Download Environmental Policy - Mid Suffolk District Council

Y/02/07
SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 25 JANUARY 2007
AN IMPROVED INHERITANCE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
- ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND POLICY SUMMARY
Authorship:
Steve Hyde
(01449) 727315
1.
Summary/Main Issues
1.1
As with all organisations, MSDC’s services impact on the environment. These fall into two
broad areas: “in house” impacts such as energy use and impacts that we indirectly
influence in the community such as household waste and recycling (Appendix 1).
1.2
In order to address MSDC’s environmental impacts an Environmental Policy statement has
been published. The policy statement was published in 2002 and does not reflect the
current political and media emphasis on Climate Change in any detail.
1.3
To ensure the Policy is implemented consistently and efficiently, we maintain an
Environmental Management System that meets the requirements of ISO 14001. This is a
fairly bureaucratic approach involving documented procedures, commitment to
improvement targets by service managers, links to legislation, management reviews and
audits. Benefits include a reduced risk of non-compliance with legislation, providing a focus
for environmental improvement and an improved reputation within the community.
1.4
Within a local authority setting ISO14001 works best in managing environmental risks and
legislative requirements within the Council itself. For example with energy, transport, water,
green purchasing and office waste. This is because external activities such as pollution
control in the community and household waste management are already managed well and
regulated, so there is less need to set improvement targets.
1.5
A distinguishing feature of ISO14001 is the requirement for an assessment by an external
audit. Our external auditors, URS have recently confirmed that subject to certain
observations (Appendix 5) we have successfully met the criteria to retain our ISO14001
certificate for another year. Costs for this assessment are approx £1,600 per year. A main
conclusion of the audit was the need to carry risk assessment to identify a set of corporate
environmental priorities.
1.6
In addition to the above MSDC has also signed the Nottingham Declaration. This statement
commits MSDC to a range of actions to tackle the single issue of Climate Change, both
within the council and the wider community.
1.7
Up to the present the Council has addressed the Nottingham Declaration commitments
mainly on an ad-hoc’ basis. For example partly though ISO14001 in reducing energy use in
our own buildings. However, Climate Change is now seen as a priority issue with
government and the media. Therefore it needs to be more seriously considered.
1.8
To summarise: the council is putting a great deal of effort into the maintenance of
ISO14001 which works best on reducing the Council’s own environmental impacts and less
effort into the Nottingham declaration which addresses the single issue of climate change
on a wider community basis.
2.
Recommendations
2.1
That members note for information the description of environmental impacts and Policy
summary described in this session.
2.2
That members comment on the suggestion to establish a set of Corporate Priorities” for
environmental improvement within the council.
2.3
That members consider our commitment to ISO14001.
2.4
That members consider our commitment to the Nottingham Declaration.
2.5
That members identify specific environmental initiatives they wish to review in more detail
at the next meeting.
Implications
Tick the appropriate box, to indicate whether there are
implications in any of the following areas.
Yes
(There needs to be
appropriate comment in
report)
Legal
Finance
Risk management issues
Environmental
Media Interest
Personnel
Staff resources
Consultations
Parish Council informed
Corporate Plan Headline Objectives
No
an
the
(The officer needs to be
prepared to answer why not, at
the member meeting)
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List the numbers of any of the 8 objectives that
apply
Additional documents
Tick appropriate box, and give brief details if Yes
Appendices
Background papers
3.
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Background
Environmental Management System ISO14001
3.1
ISO14001 is an international standard, which follows a “Plan – Do – Check” model for
business improvement (Appendix 3). It is sometimes referred to as an Environmental
Management System EMS. The aim of ISO14001 is to reduce the environmental impact of
the Council’s activities.
3.2
The standard covers all service areas and commits us to: comply with environmental
legislation, have procedures to prevent pollution and continual improvement through setting
targets. These are also the benefits of having the standard. Whilst we carry out internal
assessments to measure progress, there is also a yearly external assessment to maintain
accreditation to the standard.
3.3
ISO14001 follows five universal principles proven to be the core of effective management:
3.4
Commit to a Policy: A documented policy commits us to pollution prevention, compliance
with environmental legislation and continual improvement (Appendix 2).
