Environment Strategy

Introduction

Leicestershire County Council’s Medium Term Corporate Strategy outlines the Council’s priority objectives up to 2005. The vision included in the Corporate Strategy says that ‘We will listen to the views of Leicestershire people and, by working with them, ensure they enjoy the quality of life which they expect: to live in a County which is safe, healthy, attractive and prosperous.’

A key part of delivering a better quality of life for Leicestershire residents and ensuring that we deliver sustainable development is the care of our environment. Leicestershire County Council delivers many services which protect and enhance the environment, such as planning, the Country Parks service and the SHIRE Grants Scheme. The objectives and delivery of these services are outlined in the Best Value Performance Plan and individual service plans.

However, the County Council also recognises that all of its activities have the potential to affect the environment through the consumption of water, energy and other resources and the production of waste.

The Medium Term Corporate Strategy highlights the pressing need to ensure that the volume of waste sent to landfill is substantially reduced as a priority. As with all publicly funded bodies, Leicestershire County Council must look for efficiencies through better use of resources, which can help to minimise environmental impact and save money.

The Leicestershire Community Strategy includes a pledge to ‘Lead the community by demonstrating and promoting environmental good practice’ and this document sets out how the County Council aims to fulfil this commitment.

How the strategy was developed

This strategy has been developed by establishing priorities from local consultation and research, national and regional policy on environmental issues and by drawing on the expertise of senior environment officers.

The action plan was developed in consultation with key decision makers and ‘grass roots’ staff in all Departments of the County Council to establish what is practical and achievable.

Although the Policy Statement is unlikely to be reviewed more frequently than every 5 years, as the priorities are unlikely to change in that time, the action plan will need regular updating on an annual basis.

This Environment Strategy only covers the environmental performance of the County Council’s operations and estate, and essentially deals with “getting our own house in order”. It does not address any service delivery issues that are an ongoing part of our duties but outlines ADDITIONAL activity which the County Council is committed to in order to maintain a safe, healthy and attractive environment in Leicestershire and beyond.

Environment Policy 2004 - 2010

Leicestershire County Council is committed to protecting and enhancing the environment of Leicestershire and to improving the quality of life for Leicestershire people both now and in the future. By minimising the impacts of our activities, Leicestershire County Council will contribute to the improvement of the global environment through local action and will deliver sustainable development by recognising the links between the environment, people and our economy.

Leicestershire County Council aims to:

Protect and enhance the County’s biodiversity and habitats
Conserve and enhance the character, diversity and local distinctiveness of Leicestershire landscapes and towns, and provide opportunities for public access and enjoyment of green spaces.
Support efficient use of all resources, including energy and water
Reduce the amount of rubbish produced and minimise its environmental impact by following the waste hierarchy of reduce, reuse and recycle
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the rate of climate change
Support action to create a healthy environment, free from pollution and contamination
Lead the community by demonstrating and promoting environmental good practice.

A key part of delivering a better quality of life for Leicestershire residents and ensuring sustainable development is the care of the County Council’s own environment. In order to demonstrate our commitment to the environment, Leicestershire County Council is committed to:

Critical examination of the impact which our policies and programmes have on the environment and timely actions to minimise these impacts
Integration of environmental best practice in corporate and specific policies where appropriate
Continual improvement in our environmental performance
Measurement against comparable authorities and other benchmarks
Compliance with the requirements of all environmental legislation as a minimum
Raising awareness and encouraging participation among members and employees in environmental matters
Working with partners, businesses and other organisations who demonstrate commitment to environmental improvement
Spreading and sharing knowledge across the Council through sustainable development champions in all Departments
Ensuring purchasing decisions are mindful of sustainability and environmental impacts
Increasing understanding of environmental issues and ensuring everyone has access to accurate information which encourages lifestyle changes and positive action

Environment Strategy - Outcomes

A. To increase participation in the implementation of the Environment Strategy throughout Leicestershire County Council.

B. To ensure staff receive the necessary support in the implementation of the Strategy.

C. To minimise waste and increase the percentage of recycling from Leicestershire County Council sites.

D. To achieve improved environmental performance through ensuring that staff are better informed of the environmental impact of the supply and delivery of goods, works and services.

E. To help tackle climate change by:

Increasing energy efficiency across the County Council estates.
Increasing the proportion of our energy demand met by renewable sources.
Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.
Achieving improved efficiency of water use by setting and achieving targets for water consumption reduction.

