Environmental Policy and Action Plan

Sustainable solutions to modern living are at the heart of Plymouth’s vision for regeneration, so the Council’s revised Sustainable Development Policy Statement, which was adopted on the 18 January, is welcomed as a first step towards the commitments set out in the 2004 to 2007 Corporate Plan.

Ensuring that sustainability is at the heart of everything we do is a key driver for change.

Plymouth City Council's Sustainable Development Policy Statement - Adopted 18 January 2005

By adopting the following principles, Plymouth City Council publicly affirms its commitment to ensuring an improved and sustainable quality of life in the city - now and for future generations.

The Council believes that sustainable communities embody the principles and core values of sustainable development. They :

• Balance and integrate the social, economic and environmental needs of the local community.
• Meet the needs of existing and future generations.
• And they respect and complement the needs of other communities in the South West, nationally and internationally as they also seek to ensure a sustainable future.

In support of these principles, the City Council recognises that the goal of sustainable development is to enable people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations.

This goal will be pursued through:

• a just society that promotes social inclusion, sustainable communities and personal well being.
• a sustainable, innovative and productive economy that delivers high levels of employment, education and training and freedom from poverty and discrimination.
• the efficient use of resources and energy and the protection of the physical and natural environment.
• citywide improvements in the overall quality of life through policies, plans and services that have positive impacts on public health, community safety and local environmental quality.

Plymouth City Council will therefore deliver local sustainable development through cost effective and appropriate services, delivered in partnership and in an integrated way. They will seek to promote a clear understanding of, and commitment to, sustainable development so that everyone can contribute to the overall goal through their individual decisions and actions.

In addition, the City Council will ensure continuous, measurable improvements in performance by adopting a ‘best practice’ approach to sustainable development based on shared expertise and experience.

In delivering a sustainable future for Plymouth, the City Council  recognises the diversity of sustainable communities and the local circumstances that determine their needs.

The Council is therefore committed to sustainable communities that are, without exception :

Active, responsive and safe - ensuring a fair and tolerant city that welcomes differences, celebrates our local distinctiveness and shared community activities; and where the needs of the most vulnerable are taken into account as a priority.

• Inclusive - ensuring the involvement of all groups within a diverse and multi-cultural city where marginalised groups are appropriately and sensitively included.
• Well run - with effective, inclusive participation, transparency in our decision making and representation and leadership that brings the Council closer to its customers.
• Environmentally sensitive - providing safer, cleaner and greener streets and places for people to live that take account of the quality of Plymouth’s unique environment and location.
• Well designed and built - with a vibrant city centre and a quality built and natural environment.
• Well connected - with improved transport services and communication networks that link people to the services they need.
• Thriving - with a flourishing and diverse local economy that ensures Plymouth’s prosperity and ensures the best possible use of local resources.
• Well served - with public, private, community and voluntary services that are appropriate to people’s needs and accessible to all, excellent schools, healthy communities, improved housing conditions and improved sports and leisure facilities.
• Fair for everyone - where individual’s rights, responsibilities and aspirations are actively promoted and due regard is paid to the needs of existing, and future, generations through the empowerment of communities in local decision making, capacity building and community cohesion.

The Council will pursue the delivery of sustainable communities throughout Plymouth through its commitment to partnership working, the Plymouth 2020 Partnership and the City Strategy and its commitment to sustainability as a key driver within the Corporate Plan.

In doing so, the Council will take account of the local principles and aspirations set out in Plymouth’s Local Agenda 21 Plan and will build upon these actions for the benefit of local communities through its future plans and strategies.

The specific details of this commitment will be set out in a detailed Action Plan.

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