Plans to cut climate change are being ramped up in East Ayrshire with the council cutting its carbon footprint by 23 per cent since 2012. 

Landfill waste, grid electricity, natural gas and diesel fuel for the council fleet are the biggest contributors to emissions. 

The council has been gradually going greener with the roll out of 22 electric vehicles to cut fuel usage.  Schemes are also underway to make council buildings more environmentally friendly.  The new Barony Campus high school in Cumnock will have renewable heating. LED street lighting is also being installed around the area. 

A climate change working group has been launched with three councillors, children from the council’s youth cabinet and officials sitting on the taskforce.

SNP councillor Claire Leitch, Rubbish Party Councillor Sally Cogley and Labour Councillor Neil McGhee are the selected politicians. 

The working group was approved at last month’s full council meeting. 

They will be responsible for driving forward a  soon to be created climate action plan. 

An official has been charged with making the plan for the organisation.

A paper presented to councillors at the meeting said: “Whilst the council’s carbon footprint continues to reduce, year on year, as the only democratically elected body at local level, the council has a unique role and an opportunity to influence climate change.

It added: “With responsibility for a variety of local services and a role in community leadership, the council has the ability to influence  not only its  own organisation  emissions, but those  of the wider authority area.”