HERTSMERE BOROUGH COUNCIL
COUNCIL
DATE OF MEETING:
PART I
Agenda
Item No
Document
Reference No
12
C/05/12
12th January 2005
HERTSMERE BOROUGH COUNCIL’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
This report brings before the Council Hertsmere’s Environmental Policy which has been
produced after extensive consultation. It replaces the previous Environmental Strategy
as part of the Council’s Policy Framework.
1.
RECOMMENDED THAT
1.1
The Council adopt the Environmental Policy appended to this report and
include it in its Policy Framework.
2.
INTRODUCTION
2.1
On 4 February 2004, the Executive agreed a draft of the Environmental Policy
and asked that it be released for consultation (Ex/04/24).
2.2
A copy of the Policy was placed on the Hertsmere Website, an article
directing residents to the website was run in the Hertsmere News and copies
of the draft Policy were sent to other local authorities and partner
organisations including those within Hertfordshire Environmental Forum.
2.3
Within the authority Environment, Transportation and Leisure (ETL) Overview
and Scrutiny Committee examined the draft Policy at a single item meeting on
19 April (ETL/04/18) and again scrutinised progress at a meeting in October
(ETL/04/34). Regulatory Committee discussed the regulatory aspects of the
policy at a meeting on 14 September (REG/04/34).
2.4
Comments on the draft Policy received can be split into a number of main
areas:
2.4.1 Comments, mainly by individual Councillors, Officer and Committees on
the detailed content of the Policy. As a result of receiving these, Officers
have changed any statements, or figures that were incorrect in the draft
and these are now incorporated in the amended copy attached to this
report.
ETL Overview and Scrutiny Committees comments were
addressed and reflected in the Policy where appropriate.
2.4.2 Other comments were received about the presentation of the Policy and
one in particular being the need to separate out an action plan from the
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Policy itself. Although this has been partially adopted, there remains
throughout the Policy reference to proposed actions.
2.4.3
A view was expressed that this Policy was not the appropriate vehicle to
take forward the Councils environmental aspirations rather that an
environmental audit should be carried of the Councils services prior to
engaging the principles of ISO14001 (Environmental Management).
Officers respect this view but see the present Policy document as a step
towards more formal environmental management as resources become
available. Other comments requesting a simplified document were made
and are understandable but with the complexity of the Council’s
Services, such actions could reduce the document to generalities.
2.4.4 A request that statutory services be identified within the Policy is, officers
believe, partially covered by listing in Part 4 the work of the authority as
‘a regulator’. Further definition can be difficult as it could be argued that
everything the Council undertakes falls within its statutory powers.
2.4.5 A concern expressed revolved around the need to monitor and resource
an action plan and the Executive have required an Action Plan to be
brought back before them.
2.4.6 A number of comments were received with questions and/or comment,
which have either needed or still require answering by individual Units or
which comment or criticise the policy of the Council in specified areas.
These have been circulated to appropriate Units of the Council so that
these observations can be considered in future.
2.5
After a lengthy period of consultation detailed above, the revised Draft Policy
was again put before the Executive on 24 November 2004. (Ex/04/147) who
decided that it should now be recommended to the Council for approval.
2.6
Since the Policy has been concluded, the Audit Commission has agreed to pilot
an inspection of the Council’s environmental services and have recently
provided officers with their ‘Key Lines of Enquiry’ for that inspection. The
Executive required that an Environmental Action Plan be produced, embracing
the principles contained within the Hertsmere Environmental Policy and
incorporating, where practical, the requirements of the Audit Commission so
that the Executive agree a plan that delivers an environmental agenda
consistent with Hertsmere’s Policy and at the same time addresses the broader
national drivers for environmental services.
2.7
In conclusion the proposed Policy appended to this report has been widely
consulted upon though it has not been drastically altered from the draft.
However alterations that have been made are generally of a factual nature or
for clarification. The Executive will consider an Action Plan and that plan will be
consistent with the Environmental Policy principles and the requirements of the
Audit Commission.
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3.
FINANCIAL AND BUDGET FRAMEWORK IMPLICATIONS
3.1
None directly as a result of this report.
4.
LEGAL POWERS RELIED ON AND ANY LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
4.1
Local authorities carry out their activities under planning, building control,
housing and associated legislation. The Environmental Policy is written
embracing all that legislation while recognising Hertsmere Borough Council’s
responsibilities to promote ‘the economic, social and environmental well-being
of the Borough under the Local Government Act 2000’.
4.2
The Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 requires local authorities to
demonstrate how they improve the energy efficiency in all homes in their
districts and to report their progress annually.
5.
RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
5.1
In order to deliver the actions contained within the Environmental Policy and
when agreed an Environmental Action Plan, a commitment from all disciplines
within the Council is required. Monitoring and evaluating progress of
implementation requires the active management of this task and regular
updates on progress will be provided to the Executive.
6.
PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS
6.1
The management and implementation of the whole project is required and
there is an impact on the work of individual Service Heads in delivering the
proposed actions.
7.
CORPORATE PLAN & POLICY FRAMEWORK
7.1
The Environmental Policy links with the Council’s priorities contained within
the Corporate Plan and supports the Community Strategy by working towards
improving and sustaining the quality of Hertsmere’s environment.
8.
APPENDICES ATTACHED
8.1
Hertsmere Borough Council’s Environmental Policy.
9.
BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT
9.1
None
10.
AUTHOR
Paul Sawyer, Principal EHO Ext: 4660
Paul.sawyer@hertsmere.gov.uk
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