The group was created to analyse policies inherited from East Suffolk’s predecessor’s (Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils) to ensure these policies are fit for purpose and identify areas for improvement.
The Environment Task Group meets quarterly, reporting to Cabinet where issues are then discussed to decide if a feasibility study is required.
By adopting a climate emergency, the council has begun to thread the environment through all decisions, choices and policy formation.
Our ambition
Our ambition is to become a carbon neutral council, in terms of our assets and operations and to help Suffolk as a whole achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, but we hope to achieve so much more:
- Meet our target of carbon neutrality by 2030
- Expand our use of nature-friendly grounds maintenance practices with a target to create 100 such conservation areas by summer 2021.
- Trial alternatives to the use of glyphosate sprays
- Replace existing operational fleet with electric vehicles
- Encourage local communities and town/parish councils to plant trees and orchards where appropriate
- Encourage communities to recycle items which cannot be recycled through the household bins
- Encourage use of pavement recycling bins
- Encourage more self-sufficiency
- Ensure that new council-owned housing developments are built to a high standard with a minimum carbon footprint and minimum running costs
- Ensure new leisure facilities are built to exemplar environmental standards
- Restore, optimise and advertise sustainable infrastructure across East Suffolk
One of the most important aspects of being environmentally responsible is communicating with, and listening to, local communities and town/parish councils. To improve the environment, we must all work together in partnership and increase personal choice and responsibility.
To deliver and lead on the above, the council will educate, lead by example and introduce new policies.
Environment Task Group members