F. To improve biodiversity through increasing the number of Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority habitats on Leicestershire County Council estates.

G. To demonstrate environmental benefits for the community by promoting good environmental practice.

Environment Strategy Action Plan 2006/07

Short Term Action Plan

Outcome "A": To increase participation in implementation of the Environment Strategy thoughout Leicestershire County Council

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
1	All County Council members and employees to receive County Green newsletter Also County Green Group meeting minutes to be posted on CIS	Minimum of three issues per year	County Green Editorial Board SDO	B, C, D, E, F, G
2	An Annual Report on progress of the Environment Strategy available for all members and staff via CIS	Annually by end of May	Sustainable Development Officer (SDO) County Green Team	B, C, D, E, F, G
3	Run themed campaigns	At least one annually by end March	SDO County Green Team/ HTWM	B, C, D, E, F, G
4	With schools encourage / promote environmental education prepare / provide educational resources for schools include above resources on EcoSchools web page widen EcoSchools participation through registrations hold meetings of officers involved in environmental education support with schools	4 new Eco Schools a year Information available for all schools Ongoing At least two per year	EcoSchools programme HTWM/ Education SDO	B, C, D, E, F, G
5	Facilitate environmental education providers network	3 meetings annually, ongoing	Education, SDO	B, C, D, E, F, G
6	Encourage staff to contribute – Environmental volunteering opportunities at LCC properties. Potential for stress busting and team building activities Wildlife surveys Introduce staff suggestion scheme	Ongoing End March 2007	County Green Team/SDO	B, F, G
7	Ensure that the dissemination and availability of environmental information meets the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations as a minimum to support decision making	Ongoing	HNE/LERC Team	B, C, D, E, F, G
8	Promote better access to environmental information in the context of other heritage information	Ongoing	PIE Team	B, C, D, E, F, G

Outcome “B” To ensure staff receive the necessary support in the implementation of the Strategy

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
1	Produce or make available leaflets for staff on sustainable lifestyles e.g. water saving, energy efficiency, car buying and transport	Ongoing as new initiatives occur	SDO/ HR/ All depts	A, C, D, E, F, G
2	Produce ‘Greenflash’ on particular environmental issue – tie into campaigns and seasons	Minimum 2 per year	SDO	A, C, D, E, F, G
3	Programmes of lunchtime talks and presentations	Minimum 2 per year	County Green Team	A, C, D, E, F, G
4	Environmental awareness training for key staff	Minimum 1 per year	SDO/County Green Team	A, C, D, E, F, G
5	Investigate inclusion of Environmental Management in management training	End March 2007	HR/ SDO	G
6	Develop County Green ‘branded’ notices to raise awareness throughout work space	End June 2006	SDO/Graphics	A, G

Outcome “C” To minimise waste and increase the percentage of recycling from Leicestershire County Council sites

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
1	Finalise waste audit action plan	End July 2006	HTWM	A, G
2	Report waste audit results and action plan to SMT/ CMT	End July 2006	HTWM	A, G
3	Coordinate implementation of waste action plan	From Sept 2006	Report by End Sept 2006	A, G
4	Investigate the Introduction of recycling collections at all main satellite sites	Report by End Sept 2006	Community Services/ HTWM	A, G
5	Monitor the percentage of recycled paper in all printing and copying in Central Print	Ongoing	Chief Execs/ County Green Team	A, B, D, G
6	Agree an acceptable percentage of recycled paper in all external printing jobs	End Aug 2006	Chief Execs/ County Green Team	A, B, D, G
7	Promote purchasing of recycled paper in Depts	Ongoing	ESPO/All depts	A, B, D, G
8	Investigate opportunities for printing efficiencies and promote throughout Depts	Ongoing	ICT/SDO/All depts	A, B, D, G
9	Investigate opportunities for reducing waste to landfill from ICT packaging and consumables	End March 2007	ICT/SDO	B, D, E, G
10	Collect information on the amounts of waste diverted from landfill by EcoSchools	End Aug 2006	SDO/schools	G

Outcome “D” – To achieve improved environmental performance through ensuring staff are better informed of the environmental impact of potential purchasing decisions

