Conservative councillors in B&NES have committed to a green strategic approach, to propel the authority into becoming a leading hub for innovation and achievement in environmental sustainability.
The plan is to create a national environmental standard, ‘which other authorities can aspire to’.
At a Full Council meeting on Thursday 12th July, councillors voted unanimously to support a motion proposed by Cllr Mark Shelford, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, which will ensure that in all future workings of Council, the importance of the environment is fully considered.
In order to achieve the goal of a healthy, carbon-free, environmentally sustainable future, a three-dimensional approach has been set out which received cross-party support.
These are:
- Partnership Working – which involves bringing together the right people to make things happen;
- Community Enablement – where residents and community groups are given the opportunity to achieve their sustainability aims;
- Leading by Example – Bold action from the Council and their partners.
This approach was put into action when Cllr Mark Shelford introduced the Local Green Energy tariff which provides 100 per cent renewable electricity as part of a dual fuel offer with gas.
Under this, renewable energy is locally-generated and then sourced to residents of Bath and North East Somerset.
In addition to this, the scheme also offers the Our Fairer Energy tariff, which is one of the cheapest tariffs available on the market for dual fuel pre-payment meter customers.
Around 11,000 households in B&NES (14%) pay for energy by pre-payment meter.
By becoming a national leader in environmental sustainability and setting the example for others, the council will also reap benefits in other areas of its work.
A few examples of this are:
- Cleaner, greener and more affordable energy with more of it produced and owned locally;
- Warmer and cheaper to run homes and businesses;
- Less traffic and congestion, cleaner air & streets where people can walk and cycle easily, including increased pedestrianisation;
- Healthier and more sustainable local food supply;
- New jobs from increased local food and energy production, increased home energy retrofitting, growth in local circular economy;
- Reduction in waste production, increase in recycling rates and energy from food waste;
- Increased local stewardship of local water resources and better flood resilience;
- Enhanced beauty of the local natural environment and increased public engagement;
- Increased ability to withstand changes to the climate through greater local food and energy security.
Speaking on the issue, Cllr Mark Shelford said: “Environmental sustainability is about our ability to survive and thrive into the future.
“Everything else that we seek to achieve – such as improved health and well-being and economic prosperity – is dependent on a clean environment and stable climate.”