing support has also made managing increasingly complex datasets much easier:
“Having someone there to sense-check the data and work through challenges with us has been invaluable.”
The council has already recorded a reduction in emissions since establishing its baseline, but officers are clear that this is only the beginning. The carbon reduction plan now provides a practical roadmap for future decision making, identifying where investment will deliver the greatest impact while helping councillors understand the implications of different choices.
Alongside operational improvements, the council continues to invest in biodiversity, staff carbon literacy training, community grants, repair cafés, community energy initiatives and wider environmental education across Leighton-Linslade.
Richard believes carbon accounting has become far more than a compliance exercise. He asserts,
“It’s about making informed decisions. The data helps us understand where we can make the biggest difference, and it gives everyone confidence that we’re making those decisions or proposing solutions for the right reasons.”
As one of the largest town councils in Bedfordshire, Leighton-Linslade is now helping smaller parish and town councils begin their own sustainability journeys. The team regularly shares biodiversity work, environmental initiatives and practical learning with neighbouring councils that may not have access to the same level of expertise or resources.
Sarah believes that’s an important part of the council’s wider responsibility:
“We’ve tried to share our learning as we’ve gone along and that’s been really well received. If we can help other councils make informed decisions too, that’s a positive outcome.”
A partnership built on expertise
Reflecting on the relationship with SmartCarbon, the team consistently returns to one theme: having trusted experts available whenever they’re needed.
From carbon accounting training and technical guidance through to carbon reduction planning and ongoing consultancy, the partnership has given the council confidence to tackle an increasingly complex area of work.
As Cat concludes:
“It’s a huge subject to get your head around but nobody has ever made me feel like I should already know the answers. The SmartCarbon team have been incredibly patient, supportive and knowledgeable throughout.”
Ready to take the climate emergency seriously as an organisation but not sure where to start? Or are you simply looking to improve your current reporting? Get in touch with the SmartCarbon team today and let us help you make a start on calculating, reporting and reducing your greenhouse gas emissions.