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Environmental Policy

INTRODUCTION

The Town Council is a provider of services and grant-aid to community organisations; an owner and user of land and buildings; and a community leader. It recognises the importance of meeting its statutory environmental obligations; maintaining an up-to-date environmental policy, and acting upon it, in order to tackle climate change.

Silloth Town Council is committed to saving energy, making wise traveldecisions, purchasing ethically, saving resources and caring for the area. Silloth Town Council recognises the role of voluntary and community groups, businesses and residents in delivering positive change and will provide encouragement, information, assistance or support, as appropriate, to help them to do so.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Silloth Town Council is committed to protecting and actively promoting the improvement of the local environment now and for generations to come. It will ensure that wherever possible, environmental priorities are integrated into the decisions it takes. This will be in the context of the Council prioritising decisions where there are genuine options in the order of advancing this policy, and then cost-effectiveness. Silloth Town Council will promote and encourage the implementation of this policy in its partnership work with groups, organisations and public bodies.

SILLOTH TOWN COUNCIL WILL SEEK TO:

  • Make the most efficient use of energy.
  • Encourage those using the Council’s premises to walk, cycle, use public transport and car-share as alternatives to individual private car journeys.
  • Minimise and, where possible, eliminate all forms of pollution.
  • Use the minimum quantities of water possible.
  • Avoid waste and encourage conservation, re-use and recycling.
  • Assess and minimise the potential environmental impact of any building project.
  • Promote and maintain biodiversity.
  • Promote a sense of responsibility and understanding for the environment.
  • Purchase ethically where possible from local, or then regional, suppliers.
  • Record, monitor, review annually and, where possible, improve performance.

TO IMPLEMENT THIS POLICY SILLOTH TOWN COUNCIL WILL

  • Ensure appropriate audits are undertaken to guide investment.
  • Calculate andmanage its carbon emissions.
  • Manage its premises and public open spaces, in such a way that demonstrates this policy in action, and promotes similar action by users and the community at large.
  • Develop, seek funding for, and implement a programme of practical improvements designed to reduce or eliminate specific adverse environmental impact in its own activities and the use of its land and premises.
  • Seek funding to assist voluntary and community organisations, businesses and residents to reduce their environmental impact.

AND TAKE THE FOLLOWING PRACTICAL ACTION

  1. Use the minimum quantities of energy possible in accordance with the safe and efficient operation of heating, lighting, plant and machinery, and effective use of premises.
  2. Provide information about public transport on publicity material.
  3. Use bio-degradable chemicals where possible, and minimise the use of solvents and lead-based paint.
  4. Encourage users to avoid creating noise pollution, especially at night. Consider installation of light sensors in all rooms.
  5. Reduce water use through, for example, no flush urinals. Communicate to users and staff the need to conserve water.
  6. Re-useand recycle materials as far as possible, and if this is impractical, dispose of by a means which will have the least impact on the environment, and conforms to statutory requirements. Encourage users and staff to minimisewaste, and provide separate disposal facilities for recycling glass, tins and paper.
  7. Provide and maintain composting facilities for its own use in the grounds maintenance depot.
  8. In any building project, make the best possible use of resources, use designs resulting in low maintenance and high energy efficiency, and use building materials from sustainable sources such as timber, wherever possible.
  9. Encourage users, volunteers, and hirers to use and operate Silloth Town Council’s buildings correctly to conserve energy and minimise waste.
  10. Raise user awareness of environmental issues byinformation provision and open consultation with local communities.
  11. Use local, then regional, suppliers where feasible to maximise the local economic benefit and minimise carbon emissions from transport.
  12. Improve performance each year with positive action on areas of non-compliance.