Sustainable Clackmannanshire

Sustainable Clackmannanshire 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)

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 Draft 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. Further information and copies of the relevant documents can be found on the Sustainability and Climate Change page.

The Strategy provides the framework for improving sustainability and addressing climate change both within the Council and throughout Clackmannanshire. It will provide a Climate Change Action Plan for Clackmannanshire, proposals for promoting the creation of sustainable communities, a framework to help Clackmannanshire move towards more sustainable consumption and production, and a focus on protecting our natural resources and enhancing our environment. An Environmental Policy for Clackmannanshire Council is also included, as an integral part of our initiative to prepare an environmental management framework for the Council, which will build on the Carbon Management Strategy and Implementation Plan produced by the Council in association with the Carbon Trust, and an Initial Review of the Council's environmental performance completed in 2007.

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;
all of us 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 Action Plan for Clackmannanshire with clear targets and time-scales to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the authority's own operations. We have also committed to produce an annual statement on the progress of our climate change response (these documents are available on our Annual Statement on Climate Change page); 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 through the following links:

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.

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:

Helen Blenkharn - Development Officer (Sustainability)
Climate Change Adaptation
Sustainable Design and Construction
Open Space Strategy
Biodiversity/Biodiversity Action Plan
Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Partnership
Green Infrastructure

Gordon Roger - Planner
groger@clacks.gov.uk
Tel: 01259 452638
Environmental Planning (including renewable energy, minerals planning, flood management and waste management policy)
Community Planning (Environment)
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
Environmental Performance
Green Office Initiatives

Martin Dean - Access & Countryside Projects Officer
mdean@clacks.gov.uk
Tel: 01259 452409
Outdoor Access
Core Path Planning
Outdoor Access Strategy
Outdoor Access Projects
Right of Responsible Access
Clackmannanshire Access Forum

Euan Hills - Principal Ranger
Clackmannanshire Ranger Service
ehills@clacks.gov.uk
Tel: 01259 452478
Countryside Ranger Service

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

Julia Lawrie - Landscape Partnership Officer
jlawrie@clacks.gov.uk
01259 452572
Ochils Landscape Partnership