Falkirk Council will spend £2 million on new electrified vehicles for its fleet this year in a bid to meet its climate emergency targets.
Members of Falkirk Council executive approved the spending at a meeting on Tuesday, when members heard the money would pay for around 38 vehicles and reduce carbon emissions by more than 1,000 tonnes every year.
The budget had already been approved for future spending in 2025/26 but the director of Place Services, Malcolm Bennie, asked councillors for permission to accelerate things.
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Mr Bennie told councillors that manufacturers have committed to supply the vehicles before the end of the financial year.
The switch will also move the council closer to the Scottish Government expectation that all light commercial vehicles using diesel or petrol will be phased out by 2025.
Mr Bennie said: "I think it's a really positive step."
He said he had brought forward the investment after the last meeting of the executive, when he felt it was clear that reducing carbon emissions was a major priority for councillors.
"This is an opportunity that's come to us and I definitely recommend it's one we get on with and start making progress with," he said.
SNP Councillor Iain Sinclair, Falkirk Council's spokesperson on climate change, thanked the service for identifying the change and said he hoped it would make "a good impact on our climate change ambitions".
"It's the first step of many, I hope," he added.
Labour councillor Alan Nimmo said that the question of what would happen if the council did not spend the money needed to be asked.
He said: "It certainly doesn't look good from a public point of view, if we're seen to be spending all that money on vehicles when there is people out there who can't afford to turn their heating on or feed themselves."
Mr Bennie replied: "The council has a legislative requirement to ensure that it's fleet is decarbonised by 2025 for light commercial vehicles - so we have to do it."
He also pointed out that the money was capital investment so it would not be possible to redirect it to people to help with the cost of living.
Mr Bennie added: "I appreciate the point you're making but I think that as a council we have many priorities and making an early impact on the climate emergency is one that I recommend we get on with and do."
The meeting also heard that there are currently enough charging points for the vehicles but the next phase of upgrading the fleet would also require investing in charging infrastructure.
