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Strategic Priority Three - protecting our environment
A cleaner and greener district for everyone to enjoy.
The environment remains a national priority, and our commitment to protecting the space we live in, use, visit and enjoy has never been greater. Raising awareness and reducing our environmental impact will play an essential role in everything we do in the future. At the latest, the council aims to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2030.
Delivering the targets in our climate emergency action plan.
Ensuring all our policies, including the Local Plan, protect and enhance our heritage and environment.
Having robust policies to tackle environmental crimes and breaches of planning control.
Making our buildings, vehicles and other assets low-carbon or carbon-neutral and minimising our footprint of pollution and other emissions.
Promoting and supporting the development and adoption of renewable energy sources within the council and with partners, businesses and residents.
Supporting the installation of electric vehicle charging points across the district.
Seeking to introduce carbon offset schemes.
Working with communities, visitors and residents to ensure our parks and open spaces are vibrant, clean, easy to access, safe and welcoming places to visit for all local people.
Supporting biodiversity in our greenspaces, parkland and wider countryside and protect wildlife and their natural habitats.
Implementing measures to improve air quality across the district, including cleaner transport and planting more trees.
Working with partners, including Kent County Council, to develop walking and cycling infrastructure, secure active travel options and lobby for improvements to public transport.
Working with partners to encourage greater resident and visitor use of public transport, bus and train, and lobby for related promotional support.
Promoting a circular economy by designing out waste in our services.
Encouraging residents to reduce the residual waste they produce, improve recycling rates and tackle contamination through targeted campaigns.
Reducing incidents of fly-tipping through proactive enforcement and resident education.
Encouraging residents, visitors and businesses to be energy efficient and minimise pollution and carbon emissions.
Addressing the incidence and effects of environmental crimes and air, land and water pollution through enforcement and educational activities.
Working to reduce the risks to communities and places from climate change through proactively strengthening flood and other defences and working with businesses and communities to improve resilience and mitigation.
