Millions of pounds set aside from Sheffield Council's budget to tackle 'enormous challenge' of climate change

Last year the local authority declared a climate emergency and brought forward its target to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Since then it has faced criticism from campaigners that little has been done and even its own Labour councillors said they were confused about what was happening.

Now Labour has promised to invest £43m, including £22m on improving the city’s resilience against flooding.

Coun Mark Jones, Cabinet member for climate change, said: “Addressing this at a city level is an enormous challenge. We can’t fix it overnight.

“It requires compromise, sacrifice and change from everyone. there will be some very difficult decisions and choices to make in order to reach our goal but, we’re determined and this multi-million pound investment is essential.

“There is a huge amount of work already taking place or in development. You won’t always be able to see it or realise how it contributes to our climate change commitments, but I can guarantee that this is our priority and we’re working extremely hard to build clean initiatives into everything we do.

“We have achieved good progress so far but we acknowledge that we have only scratched the surface and there is a long way to go.”

The Liberal Democrats offered an alternative budget with a focus on recycling.

Coun Simon Clement-Jones, said: “We would commit more than £600,000 to increase the types of plastic that can be recycled, invest £500,000 on increasing the size of blue bins and commit £250,000 to keep recycling centres open seven days a week.”

Green councillor Douglas Johnson said they would fund a team of environmental sustainability officers to work on warmer homes, clean energy production and support businesses and householders to make carbon-reducing changes.

He added: “We would promote energy efficiency schemes in maintained schools, set aside £1 million to introduce solar panels on council housing and ensure new council housing has high standards of thermal efficiency.”