3.5
Plan: It is essential to establish what environmental issues the environmental management
system will manage. The priorities are to ensure compliance with legislation and for service
areas to set objectives and targets to address their significant impacts on the environment
(Appendix 1).
3.6
Implement: Having decided what to manage through objectives and targets the next step is
to allocate people and set procedures to make the EMS effective. Documented procedures
are needed to describe key aspects of the operation.
3.7
Measure and evaluate: Measurement, monitoring, internal audit and record keeping is
needed to check progress against the Council’s objectives and targets. Also, to check the
management system itself and its procedures are working properly.
3.8
Review and improvement: Senior managers revisit the EMS to ensure that is working
properly and is meeting the Council’s needs and aims.
Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change
3.9
The declaration is a voluntary pledge to address the issues of climate change. It represents
a high-level, broad statement of commitment that any council can make to its own
community. The declaration was originally launched in October 2000 at a conference in
Nottingham with 200 leaders, chief executives and senior managers of UK local
government. (Appendix 4).
3.10
To mark the fifth anniversary of the declaration it was re-launched on 5 December 2005 at
the Second National Councils Climate Conference. The new version of the declaration is
broadly similar to the original, but better reflects current thinking. The process of revising
and re-launching the declaration was undertaken by a steering group that includes all the
main national agencies concerned with the different aspects of climate change along with
Nottingham City Council and the worldwide association of local governments concerned
with sustainability.
3.11
As at December 2005 there were 100 signatories including MSDC. We therefore appear on
publicity material associated with this initiative.
3.12
On 11 June 2001, the Executive Committee adopted the Nottingham Declaration on
Climate Change (report X/111/01). The Nottingham Declaration provides the framework for
managing effective community leadership in regard Climate Change issues.
Steve Hyde
Energy and Environmental
Management Officer
Background Documents:
Appendix 1
Aspects of MSDC’s work that impact on the environment
MSDC Transport
Energy Consumption
Household Waste Management
MSDC Waste Management
Planning Policy/consent
MSDC Effluent Discharge
Noise, Nuisance and Visual Impact
Environmental Control of pollution
Resource Use/Procurement
Abnormal and Emergency Situations
Storage (e.g. fuel and chemicals etc)
Biodiversity and landscape conservation
Appendix 2

Environmental Policy
It is the policy of MID SUFFOLK DISTRICT COUNCIL to provide its services within an
environmentally sound framework. To ensure this is achieved consistently and efficiently, we have
implemented and maintain an Environmental Management System that meets the requirements of
ISO 14001.
Our Environmental Policy is to:
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continually strive to improve our environmental performance.
ensure compliance with relevant environmental legislation and regulations.
implement procedures to prevent pollution particularly through accidental emissions or
effluent discharges.
set environmental objectives and targets and make them publicly available.
monitor and reduce the impact of our activities on the local and general environment,
including during abnormal and emergency conditions.
maintain a system to detect deviations from our policy, objectives and targets and to
respond with the appropriate corrective actions.
foster a sense of responsibility for the environment amongst our staff, elected Members
and the local community.
reduce the environmental effects of new developments through strategic evaluation and
planning.
monitor and reduce the consumption of energy and water, and reduce the consumption
of resources.
encourage residents and businesses to reduce, re-use and recycle waste, and ensure
that waste generated by the Council is reduced, reused or recycled where possible, and
the remainder disposed of responsibly.
protect and enhance the quality of the District’s ecological character, and the character
and biodiversity of it’s landscapes, habitats and species.
minimise the environmental effects of purchasing ‘qualifying’ materials, equipment and
products, which meet defined criteria and thresholds, by appraising their environmental
aspects.
appraising the environmental performance of our suppliers, meeting defined criteria and
thresholds, as part of the Council’s procurement process and standing orders.
operate an environmentally responsible vehicle fleet and promote the use of more
‘environmentally friendly’ modes of transport.
ensure that our staff and contractors act in accordance with this policy and in compliance
with our Environmental Management System.
