Sustainable Clackmannanshire

Sustainable Clackmannanshire Welcome to the Clackmannanshire Council Sustainability Initiative

Clackmannanshire Council is working to meet the environmental, social and economic needs of those who live and work in the area. However, this must be achieved in a sustainable way, without compromising the ability of those who live and work here in the future to meet their needs.

The Council and all those with responsibility for delivering its Services, at every level, have a responsibility to make sure that we are acting sustainably and with a long-term vision of how our actions now will affect the lives of those in the future. Our legacy should be to pass on a better Clackmannanshire to the next generation - a place where people can thrive, live healthy and fulfilling lives and enjoy their environment.

Councillor Carrick (Portfolio Holder for Sustainability)

The Clackmannanshire Sustainability Initiative was launched at the Parklands Centre, Alva, in March 2006, with Council staff explaining the key aspects of the Initiative, including the Sustainability Strategy and Sustainability Campaign.

Improving Sustainability and Environmental Performance

The Council has already established an enviable record in delivering sustainability, including work to re-introduce passenger rail services to Clackmannanshire and exemplary achievements in increasing recycling of municipal waste. However, we have a goal of continual improvement and the Council's Sustainability Team have prepared a Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy for Clackmannanshire which will co-ordinate and drive forward sustainability in Clackmannanshire. The Strategy provides a sustainability vision to ensure that we can build on our existing achievements. The draft version of the Strategy will be subject to public consultation during Summer 2008.

The Strategy will focus both on how the Council can improve its environmental performance and how it can encourage sustainable development among partners, developers and others throughout Clackmannanshire. As part of this process, an Environmental Review of the Council has been carried out to establish priority areas for action to improve environmental performance and an Environmental Policy for the Council is now being developed. The Council, working in partnership with the Carbon Trust, have also recently completed an audit of energy use within the organisation. Beginning in June 2007, the Council has begun work with the Carbon Trust on a Carbon Management Programme for the organisation which aims to identify ways in which the Council's carbon footprint and energy costs can be reduced. The Programme will focus on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the Council's own property, its vehicle fleet and through improved waste management.

Climate Change

Clackmannanshire Council is committed to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change through a range of initiatives such as improved energy efficiency, the development of a green travel plan and reduction of waste and and increased recycling. In January 2007, the Council signed Scotland's Climate Change Declaration. The Declaration has been signed by all of Scotland's local authorities and Scottish Ministers and acknowledges that:

- climate change is occurring and human activities are having a significant negative and possibly dangerous influence
- climate change will have far reaching effects on Scotland's people and places, impacting on our economy, society and environment
- there are significant social, economic and environmental benefits in taking action to combat and prepare for climate change
- we all in Scotland have duties and responsibilities to take action to both mitigate and adapt to climate change, and to promote the sustainable development and well-being of our local communities

Through the Declaration, the Council has committed to contribute to the delivery of the Scottish and UK Climate Change Programmes; and produce a climate change plan for Clackmannanshire (this forms an integral part of the Clackmannanshire Sustainability & Climate Change Strategy on which we will consult during Summer/Autumn 2008) with clear targets and time-scales to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the authority's own operations. We will also produce an annual statement on the progress of our climate change response (the first annual statement is expected to be produced in Summer 2008); take action to adapt to the effects of climate change; and work with the community and other organisations on climate change.

The Council is already working with partners such as WWF and the Clackmannanshire Heritage Trust on adaptation projects, such as the Clackmannanshire Countryside Rivers Project. This has included Scotland's first "managed retreat" project at the Black Devon Wetland and the innovative "Slowing the Flow" project on the River Devon, which is a practical response to the need for sustainable flood management.

More information on these projects is available at:
Black Devon Wetland: http://www.clacksweb.org.uk/council/press/?release=107
River Devon Project (Slowing the Flow): http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/river_devon_leaflet_a.pdf

The Clackmannanshire Council Green Office Campaign

The Council seeks to lead by example. Increasing emphasis is being given to the importance of reducing waste and improving working practices to ensure that the Council's environmental impact is minimised.

A dedicated Clackmannanshire Council Green Office Campaign section has been established on ClacksWeb to empower staff to make changes to boost the Council's sustainability.

This section is open to all and may provide ideas for residents and businesses in Clackmannanshire to boost their sustainability too - please take a look.

The Sustainability Team and Portfolio

Clackmannanshire Council's commitment to sustainability and the improvement of its environmental performance is reflected in the creation of a member portfolio for sustainability. The portfolio is currently held by Councillor Eddie Carrick.

The Sustainability Team was formed in June 2005 to champion the move towards more sustainable practices both within Clackmannanshire Council and in the wider community. The Team are responsible for co-ordinating policies and initiatives which help ensure that the Council's drive to deliver Best Value is achieved in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. The Team has a wide range of responsibilities, ranging from corporate sustainability to biodiversity, built heritage to outdoor access, all delivered as part of a single vision of continual improvement of sustainability and environmental performance for the benefit of all in Clackmannanshire.

Niall Urquhart

Niall Urquhart leads the Sustainability Team
nurquhart@clacks.gov.uk
Tel: 01259 452658
Corporate Sustainability
Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy
Environmental Planning/Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Performance
Climate Change Mitigation Measures/Carbon Management and Energy Efficiency

Team Members are:

Catriona Macdonald - Principal Planner Sustainability
cmcdonald@clacks.gov.uk
Tel: 01259 452640
Built Heritage and Urban Design
Sustainable Design and Construction

Gordon Roger - Planner
groger@clacks.gov.uk
Tel: 01259 452638
Environmental Planning (including renewable energy, minerals planning, flood management and waste management policy)
Climate Change Adaptation
Built Heritage

Rebecca Bell - Sustainability Officer
rbell@clacks.gov.uk
Tel: 01259 452582
Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy
Climate Change Mitigation Measures/Carbon Management and Energy Efficiency
Strategic Environmental Assessment
Green Office Initiatives

Martin Dean - Access Officer
mdean@clacks.gov.uk
Tel: 01259 452409
http://www.clacksweb.org.uk/environment/outdooraccess/
Core Path Planning
Outdoor Access Strategy
Outdoor Access Projects
Right of Responsible Access
Clackmannanshire Access Forum

Guy Harewood - Biodiversity Co-ordinator
gharewood@clacks.gov.uk
Tel: 01259 452639
http://www.clacksweb.org.uk/environment/biodiversity/
Local Biodiversity Action Plan
Biodiversity Projects
Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Partnership

Euan Hills - Principal Ranger
Clackmannanshire Ranger Service
ehills@clacks.gov.uk
Tel: 01259 452478
http://www.clacksweb.org.uk/environment/countrysiderangerservice/

Lisa Ford - Ranger
Clackmannanshire Ranger Service
lford@clacks.gov.uk
Tel: 01259 452635

Roz Mills - Ranger and Landscape Officer
rmills@clacks.gov.uk
Clackmannanshire Ranger Service
Ochils Landscape Partnership

Jane Begg - Woodland and Greenspace Officer
jbegg@clacks.gov.uk
Tel: 01259 452618
Greenspace Audit and Greenspace Strategy
Woodlands and Greenspace