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:: ECO Home :: Training :: Good Practice Checklist :: Environment Policy ::
Environmental Policy Requirements
Jan 1990. Environment Services Committee established that Environment Services Group would undertake an Environmental Audit as a pilot exercise, that the County Council would complete a set of State of the Cheshire Environment Reports within 12 months being aided by external advisory groups.
Feb 1990. County Council Notice of Motion seeking a County Council action plan to establish best environmental practices within its own organisation over a specified timescale to: eliminate unnecessary consumption of materials; make the maximum use of recycled materials, particularly paper; ensure maximum recycling of County Council waste; encourage all staff to be environmentally conscious in carrying out their duties.
March 1991. Economic Development Sub-Committee produced a suite of environmental initiatives including: A Business Environmental Awards Scheme; An Environmental Good Practice Guide for Businesses and an Environmental Audit Pack.
April 1991. Environment Services Committee resolved that each Service Committee be asked to consider a report on its contribution to Environment Year in the next Committee cycle.
June 1991. Property and Support Services Sub-Committee adopted a policy statement for display at the Cheshire Show that buildings constructed on behalf of the County Council created minimum adverse impact on the local and global environment; endorsed the principle of green labelling and requested a further report on the cost implications of improved environmental standards.
October 1991. Economic Development Sub-Committee received the report on Crewe Business Park and resolved that environmental sensitivity be encouraged in employment site and premises development throughout Cheshire.
April 1993. Social Services Committee resolved to conduct an Environmental Audit in Social Services Group HQ during 93/94 prior to extending this activity throughout the Social Services Group.
March 1994. Adoption of County Council Policy Objective EN1: Environmental Management. "To lead all Services of the County Council in the development of arrangements for Environmental Management Systems for the whole of the County Council by 31 March 1994, so that a programme to extend the internal environmental audit can be established". Each Service was requested to appoint a member of their management team as "Environment Liaison Officer" to serve as the prime link. Detailed methods of working would then be agreed with each Service.
Aug 1996. LA21 Panel supported the competitive advantage position with regard to EMAS and endorsed its implementation by 2005 at the latest. Policy Committee were asked to approve the policy commitment. Endorsed by Policy Committee.
Jan 1998. LA21 Panel supported the use of Eco Audit 21 within the County Council as a useful mechanism of generating action and interest in environmental issues. Endorsed by Policy Committee in March 98. A further report be presented to the Panel on successes achieved by Eco Audits to justify the expenditure of officer time involved.
Jan 1998. LA21 Panel supported the establishment of a Green Authority Team to review and implement consistently the County Council’s Environmental Policy, supported the establishment of a environmental staff liaison group and asked Policy Committee to endorse the actions. Endorsed by Policy Committee in March 98.
April 1999. LA21 Panel resolved that the Terms of Reference of GAT be presented to a future meeting of the Panel for further consideration. And GAT present an annual report to the Panel on the proposed programme for the following year.
April 1999. LA21 Panel endorsed the progress made by GAT and the priorities for work during 1999 and resolved that further work be undertaken regarding schools and environmental purchasing policies.
April 1999. LA21 Panel endorsed the value of undertaking a Green Procurement Scheme (the top 50 suppliers to the County Council); support for the proposed scheme, programme and non-compliance measures and a monitoring report be provided to the Panel on voluntary participation.
June 1990. The County Council adopted the policy, that, in safeguarding young people’s health, the County Council bans all advertising or tobacco sponsored events on or in Local Authority premises and encourages smoke free zones.
Dec 1993. The County Council adopted the no smoking policy with revisions to accommodate a number of exempted sites and functions.
Oct 1988. In the light of the potential harmful effects of CFC’s the County Council noted that Central and Management Services Committee intended to cease the purchase of products labelled as containing CFC’s, or in the case of doubt, where manufacturers confirm that CFC’s are present, provided that suitable alternatives are available.
March 1995. Local Agenda 21 Panel resolution that a joint report be submitted to Property Sub-Committee by the County Property Manager and the County Planning Officer following an initial survey of PCB’s within county premises.