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
1	Encourage the use of the environmental purchasing guidelines - part of the general purchasing guidelines – through training and promotion	After launch	Resources/ ESPO/SDO	B, C
2	Develop minimum environmental standards for common purchases to compliment e-procurement programme	End Aug 2006	SDO/ Community Services e- Procurement pilot	C, E, G
3	Develop local food procurement pilot project in Social Services for dissemination	End Aug 2006	SDA/Social Services	E, G
4	Ensure that an assessment of significant environmental risks associated with the Authority’s major contractual arrangements is taken into account in departmental risk registers and in the annual service planning processes.	End March 2007	All purchasing departments	A, G
5	Investigate use of Fairtrade tea/coffee as default choice at County Hall, then introduce to other sites	End Aug 2006	SDA/Catering Dept	A, D, G

Outcome “E”- To help tackle climate change by

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome links
1	Carry out programme of energy audits at all schools seeking eco school status	March 2007	Resources, Education	D, G
2	Present findings of Corporate Energy and Carbon Audit	May 2006	SDO	A, B, G
3	Develop a Corporate Climate Change and Energy Strategy	End March 2007	Resources/ SDO	A, G
4	Energy efficiency campaign at County Hall; feedback results	March 2007	County Green Team/SDO	A, G
5	Develop proposal for Photovoltaic cells on Morse Cottage roof at Beaumanor Hall	August 2006	Resources/Education/SDO	A, B, G
6	Continue to purchase green electricity wherever possible	ongoing	Resources/ESPO	A, G
7	Encourage green travel options for county council business and journeys to work– cycling; public transport; car sharing	ongoing	County Hall Travel Plan Co-ordination Team	A, B
8	Implement 2006/07 actions (currently being developed) from the County Hall Travel Plan	March 2007	County Hall Travel Plan Co-ordination Team	A, G
9	Complete a comprehensive assessment of water consumption per building occupier at County Hall	June 2006	Resources	G
10	Instigate a water efficiency campaign at County Hall	End August 2006	Resources /SDO	A, B, C, G
11	Replacement of bottled water with mains fed water coolers where technically/ physically possible	End March 2007	Chief officers	G
12	Investigate opportunities for reduced emissions from LCC transport fleet	March 2007	All depts/SDO	A, B, D, G
13	Investigate opportunities for availability of clean vehicles through Lease Scheme	March 2007	SDO/ESPO	A, B, D
14	Investigate energy saving specifications and practices for ICT equipment	End March 2007	ICT/SDO	A, B, D, G
15	Collect information on the energy and water savings achieved by EcoSchools	August 2006	SDO/Schools	G

Outcome “F” – To improve biodiversity through increasing the number of Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority habitats on Leicestershire County Council sites

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
1	Complete a comprehensive wildlife survey of the County Hall site (including a bat survey)	Sept 2006	Ecology/SDO/Bat Group	A, B, G
2	Develop an action plan for improvements to the County Hall site	March 2007	CTS/ Resources/ Community Services	A, F
3	Develop a proposal for County Hall Roof Garden as example of low maintenance/low water garden	End August 2006	Resources/ Community Services	A, B, E, G
4	Encourage and support the development of nature areas on LCC premises	Minimum 1 per year	CTS/ HNE -Community Services	A, G
5	Establish a co-ordinated recording system and associated data management systems to compile an inventory of protected species and BAP priority species on LCC estates, so that LCC can comply with legislation and its obligations toward the Biodiversity Action Plan	March 2007	Community Services - HNE/ Resources/ HTWM	G
6	Establish a programme of mapping areas of priority habitat on LCC estates, beginning with Country Parks	Country Parks completed by end March 2007	Community Services HNE and Country Parks	G
7	Recording of priority wildlife species on LCC estate sites	Ongoing	All staff/Holly Hayes	A, G

Outcome “G” – To demonstrate environmental benefits for the community by promoting good environmental practice

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
1	Environmental Policy Statement displayed in all key LCC locations	Ongoing	SDO/ County Green/ Resources	A, B, C, D, E, F
2	Regular articles in internal and local press and publications	Minimum 4 per year	SDO/ Public Relations	A, D
3	Provide support to businesses and partners for improving their environmental performance. Provide examples of good environmental practice.	Ongoing	SDO/Procurement Group/ENABLE	A, B, C, D, E, F
4	Review the usage and effectiveness of the sustainability appraisal scheme	March 2007	SDO	A, B, C
5	Identify the key environmental aspecs for LCC	March 2007	SDO	C, D, E, F

