MD3053 Additional funds for Climate Resilient Schools programme

1.1 The Mayor approved an Inclusive Green Space and Climate Resilience programme under MD2827 (June 2021). This comprises: the second and third rounds of a community greening and climate adaptation grant programme (the Grow Back Greener Fund 2021-22 and 2022-23); and this Climate Resilient Schools programme.  

1.2 The Climate Resilient Schools programme is a partnership with the Department for Education (DfE) and Thames Water, working with 100 schools to build their resilience to a changing climate. The programme capitalises on a timely opportunity to align Thames Water and central government funding; and data and evidence from the GLA and DfE on climate risk and vulnerability.

1.3 The programme is delivering a package of measures including: water-efficiency improvements (delivered in partnership with Thames Water’s Smarter Business Visits scheme, which is their non-domestic buildings water-efficiency programme); the installation of sustainable drainage (SuDS) rain planters to make playgrounds greener and reduce surface-water flood risk; the preparation of bespoke climate-adaptation plans; and the development of climate resilience education resources linked to monitoring. The programme is working with 100 primary and secondary schools, targeting those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

1.4 The programme has prioritised the top 10 per cent of schools that have the highest surface-water flood risk and fall within the worst bands of the GLA’s Climate Risk Mapping[1] (which additionally considers heat risk and the distribution of communities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, encompassing metrics related to age, income and housing status). 

1.5 In the first stage of the project, Thames Water has been undertaking visits to the schools through its Smarter Business Visits scheme. Visits incorporate the fixing of leaks, and installation of water-efficient fittings (for example tap restrictors, urinal sensors and converting single-flush systems to dual-flush). Water-saving measures have the potential to save 9,500 litres per day per school (equating to an annual saving on water bills of approximately £5,000).

1.6 For the second stage, the GLA has procured a delivery partner to supply and install SuDS rain planters in all schools with exposed downpipes. These SuDS rain planters will relieve the sewer network and reduce surface-water flood risk by storing roof runoff in the soil, rather than going directly into the drainage system. The planters additionally provide low-maintenance green infrastructure, with potential associated benefits related to wellbeing, heat risk and air quality. This element of the project requires the largest portion of the overall partnership programme budget, allocated a total of £0.9m for manufacturing and installation (including planting) across all schools.

1.7 This decision is seeking approval to deliver more of these SuDS rain planters to schools. It was initially estimated that only 60 per cent of schools would be able to have planters installed, as some schools have internal downpipes. It was also estimated that schools would have on average six planters each (with the maximum capped at 10 per school). The original budget of £0.9m was based on these assumptions. As the programme has progressed and schools have been surveyed, it has been identified that a higher than anticipated proportion of schools are suitable for planters and that more planters per school can be accommodated than previously planned. As of October 2022, over 80 per cent of the 83 schools surveyed can have planters installed, with capacity, on average, for eight planters per school. This additional funding is being sought in order to deliver the maximum impact to schools through this programme.

1.8 No additional funding is being sought for other elements of the programme.

2.1 The Climate Resilient Schools Programme’s objectives are to:

i. enhance the climate resilience of essential and at-risk social infrastructure

ii. reduce water scarcity by reducing water consumption in schools

iii. reduce surface-water flood risk by disconnecting downpipes and reducing strain on the sewer network

iv. deliver green infrastructure and water savings to schools

v. improve the profile and understanding of climate-change adaptation by providing tangible interventions; monitoring data; and education resources to engage students, teachers, school management and parents in measures that can enhance personal and public resilience.

2.2 This additional funding allocation will deliver more SuDS rain planters to participating schools. This will enhance climate resilience by reducing flood risk to these schools, as well as delivering other benefits related to greening, biodiversity and wellbeing.

2.3 The table below sets out the proposed new budget for the programme.

Table 1 – proposed revised budget

3.1 Under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, as a public authority, the Mayor of London must have ‘due regard’ of the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation; as well as to advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations, between people who have a protected characteristic[1] and those who do not. This involves having due regard to the need to remove or minimise any disadvantage suffered by those who share a relevant protected characteristic; taking steps to meet the different needs of such people; and encouraging them to participate in public life or in any other activity where their participation is disproportionately low.