Energy
Jan 1990. Property and Support Services Sub-Committee approved the expenditure of £20,000 for a computer-based energy monitoring system to be met from the 90/91 Energy Conservation Investment Budget.
Jun 1990. Property and Support Services Sub-Committee approved the retention of a five year payback on energy conservation and investment whilst allowing projects with environmental benefits and longer paybacks to be considered on an individual basis. New energy management policy introduced the setting of energy targets rather than depending upon savings to provide for energy conservation investment.
Sept 1990. Property and Support Services Sub-Committee agreed that, in order to assist schools and colleges to optimise energy budgets under LMS, a variety of measures would be financed by redeploying existing energy conservation budgets in the period 1990-94.
Nov 1991. The Energy Conservation Budget of £396,000 was approved for 1991/92.
Dec 1992. Property and Support Services Sub-Committee received the report on the light controller system installed in April 1991 in Richard House, which at the installation cost of £5,400 had produced a first year saving of £1,420. The Sub-Committee resolved that a capital sum from the Energy Conservation Capital Budget be set aside to install similar conservation measures in part of County Hall and one other office building in Chester and that an annual report be submitted to Members on the savings achieved through energy control systems.
Sept 1991. Property and Support Services Sub-Committee received a report, after requesting energy audits on all major County Council operational buildings, proposing energy surveys of all primary school operating delegated budgets from April 1991 and all major administrative buildings further to the results of a preliminary study.
June 1997. Environment Services Committee adopted the recommendation on Energy Policymaking A Corporate Commitment and the County Council set targets to save 15% of energy by the year 2001.
May 1990. The County Council agreed to appoint a Recycling Officer to set up a County Recycling Network, provide recycling facilities at Household Waste Sites, encourage the use of recycled and recyclable materials in County offices, schools and businesses.
Dec 1990. Environmental Planning and Operations Sub-Committee approved a two month pilot for recycling office waste in Commerce House with Cheshire Recycling Ltd to operate at no cost to the Council and resolved that a report assessing the feasibility of a County-wide scheme be submitted. In May 1991, the scheme was extended to all floors of County Hall and the Fair Trading and Advice Centre at Backford Hall with a 6 monthly review of the contract and the opportunity for new schemes to be introduced elsewhere as requested.
May 1991. Cheshire schools conducted a survey of the use of recycling facilities.
April 1992. Environment Services Committee agreed to make provision for promoting the Duty of Care throughout the Cheshire business community and for the training of relevant County Council staff.
Oct 1993. The Highway Sub-Committee approved the launch of the Junior Recycling Club as a Waste Disposal Authority initiative to promote recycling in schools.
Jan 1995. Local Agenda 21 Panel agreed that the need to minimise waste was important for the County Council and a waste audit of its Services should be conducted. As a starting point, two half-day seminars should be arranged for appropriate Members and senior service managers.
March 1997. Local Agenda 21 Panel supported the policy option to expand office recycling to cover 90% of Council owned premises be taken and Services be recharged at a cost of £20,000 distributed to individual cost centres and a further report be prepared on cost savings.
March 1997. Local Agenda 21 Panel endorsed the "Waste Minimisation Plan for County Premises", it be implemented for use by the Council and included in the Councils good practice guide.
June 1998. Local Agenda 21 recommended that County Managers be assigned responsibility for waste minimisation and disposal within their area of activity and the Green Authority Team prepare a baseline review of the corporate approach to waste issues and a Waste Action Plan for County Council premises (awaiting resolution from Panel).
July 1991. Councillors Lloyd-Griffiths and Walker proposed that the County Council should undertake the necessary actions to enable the authority to become a signatory to the Royal Society for Nature Conservation Peatland Protection Charter.
Oct 1991. Environment Services Committee resolved that the County Council should consider the aims and objectives of the Peatland Charter in future planning policies and operations over which the County Council has control and will actively phase out the specifications and use of peat and peat base products in all landscape and horticultural work of the Authority.