Long Term Action Plan

Longer term outputs –reference letters/ numbers in brackets

Outcome (A): To increase participation in the implementation of the Environment Strategy throughout Leicestershire County Council

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
(1)	Develop a network of Green Champions across the authority	2008	County Green	A, C, E, F, G
(2)	Improve access to environmental information (including Heritage information) in LCC	2008	PIE Team	A, C, E, F, G

Outcome (B) To ensure staff receive the necessary support in the implementation of the Strategy

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
(1)	Develop a programme of targeted training to integrate sustainability issues into all service areas			SDO/All Depts A,C,D, E, F,G

Outcome (C) - To minimise waste and increase the percentage of recycling from Leicestershire County Council sites

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
(1)	Aim to increase percentage of recycled paper used for printing/copying	ongoing	ESPO / all depts.	A, G
(2)	Implement action plan to reduce waste production, minimising waste to landfill and increasing recycling at County Hall site	March 2008	HTWM	A, B, D, G, E
(3)	Establish a percentage target for the reduction of waste to landfill from County Hall site initially to be followed by others	2008	All Depts	A, E, G

Outcome (D) – To achieve improved environmental performance through ensuring staff are better informed of the environmental impact of potential purchasing decisions

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
(1)	Audit the practices of; and benefits of, the environmental purchasing guidelines contained within the General Purchasing Guidelines	1 year post introduction	Procurement Team/ ESPO/ SDO	A, G
(2)	Identify contracts from the Forward Plan of Contracts with significant environmental impacts and offer support for tender specification	ongoing	Procurement Liason Group/ESPO/SDO	D, G
(3)	Include in invitations to tender/negotiations for partnerships a requirement on bidders to submit optional, priced proposals for the delivery of specified community benefits, which are relevant to the contract and which add value to the Community Strategy	2008	All purchasing departs	A, G
(4)	Liaise with key suppliers to help them – ·improve their environmental performance understand the Authority’s environmental approach	2010	All purchasing departs	A, G

Outcome (E) - To help tackle climate change

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
(1)	Develop proposals for investment in renewable energy generation	2008	County Green Team	C, D, G
(2)	Investigate policy for all new LCC buildings to meet BREEAM Very Good/Excellent Standards	2009	Resources/SDO	A, B, C, D, E, F, G
(3)	Complete Energy Audits and action plans to improve poorly performing sites	2008(following production of Energy Strategy)	Resources	A, B

Outcome (F) – To improve biodiversity through increasing the number of Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority habitats on Leicestershire County Council sites

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
(1)	Link species database to appropriate management system	End 2008	Community services HNE	G
(2)	Identify areas of LCC estates providing opportunities for habitat creation and establish a development plan	March 2008	Community Services HNE/ Resources/ HTWM	G
(3)	Develop a programme of mapping areas of priority habitat on LCC estates including farm estates, roadside verges etc	March 2008	Community Services/Resources/HTWM	G
(4)	Establish restoration/conservation as a primary site management objective on all areas of priority habitat on LCC estates as appropriate to current tenancy/legal agreement and opportunities provided by agri-environment schemes. Incorporate appropriate actions and monitoring programmes in site management plans, report on progress.	March 2008	Community Services/ Resources/HTWM	G
(5)	Designate sites identified as priority habitats as wildlife sites or SINCS	ongoing	Community Services/Resources/HTWM	G

Outcome (G) – To demonstrate environmental benefits for the community by promoting good environmental practice

	Activities	By When	By Whom	Other Outcome Links
(1)	Beaumanor Hall to work towards achieving EcoCentre status	March 2006	CTS/ Resources/ Community Services	A, D, E, F
(2)	Huntingdon Court EPH – developing an Environmental Management System – role out to other sites if successful	Ongoing	Huntingdon Court Staff/SDO	A, D, E, F
(3)	Implement an environmental management system initially in a single business unit followed by the whole authority	2010	SDO	A, B, C, D, E, F
(4)	Complete environmental audits of business units identified with significant environmental impacts	At least one per year From March 2007	SDO/local staff	A, B, C, D, E, F
(5)	Produce a publicly available environment report	May 2007	SDO	A, G
(6)	Include indicators and targets in the environment strategy action plan	March 2007	SDO	A, B, C, D, E, F
(7)	Investigate setting environmental standards for buildings to be developed on land sold by LCC	March 2009	Resources/SDO	A, B, C, D, E, F

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