Environmental Policy

West Oxfordshire District Council is committed to protecting and enhancing the environment both locally and globally. The Council recognises the importance in ensuring it incorporates environmental and sustainability issues into its services and activities, and leads by example to its communities.

Environmental Management Strategy

The Council has adopted an Environmental Management Strategy, which outlines the Council's assessment of the main environmental objectives and priorities in West Oxfordshire and sets out how the Council will work towards achieving these aims.

The Strategy is a major commitment to the future, and includes targets and measures for environmental actions. In complementing and building upon work identified in the Community Strategy, it forms the basis for the environmental work of the Council.

In order to help the Council to revise the Strategy to meet local needs, an Environmental Survey was carried out in 2007 to establish resident's views and ideas on the local environment.

Climate Change Policy

The Council signed up to the Nottingham Declaration in July 2006 to public demonstrate our commitment to tackling climate change and to reduce our own 'carbon footprint'. Following the completion of the Carbon Management Programme (carried out with support from the Carbon Trust and USEA) in March 2007 we are now developing a comprehensive Climate Change Policy to be implemented in April 2008 which sets out not only how we will reduce our own environmental impact but also how we will influence and support positive change across the district.

If you would like find out more about the impact you have on the environment, you can calculate your 'Carbon Footprint'. Government advice on Greener Living provides useful information on what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint.

Green Offices Project

To encourage staff and Councillors to adopt good working practices, a Green Offices Project was introduced in September 2005 to promote recycling and reduction of waste, energy and water saving measures and green travel.

In November 2006, the Council won a prestigious International Green Apple Award for environmental best practice for the Green Offices Project.

In June 2008, the Council won a second International Green Apple Award for the Built Environment for our Elmfield offices.

Environmental Management System (ISO14001)

The Council is also committed to implementing an Environmental Management System (to ISO14001:2004 Standard) to ensure that environmental impact is a key consideration with regard to all our processes and services.

Environmental Community Groups

Working in partnership is fundamental to these environmental aims, and West Oxfordshire works with local communities to help improve the quality of life for residents, businesses and visitors to the area. The Council's vision is based on the ethos of tackling global issues through local action. We actively encourage the public, Town and Parish Councils and other interested groups to make their own personal contribution to achieving a sustainable and improved quality of life across the district and beyond.

Contact Details

For more details on environmental policy or on any of the environmental strategies and policies detailed here, please contact Environmental Policy on 01993 861020.