3.2 The Inclusive Green Space and Climate Resilience Programme outlined in this MD forms part of the policies and proposals in the London Environment Strategy, which has been informed by a full integrated impact assessment, including consideration of equalities.[2] The Equalities Assessment Report for the London Environment Strategy noted that exposure to poor environmental conditions is much higher among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Londoners.

3.3 Climate change will disproportionately affect those least able to respond to and recover from it. Poorer Londoners will find it more difficult to recover from flooding and will suffer more from the impacts of the urban heat island effect.

3.4 The Schools Climate Resilience Project will support interventions within essential social infrastructure, and specifically target locations most at risk of climate impacts. Climate vulnerability relates to people’s exposure to climate impacts such as flooding or heatwaves, but also to personal and social factors that affect their ability to cope with and respond to extreme events. High climate risk coincides with areas of income and health inequalities.

3.5 While this programme does not guarantee that the schools worked with will not flood (given the complex nature of flooding sources), it is likely that surface-water flooding risk to buildings will be reduced, which may reduce the need for school closures. Those living in poverty are disproportionately affected by school closures – for example, parents may not have the personal and financial resilience to arrange alternative care. Closures also exacerbate food insecurity, as for many, schools are a source of healthy eating.[3]

3.6 Equalities implications will be kept under ongoing review and taken into account as individual project applications are assessed, and projects are delivered, as part of the Inclusive Green Space and Climate Resilience Programme.

4.1 The key risks and issues are set out in Table 2 below.

Table 2 – Risks and issues

Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities

4.2 The Climate Resilient Schools Programme will contribute towards the following:

i. London Environment Strategy Policy 5.1.1: protect, enhance and increase green areas in the city, to provide green infrastructure services and benefits that London needs now and in the future

ii. London Environment Strategy Policy 8.2.1: reduce the risk and manage the impacts of surface water, sewer, fluvial, reservoir and groundwater flooding in London

iii. London Environment Strategy Policy 8.2.3: increase the amount of SuDS, prioritising greener systems across London in new development, and also retrofit solutions

iv. London Environment Strategy Policy 8.3.1: reduce London’s water consumption and leakage rate

v. London Environment Strategy Policy 8.4.2: ensure critical infrastructure providers and occupants of homes, schools, hospitals, and care homes are aware of the impacts of increased temperatures and the Urban Heat Island, to protect health and reduce health inequalities

vi. London Recovery Board high-level outcome to accelerate delivery of a cleaner, greener London, and Green New Deal Mission to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies and improve air quality by doubling the size of London’s green economy by 2030 to accelerate job creation for all.

Conflicts of interest

4.3 GLA officers involved in the drafting or clearance of this form are not aware that they have any conflicts of interest with the proposed programme.

4.4 If any conflicts of interest arise during the delivery of the programme (ie, a GLA officer has links with an organisation that applies for a grant), they will declare that interest and not take any part in assessing that grant application or awarding funding to that organisation.

5.1 Permission is being sought for the expenditure of £205,000 to further enhance the existing Climate Resilience Schools Programme. The funds are required to deliver more SuDS rain planters in schools.

5.2 It is anticipated that the additional funds will be spent by March 2023. To mitigate the risk of this crossing over to the next financial year, delivery milestones will be built into the grant agreement with the contractors procured to install the rain planters.

5.3 If agreed, the total value of the programme would stand at £1,705,000, to which the GLA would have contributed £705,000. The balance is funded directly by delivery partners Thames Water and the DfE.

6.1 The foregoing sections of this report indicate that the decisions requested of the Mayor concern the exercise of the Authority’s general powers arising under section 30 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999; falling within the Authority’s statutory powers to do such things considered to further or which are facilitative of, conducive or incidental to the improvement of the environment in Greater London; and in formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the Authority’s related statutory duties to:

i. pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people

ii. consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom

iii. consult with appropriate bodies.

​​​​​​​6.2 In taking the decisions requested, the Mayor must have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty; namely the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010, and to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic (age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation) and persons who do not share it and foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). To this end, the Mayor should have particular regard to section 3 (above) of this report. 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​6.3 The Authority must procure all works, services and supplies in accordance with the Contracts and Funding Code and, where the value exceeds £150,000, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The Authority’s officers will comply with the relevant aspects of these requirements in managing the existing contract for the supply and installation of SuDS rain planters with input from the commercial team as needed.