WIRRAL Towards a Greener Peninsula Brian Anderson Head

WIRRAL Towards a Greener Peninsula Brian Anderson Head of Building Design & Development Control Wirral MBC

Wirral Facts Background & Overview • Environment • • • Energy Transport Resources Adaptation Awareness Achievements and Things To Do

Wirral facts Population of 312, 000 over area of 60 square miles Approx 130, 000 households Wirral has 12 sites of SSI 70 + sites of biological interest and 2 sensitive Marine Areas of deprivation in east and affluent areas in west Estimated in 2003 that around a third of Wirral households lived in fuel poverty

Environment - achievements Signed Nottingham Declaration in 2001 9 Eco Schools with Green Flags, and further 30 schools registered on 2006 programme Securing £ 11. 5 M over 5 years for restoration & improvement of Birkenhead Park, UK’s only Grade 1 listed landscape Wirral has 3 Green Flag parks 1758 allotments on 44 sites

Environment - achievements In Dec 2005 awarded ISO 14001 accreditation for Environmental Management Programme in DTS, now rolling out across authority Audit Commission positively assessed our performance on environmental & sustainability issues in 2005 CPA 85% of developments in Wirral between 2001 - 04 built on brown field sites, BVPI 106 target 75%

Environment - things to do Develop Corporate Property Strategy to reduce Council’s dependence on buildings Promote renewable technologies and energy efficient measures to architects, developers and householders Continue working with our partners to conserve Wirral’s rich biodiversity Implementing changes to Part F & L of Building Regulations will make a major contribution to combat climate change

Energy - background Wirral MBC’s carbon emissions are @ 24 kt CO 2 per annum Carbon emissions across Wirral in 2003 were 2162 kt CO 2 of which, 909 kt CO 2 were domestic emissions, equivalent to 6. 99 tonnes CO 2 per household Utility costs have increased 100% for elec, 72% gas, 45% heating oil & 21% for water in only 2 years 05/06 combined utility bill was £ 6. 5 M Late 90’s annual energy budget less than 1% of Council budget, 06/07 will be almost 2%, 07/08 expected over 2%

Energy - achievements 82% of Council’s electricity is green, this will be 100% from Oct 2006 Green electricity has reduced our CO 2 emissions by 22. 3 kt CO 2 annually Implemented £ 1. 7 M 3 year energy efficiency cap investment programme Introduced e-procurement for utility contracts Implemented energy audit programme for all schools and key buildings

Energy - things to do Successfully deliver 3 year, £ 1. 7 M energy efficiency capital investment programme Develop & maintain Corporate BEMS Implement Corporate Energy Strategy Develop Energy Database Introduce Green Flame, renewable heating oil, to reduce CO 2 emissions by up to 20% Investigate and develop workable Microgeneration initiatives

Transport - achievements 23, 500 employees and 7709 pupils (39% of schools) covered by local travel plans 1, 151 Park & Ride at 16 rail stations Job Link buses between Pathways & SIAs, 300 pupils take part in 18 Walking Buses in operation at 11 schools Reduced transport fleet CO 2 emissions by 4. 5% between 200/01 and 2005/06 Entire fleet operating on 5% bio fuel mix 39% of staff travel to work sustainably

Transport - things to do Increase staff commuting to work by sustainable travel to 45% Entire fleet running on 20% bio fuel mix Reduce annual staff travel claims by 10% Increase bus & rail patronage by 1% and 7. 9% respectively Increase use of Park & Ride by 35%

Resources - background Wirral currently recycles @ 12. 37% of it’s household waste We recycled 6275 tonnes garden waste in 2005/06, more than double 2004/05 figure Since April 06 we have sent @ 3000 tonnes of mixed food and garden waste to the IVC Overall amount of household rubbish produced in Wirral reduced by 2000 tonnes, helped by the real nappy programme and home composting scheme We are delivering @ 200, 000 recycling bins to residents over year at cost of £ 3 M

Resources - achievements Procurement of new 14 year Waste and Cleansing Contract with Biffa Introduction of Kerbside Food & Garden Waste collection Service to 18, 500 households Expansion of the garden waste services to 95, 000 households and the transfer from sacks to wheeled bins Working with WDA in implementation of Materials Recovery Facility and In-Vessel Composting facility for Wirral’s use

Resources - achievements Wirral is a ‘Fairtrade Borough’ We have a Corporate Procurement Strategy and work to a Sustainability Procurement Policy We require environmental info from potential suppliers at tender stage All paper we purchase is 100% recycled quality, national average is 80% We use e-procurement, for example, e-auctions for purchasing energy

Resources - things to do Work closely with Biffa to improve our sustainable waste provision Increase public recycling participation through education & community initiatives Decrease contamination in recycling waste, and therefore rejected loads sent to landfill, through close working with Biffa & WDA, and education & enforcement initiatives Encourage home composting and triple take-up in 2007 through WRAP project

Adaptation - background Council Motion on Nottingham Declaration approved in Feb 06, Members recognising the key role Council can take on Climate Change Nottingham Declaration officers’ group set up in April 06 Oct 06 Member/Officer Workshop held with EST to develop and implement Climate Change Strategy for Wirral

Adaptation - background Adapting to the impacts of climate change on Wirral and Merseyside Planning can shape the places where people live and work, in particular, the environment in which people live Community involvement is therefore vital in the planning process to inform future Council policy in order to address sustainability and secure positive environmental benefits for all

Adaptation - things to do Use planning system more proactively to promote sustainability with developers, householders & architects Develop supplementary planning guidance (SPG’s) on Eco Homes, sustainability and renewable energy Develop site specific DPD’s to address flood risk & coastal issues Develop a Local Climate Impact profile for the borough

Awareness - background Council has a key leadership role locally on climate change Wirral can lead by example, for example : • • • sustainable procurement leading on adaptation promoting green initiatives raising awareness in schools advising local businesses energy advice to householders

Awareness - achievements LA 21 – Wirral-wide consultation undertaken, produced Adopted Strategy and Action Plan Wirral won ‘Most Successful Borough’ in Merseyside LA 21 Awards for 2004 & 2005 The 2006 ‘Open to All’ campaign funded 44 localised environmental projects by community groups Engaging with business through Wirral Environmental Partnership, Wirral Investment Network and promotion of Environmental Business of the Year Award

Awareness - achievements Through various initiatives Wirral has decreased home energy consumption by 14. 11% between 1996 - 2005 The Wirral Affordable Warmth Strategy launched in 2004 Over 500 vulnerable, mostly elderly Wirral households helped with better heating and insulation since 2003 Cosy Homes has installed over 3000 insulation measures in the HMRI area since 2004

Awareness - things to do Integrate LA 21 principles into Climate Change & Sustainability Strategy Work with residents, community groups & businesses to increase awareness of local climate change issues Increase no of schools participating in the ‘Eco Schools’ programme Increase use of sustainable transport through Travel. Wise campaign Review & re-launch Wirral Affordable Warmth Strategy in light of rising fuel costs

As you can see, we’ve had a few green successes But there is a lot more we can do together To make Wirral greener for all of us Thank you