Appendix 3
Continual Improvement
Management
Review
Environmental Policy
Planning
Checking
Implementation &
Operation
Appendix 4
The Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change Revised Version 8/8/2006
We acknowledge that
• Evidence shows that climate change is occurring.
• Climate change will continue to have far reaching effects on the UK's people and places,
economy, society and environment.
We welcome the
• Social, economic and environmental benefits, which come from combating climate, change.
• Emissions targets agreed by central government and the programme for delivering change, as set
out in the UK Climate Change Programme.
• Opportunity for local government to lead the response at a local level, encouraging and helping
local residents, local businesses and other organisations - to reduce their energy costs, to reduce
congestion, to adapt to the impacts of climate change, to improve the local environment and to deal
with fuel poverty in our communities.
• Endorsement of this declaration by central government.
We commit our Council from this date to
• Work with central government to contribute, at a local level, to the delivery of the UK Climate
Change Programme, the Kyoto Protocol and the target for carbon dioxide reduction by 2010.
• Participate in local and regional networks for support.
• Within the next two years develop plans with our partners and local communities to progressively
address the causes and the impacts of climate change, according to our local priorities, securing
maximum benefit for our communities.
• Publicly declare, within appropriate plans and strategies, the commitment to achieve a significant
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from our own authority's operations, especially energy
sourcing and use, travel and transport, waste production and disposal and the purchasing of goods
and services.
• Assess the risk associated with climate change and the implications for our services and our
communities of climate change impacts and adapt accordingly.
• Encourage all sectors in our local community to take the opportunity to adapt to the impacts of
climate change, to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions and to make public their commitment
to action.
• Monitor the progress of our plans against the actions needed and publish the result.
--------------------------------------------------------------Council acknowledges the increasing impact
that climate change will have on our community during the
21st century and commits to tackling the causes and effects of a changing climate on our
city/county/borough/district.
Ian Pearson, Minister of State for Climate Change and the Environment, DEFRA
Baroness Andrews OBE – Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DCLG
---------------------------------------------------------------Leader of the Council
---------------------------------------------------------------Chief Executive
Appendix 5
URS ISO14001 Audit Report Findings – Nov 2006
Audit Observations and Potential Non Compliances Actions.
(PNCs).
Summary and overall findings: Business restructuring has For information.
resulted in extensive outsourcing of operations.
Summary and overall findings: Responsibility for
environmental improvements is devolved to Service Areas.
As a result, MSDC’s list of effects and impacts on the
environment now needs more detail in order to allow
individual service areas to more meaningfully understand
their impacts.
The list of MSDC impacts should be
developed into a set of ISO14001 Corporate
Priorities to assist Service Managers in
identifying key risks.
This information can then support an environmental risk Significant risks should be taken into account
assessment to determine the significant impacts for them to through the Service / Individual Action
address.
Planning process and monitored using
Performance Plus.
Environmental improvement targets can be set using service
plans with monitoring of progress using Performance Plus.
Observation: The two-year timescale by our internal audit Business Support
team requires reviewing due to the restructuring and amount implications.
of outsourcing. Annual audit schedule now feasible.
to
assess
resource
Observation: Clarification is required over the ownership Contracts and Property to clarify partnership
and recording/maintenance of specialist environmental agreement.
training competence records (CSD or Departmental
Management).
Observation: Records of planned maintenance and Relevant
Service
Areas
to
equipment inspections for remote storage/depot areas maintenance plans are in place.
require updating to demonstrate control of these activities.
ensure
PNC: In some cases, no formal method of ensuring that Contracts
and
Property
to
clarify
tender requirements when contractual are being met. E.g. arrangements for Contract Monitoring.
proof of continued ISO14001 certification.
PNC: Documented instruction/policy (Appendix 2) for Vehicle purchasing Policy is now updated to
purchasing vehicles does not reflect actual practice.
reflect Report EN/31/06: “Due to the nonavailability of LPG/PETROL production
model vehicles, the purchase of a new fleet
with diesel powered engines that meet the
Euro IV emissions standard be approved”.
PNC: In some cases waste carrier licences are not held for Relevant Service Areas to request waste
monitoring expiry dates.
carrier licences from Waste Management
Companies.