A Greener Economy: Time for ChangeThe Council’s Role

23 February 2011

David ReedStrategic Director

Canterbury City Council

The Council’s Role

• To improve the environmental performance of the Council’s own operations as an organisation – to lead by example

• To provide services and facilities for the local community and businesses to help improve their environmental performance

• To join with others in providing community leadership, to encourage and support organisations and individuals to take action for themselves

City CouncilEnvironment

Policy

Approved July 2009

The seven key themes

• Minimising waste and recycling• Tackling pollution – air and water quality, land

contamination, noise and light pollution• Reducing the need for travel and promoting sustainable

modes of transport• Reducing energy use and the consumption of natural

resources• Protecting and enhancing the natural and built

environment • Adapting to changing climatic conditions• Public information and promotion

Minimising waste & recycling • Alternate weekly household waste and recycling service introduced

in 2005 – now achieving 48% recycling

• East Kent Waste Partnership recently established – changes to the collection system in Canterbury will commence in 2013 when new contract in place

• Building site waste management plans a legal requirement for construction projects over £300,000 in value

• City Council/SERCO trade waste recycling scheme – 300 businesses use the service achieving 7% recycling

• Businesses have a legal duty to sort their waste and the financial savings from recycling will grow

• 41% of City Council’s own office waste now recycled

Tacking pollution

• Poor air quality from traffic along Canterbury ring road the biggest issue - consultation on scope of the Air Quality Management Area underway

• Noise from night flights at Manston Airport a serious issue for Herne Bay – the council will carefully scrutinise emerging proposals from airport operators Infratil

Reducing travel and increasing sustainable transport

• Quality bus partnership, concessionary fares, freedom pass and high speed trains delivering improved passenger numbers on public transport

• Longstanding park and ride strategy still very important for the city

• Network of cyclepaths continues to expand – Reculver to Whitstable cyclepath phase 1 nearly finished, consultation on phase 2 later in the year. Chartham cyclepath now completed.

• KCC city traffic information system installed but not yet operational

Reducing use of energy & natural resources

• Energy efficiency measures in Leisure Centres – combined heat & power, pool covers, insulation, efficient pumps

• New Marlowe Theatre being constructed to “very good” BREEAM standard

• Woodchip boiler being installed at main council offices• Sheltered housing schemes at Ellen Court and Franklin House

to include photovoltaic electricity generation• Since April 2010 the council have required Code for

Sustainable Homes level four in new housing• Extension of “competent persons” scheme enabling approved

contractors to install renewable energy schemes

The council’s carbon footprint -overall figures

The natural and built environment

• 90% of recent housing built on brownfield land

• Whitstable Castle, Memorial Gardens, Westgate Gardens improvement schemes complete, underway or planned

• Ownership of green gap site between Whitstable and Herne Bay secured

• Improvements in positive management of local wildlife sites & SSSIs achieved, Seasalter Marshes scheme

• Canterbury West station improvements complete; forecourt enhancement and better footway to St Dunstans planned

Adapting to the changing climate

• Looking at grass cutting regimes - saving fuel & encouraging biodiversity

• Continuing introduction of low maintenance shrubs & drought resistant planting reducing water consumption

• Investment in coastal and river flood prevention schemes

• East Kent green infrastructure plan being developed to protect biodiversity

• Adaptation to be built into council service delivery planning

Adaptation – the five trends for businesses to think about

• Hotter, drier summers

• Milder, wetter winters

• More intense downpours

• Heatwaves in summer

• Sea level rise