Sustainability

“Sustainability” is most often described as “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs" (Brundtland Commission report, 1987). 

Achieving sustainability means ensuring a quality of life for everyone, now and in generations to come by meeting social, economic and environmental needs. It also involves thinking about the impact our local actions have globally.

Sustainability in Cheshire East Council

Cheshire East Borough Council seeks to achieve sustainability by seeking to follow the principles of:

• Living within environmental limits
• Achieving a sustainable economy
• Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society

In order to achieve sustainability it is crucial that we work in partnership with others. For example, the Cheshire East Sustainable Community Strategy sets out a vision for the area over the next 15 years.

Sustainability covers all areas of the Councils work. These pages combine both information on the work of the Council and other websites.

Climate Change and Securing Service Delivery

All local authorities are expected to provide leadership in anticipating and dealing with extreme weather events and to make plans to avoid or minimise threats on council services delivery. The people most affected in times of extreme weather are the vulnerable, young, infirm, immobile and those people in care. Extremes of heat and cold are a concern but also high winds and storms can disrupt the delivery of essential services.

Cheshire East Council has produced a Local Climate Impacts Profile (LCLIP) report (PDF, 4.1 MB) which is the first step towards identifying the potential threats. Service Plans will be updated to include awareness of risk assessment and business continuity planning; identifying high risk flood areas and gathering information on the drainage network; as well as communicating weather alerts quickly to the public.

Following the updated Service Plans the Council is required to develop an Adaptation Strategy which will include other public agencies and partners in order to provide sustainable service delivery to the community. This strategy will be completed by March 2012 at which time it will become a public document.

Five Year Carbon Management Plan

Cheshire East Council has identified a programme of work that will help to reduce CO2 emissions and reduce energy costs. During the period from 2011 to 2016 a range of practical projects and an embedding strategy has been developed to reduce energy consumption. Supported by the Carbon Trust, the Carbon Management Plan (PDF, 1.49 MB) was accepted and approved by Cabinet on Monday 14th March. The Plan is closely related to the development of the Adaptation Strategy work which describes how carbon reduction will be an integral factor in decisions about service delivery and working with partners to secure a sustainable future for those who live, work and take leisure in the Borough.

This summary emissions report (PDF, 216KB) shows our total Scope 1 and 2 emissions for the past 2 years which are classed as either direct combustion e.g Fuel for owned vehicles and Gas to heat our owned buildings and purchased electricity for the councils owned assets. In Spring 2012 we will publish an annual report to show first year progress against our Carbon Management Programme.