Decision details

To propose that Wiltshire Council adopts a new Environmental Policy that outlines a series of objectives on how environmental issues will be managed.

The Council is already committed to carbon reduction targets, improving the management of resources and compliance with environmental legislation.  This policy will help enable a structured framework for their management through the installation of an Environmental Management System.

Also, on 22^nd June 2010 Cabinet passed a resolution for greater consideration to be given in cabinet reports to potential environmental and climate change impacts.  The objectives within the policy should help shape the information that is provided through this process.

1.      The Council could decide not to adopt a policy, however this would result in environmental issues being managed in an unstructured, disparate fashion.

2.      As the foundation of any EMS, the policy could apply only to those services covered by its scope.  However, this could create disparities when services covered by the policy need to work with those that are not.

3.      The adoption of the policy, covering the whole of Wiltshire Council would create the following benefits:

Ø      Create a uniform approach to the management of environmental issues throughout the authority.

Ø      Improve resource management (namely water, waste and energy) through the implementation of key objectives.

Ø      Enhance the Council’s reputation for strong management on environmental issues.

Ø      Require the objectives to be embedded within all of the work that the Council undertakes.

In March 2010 a draft policy was circulated to officers who work in areas covered by the proposed objectives.  Comments from these officers and members of the Climate Change Board were integrated and the policy was agreed at the Climate Change Board held on May 14^th.

Subsequently the policy has been submitted to both the Corporate Leadership Team (7^th June) and the Environment Select Committee (6^th July) where it was approved. 

What the policy commits us to

This policy will form the foundation of work undertaken by the Climate Change Team through the installation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) and Climate Change Strategy.

The key objectives outlined need to be embedded in the work that all services undertake, especially those covered by the EMS scope.  This will ensure that environmental issues are managed more effectively with a drive towards continual improvement.