Decision details

Reason for the decision:

To ensure the Council’s Environment Policy is brought in line with the latest environmental priorities for clean growth, clean air and the natural environment as set out in new Strategies and Plans issued by UK Government and at county level (e.g. the Kent and Medway Energy & Low Emissions Strategy and net-zero target commitments).

Background:

KCC is the lead partner in delivering the Kent Environment Strategy and the Kent & Medway Energy and Low Emissions Strategy and has had a publicly available Environment Policy since circa 2005. Since April 2009, all KCC services have been certified to the international Standard for Environmental Management ISO14001, which requires the organisation to approve and publish its commitment to prevent pollution and continually improve its environmental performance in the form of a Policy. There has been significant shift in the political and public focus on environmental matters since the last policy was published in 2017.

Options:

A.   Retain existing policy which was last revised and published in March 2017.

B.   Approve a revised policy, which reflects current priorities set out in new Strategies and Plans issued by UK Government and at county level.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment agrees to adopt a revised Environment Policy to be implemented through the Council’s established environmental management system, which is certified to the international Standard for Environmental Management, ISO14001:2015.