Decision - Environmental Policy Statement for Brighton & Hove City Council

(1)         That the Cabinet Committee approves the Environmental Policy for the Council as at Appendix 1.

1.      A drive for efficiency and Value for Money coupled with new environmental performance requirements in the UoR assessment mean that a more comprehensive and accountable environmental management approach is required.

2.      The approved implementation of a formal EMS requires development of an Environmental Policy. This is required for successfully achieving ISO 14001 certification in our pilot EMS projects.

3.      An Environmental Policy is an important and necessary first step for ensuring we are getting our on house in order and leading by example.

1.   The alternative options for an Environmental Policy as outlined in this report include the following:

(a)         An Environmental Policy focusing only on the two pilot projects that have been selected for implementation of an Environmental Management System: Fleet and Venues.

§         This would only commit action and investment of resources to a limited part of the organisation and so is not a very tenable position for achieving our corporate ambitions for the Council as a whole.

(b)     A longer, more thorough Environmental Policy Document that would provide detailed information on environmental performance in all service areas across the organisation.

§         This option would not follow the usual format for an environmental policy, which is an over-arching framework and set of principles.   It would require a substantial amount more work to be undertaken that would not be possible by the Audit Commission’s deadline.