Issue - items at meetings - Introducing an Environmental Management System

Report of the Acting Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).

(1)   That the Sustainability Cabinet Committee approves:

(a)       Development of an Environmental Management Policy

(b)       Pilot implementation of an environmental management system accredited to the BS EN ISO 14001:2004 standard

(c)       Consideration then of progression to the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

39.1       The Cabinet Committee considered a report of the Acting Director of Strategy & Governance concerning proposals to introduce an accredited environmental management system (EMS) (for copy see minute book).

39.2       The Lead Councillor for Sustainability explained that such a system would ensure that that council could put its own house in order with regard to environmental resource efficiency and lead by example.

39.3       The Cabinet Member for Housing supported the need to make progress in this area and queried whether priority areas would need to be identified and what timescales might be proposed.

39.4       The Sustainability Coordinator working on the project explained that once a commitment had been given by the Cabinet Committee officers would begin working with senior managers to identify appropriate service areas to pilot the programme.

39.5       In response to questions from Councillor Steedman the Head of Sustainability & Environmental Policy clarified that, after work had been done to identify a suitable service area, discussions around resource implications could take place.

39.6       The Cabinet Member for Central Services thanked officers for their work on this project and was pleased that a staged approach would be taken in order to ensure that value for money was a key priority.

39.7       The Chairman commented that there was a commitment to laying good foundations before launching the pilot and that she was confident that resources would be used efficiently.

39.8       RESOLVED - That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Committee accepted the following recommendations:

(1)       That approval be given for the following:

(a)       Development of an Environmental Management Policy

(b)       Pilot implementation of an environmental management system accredited to the BS EN ISO 14001:2004 standard

(c)       Consideration then of progression to the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).