Environmental Policy

In order to maintain and improve the quality of life within the Wokingham Borough for our present and future communities, and contribute to the protection of the planet, we have developed an Environmental Policy and Principles of Action. Each principle outlines our position regarding the importance of conserving the local and global environment and the actions we can take to ensure we work towards making this happens.

 

To find out more about how the Council measures and monitors the priorities in this policy see the Environmental Action Plan.

 

 

We will:

 

 

We will achieve these commitments through our policies, practices and procedures, but will have to act within the legal and financial constraints which are imposed on the Council.

 

 

The following Principles of Action will be applied to all our services and activities within the restrictions of the legal framework created by the U.K. Government, and the powers given to us as a Local Authority:

 

A. Protection of our environment - we will minimise, and wherever possible eliminate, the release of substances which will cause demonstrable damage to the environment or its inhabitants.

 

B. Protection of the Living World - we will protect, and where possible and appropriate, enhance habitats and biodiversity.

 

C. Enhancement of the Rural and Urban Environment - as the majority of our population live in urban areas, we will continue to improve and enhance their environment, whilst protecting the rural environment wherever possible.

 

D. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources - we will make sustainable use of renewable natural resources where practicable. We will conserve non-renewable resources, and where practicable use recycled materials.

 

E. Sustainable Transport - we will use the least polluting transport methods compatible with our necessary service provisions, implement Green Commuting Plans for Council employees and use planning controls and other procedures to encourage the development and use of such Plans by all other employers in the Borough and their employees.

 

F. Minimisation and Safe Disposal of Waste - we will minimise the creation of waste, and will recycle materials where this is cost effective and to the environmental benefit. We will ensure transportation and disposal of our waste to comply with current safe practice.

 

G. Wise Use of Energy - we will seek to minimise waste of energy, and will ensure that, where energy is used, the greatest possible proportion becomes useful heat, light or power. We will use environmentally safe and, where practicable, sustainable energy sources and will invest in, demonstrate and promote, the benefits of energy efficiency.

 

H. Risk Reduction - we will minimise the risk of environmental harm by using suitable technologies and operating procedures. We will prepare contingency plans, in conjunction with other appropriate agencies, to deal with environmental accidents. All Council policies, activities and practices will be assessed for their effects on the environment.

 

I. Delivery and Purchase of Services and Products - we will minimise adverse environmental impacts of the services which we deliver by using the best available technology not entailing excessive cost. We will include environmental standards in all contracts and service level agreements, and will ensure that contractors working on the behalf of the Council apply environmental standards at least equivalent to ours. We will consider environmental matters in our product purchases, and reduce the adverse environmental impact of our purchases through our purchasing policy.

 

J. Environmental Information - we will make available any information regarding the local environment that we have on receipt of a written request and payment of a reasonable fee, subject to any legal restrictions which we are bound to observe and the time necessary to collate such information.

 

K. Environmental Responsibility - we will monitor the implementation of our Environmental Policy, both internally and in the local environment. We will create and maintain management systems to ensure that the Council members and the Chief Officers Management Team are kept informed of and are fully committed to and responsible for the environmental management of the Council’s services.

 

L. Training - we will ensure that all staff and members are aware of their environmental responsibilities relating to the Environmental Policy, and that the appropriate training is given to them to enable them to implement this responsibility. We will encourage employees and members to report any matter that they think is a danger to the environment.