Environmental Policy
The services of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council have
a major effect on the local environment. It is responsible for
delivering many services which are directly concerned with
protecting and enhancing our environment. Some of these are
statutory duties which the Council must carry out by law. In
addition to these traditional functions the Council affects the
environment as a large landowner and employer. It endeavours to
minimise negative effects and to maximise positive effects on
the environment and to work towards the achievement of
sustainable development.
In all its activities the Council will seek to:
-
Work towards enhancing the health and welfare of the County
Borough area, its environment and its communities.
In particular this will include:
- Eliminating the unnecessary use of energy (eg. the
insulation of buildings in Council ownership and the use of
low energy light bulbs).
- Promoting environmentally friendly transport
alternatives and seeking to reduce tra traffic generation
(eg. public transport initiatives, providing cycle routes).
- Minimising Pollution (eg. wherever feasible
reducing or eliminating pollution).
- Maintaining and encouraging the diversity of wildlife
and habitats(eg.
designating and managing local nature reserves, and
encouraging other landowners in order to stop the
destruction of our wildlife).
- Raising awareness of environmental issues (eg.
through environmental information points in libraries, staff
newsletters, initiatives and projects in schools).
In order to achieve this the Council will:
- Build Environmental concerns and Management into all
its Policies and Activities
(eg. when taking decisions considering the likely effects on
the environment).
- Achieve continuing improvements in Environmental
Performance, over and above regulatory and legislative
requirements (eg. by setting targets to improve on legal
minimum requirements).
- Work in Partnership with other Organisations, Bodies
and Agencies (eg. through creating Environmental and
Countryside Fora).
- Improve information concerning the Local Environment
and Council performance (eg. through publishing
annual reports on the authority's environmental
performance).
- Aim to direct purchasing and consumption of resources
to minimise the use of non-renewable resources, and maximise
the use of locally available resources (eg. wherever
feasible purchasing more environmentally friendly products).
- Monitor local environmental indicators (eg.
monitoring dust and air pollution).
- Achieve and maintain eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)
accreditation