Issue - meetings

On a motion from Councillor Mark Shelford, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, it was unanimously

RESOLVED that

This Council:

·  Notes that, since last summer the Environmental Sustainability Partnership Board has been working on a new Sustainability vision statement to bring to Full Council as a motion to reaffirm the Council’s position on, and commitment to, sustainability.

·  Therefore resolves to adopt the following as its Environmental Sustainability Vision Statement, in recognition of the importance of sustainability to everything the Council does:

B&NES Environmental Sustainability Vision Statement 2018:

Environmental sustainability is about our ability to survive and thrive into the future.  Everything else that we seek to achieve – such as improved health and well-being and economic prosperity - is dependent on a clean environment and stable climate.

In Bath & North East Somerset, our ambition is to provide the leadership to enable the whole community to benefit from an environmentally sustainable, healthy, low carbon future that is resilient to changes in our climate.  We seek to be a leading place for innovation and achievement in pursuit of these goals.

Benefits:

·  Cleaner, greener and more affordable energy with more of it produced and owned locally

·  Warmer and cheaper to run homes and businesses

·  Less traffic and congestion, cleaner air & streets where people can walk and cycle easily, including increased pedestrianisation

·  Healthier and  more sustainable local food supply

·  New jobs from increased local food and energy production, increased home energy retrofitting, growth in local circular economy

·  Reduction in waste production, increase in recycling rates and energy from food waste

·  Increased local stewardship of local water resources and better flood resilience

·  Enhanced beauty of the local natural environment and increased public engagement

·  Increased ability to withstand changes to the climate through greater local food and energy security

Enabling Partnerships, Strategies & Action Plans:

·  There are a range of relevant partnerships, strategies and action plans that enable action on sustainability, locally and within the West of England.  Please see Appendix (i) for the full list.

Approach:

The Environmental Sustainability Partnership’s strategic approach to leading and supporting action utilises three principles:

·  Partnership Working: Bringing together the right people to make things happen

·  Community Enablement: Enabling residents and community groups to achieve their sustainability aims

·  Leading by Example: Bold action from the Council and our partners.

Appendix (i): List of Enabling Partnerships, Strategies & Action Plans

• B&NES Environmental Sustainability Partnership:
  • Environmental Sustainability & Change Strategy
  • Local Food Strategy
  • Community Energy Strategy
  • Bath & West Community Energy Co-operation Agreement
  • Keynsham Community Energy Co-operation Agreement

• Other B&NES Partnership Strategies
  • Health & Well-being Strategy and Healthy & Sustainable Places Group
  • Green Infrastructure Strategy
  • Fit for Life Strategy

• Council Service Delivery Strategies & Plans:
  • Transport Strategies
  • Air Quality Action Plans
  • Waste Strategy

• Planning Framework:
  • Core Strategy & Place Making Plan
  • Local Plan

• Beyond B&NES Partnerships & Plans:
  • West of England Nature Partnership
  • Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership
  • West of England Energy Strategy (in development)
  • West of England Joint Strategic Plans and Joint Transport Plans