Oct 1991. Notice of Motion by Councillors Lloyd-Griffiths and Leathwood proposed improved maintenance of highway verges and land, called upon the County Highway Engineer to prepare proposals to improve the arrangements for grass cuttings, hedge and tree maintenance with particular reference to a programme of tree planting.
Oct 1991. Councillor Talbot proposed a Notice of Motion that the County Council should support the Countryside Commission target to open all Public Rights of Way in a satisfactory condition by the year 2000.
Feb 1992. Environment Services Committee, recommended the adoption of a revised Notice of Motion of improving arrangements for grass cutting, hedge and tree maintenance, identifying and maintaining verge areas of special interest.
Mar 1996. Local Agenda 21 Panel received a report on Green Targets on County Land holdings and resolved that a future report be submitted identifying ways of encouraging and supporting better environmental practice on the County’s smallholding estate and proactive measures for the County Council to take on it’s surplus sites. It was also agreed that Education Services be requested to submit a report on "greening" the land within its ownership to the next meeting of the Panel.
Dec 1988. Councillor Talbot introduced a Notice of Motion supporting the introduction of lead-free petrol, seeking a review of the relevant County purchasing and maintenance procedures.
Feb 1989. The County Council, in adopting the Notice of Motion, required all Committees to review purchasing procedures for petrol-driven vehicles with a view to the complete replacement of the County fleet with vehicles capable of being used safely with lead free fuel. The Council also agreed to take steps to transfer the County fleet both purchased and leased to lead-free petrol as soon as practicable.
Oct 1990. Councillor’s Stunell and Tilling introduced a motion welcoming the European legislation and seeking an early introduction of catalytic converters to County Council vehicles.
Dec 1990. The County Council adopted a notice of motion from Councillor Bateman and Carey noting with concern the predicted effects of global warming and the prominent contribution of "greenhouse gases". The Council instructed Environment Services Committee to examine ways and assess the cost of earlier introduction of catalytic converters to all appropriate County Council vehicles and investigate the current situation in respect of emissions from diesel vehicles.
Dec 1996. Local Agenda 21 Panel supported video conferencing in Cheshire and its further corporate development be commended and the IS Sub-Group be requested to look at the appropriateness of the distribution of sites.
Dec 1996. Local Agenda 21 Panel noted progress of the first year of the TravelWise campaign and endorsed seven proposals for working (included converting Staff Travel ideas into reality; initiating a Safe Routes to School programme).
Oct 1989. Adoption of a Notice of Motion from Councillors Tilling and Stunell requiring the County Council to not use non-sustainable harvested tropical hardwoods in any Council development and to provide advice to developers.
April 1997. Local Agenda 21 Panel supported the principle of adopting NAPM Standard Paper C and D together with totally chorine free processing, a further report be received. The Panel supported the principle of an Eco statement on all future County Council documentation and a further report be prepared.
Jan 1998. Local Agenda 21 Panel endorsed: a. the use of environmental purchasing criteria; and b. a policy of requiring resource centre managers to conform to County Council Environmental Purchasing Policy and CBS to actively pursue purchasing opportunities to the best environmental and cost standards. Endorsed by Policy Committee in March 98. A further report be prepared on how to monitor performance in environmental purchasing and specification. The Green Authority Team to prepare a report advising the LA21 Panel on how to inform members of the new County Council on the issues of environmental purchasing.
Jan 1998. Local Agenda 21 Panel endorsed the adoption of environmental standards for paper and directed resource centre managers to adopt the use of Evolve Office for all photocopying and laser printing; directing resource centre managers to consider ways of reducing paper use and to report back on progress in one years time. Endorsed by Policy Committee in March 98.
Jan 1998. Local Agenda 21 Panel resolved that a report be prepared for the Panel on other environmental improvements that could be introduced on the use of paper.
April 1999. LA21 Panel resolved that the corporate paper purchasing policy be endorsed; County Managers be required to adopt the green office products for all corporate purchasing and GAT be requested to establish current quantity of paper used, current trends and targets for reduction.
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