Wokingham Borough Council has pledged to lead the borough in exploring ways to respond to climate change issues in the local community, now that leader of the council Cllr Frank Browne and Chief Executive Susan Law have signed the Nottingham Declaration on climate change.

The Nottingham Declaration is a symbolic document committing the council to reducing its energy consumption and carbon footprint.

In future, an assessment of predicted energy use will be included in the business case for all the council's major projects, in order to ensure due consideration is given to energy consumption and the cost of energy. The council's energy, water and carbon management plan will also be monitored regularly and reviewed annually, with a view to extending it to cover all the council's activities, and the council's supplementary planning guidance will be amended to encourage more energy efficient and greener development. The Energy Saving Trust will also be asked for assistance in moving the council's energy policies forward in line with best practice, through their programme of free consultancy.

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In signing the Nottingham Declaration, Wokingham Borough Council is taking a significant step towards the aims laid out for councils by the Local Government Association (LGA) Independent Climate Change Commission.

A report published late last year by this commission was the first authoritative investigation into how well councils are doing in their duty to help combat global warming. It calls on councils to take measures to cut carbon dioxide emissions in the key areas of transport, planning, housing and tendering for services.

Browne said: "The chairman of the LGA's Independent Climate Change Commission has acknowledged that councils face challenging financial conditions with tough decisions about what services they can afford to invest in when tackling climate change. But Wokingham Borough Council is finding ways to cut carbon emissions and is making energy and cost savings at the same time. The renewable energy projects in our schools are something of which we are particularly proud.

"In signing this document we are acknowledging the leadership for residents and local action on climate change that we have already begun, and looking forward to a future where even more can be achieved to improve our environmental footprint."

The council is already working on a number of energy efficiency initiatives in its offices and schools. The energy audit service provided by the council is proving popular with schools that want to reduce their carbon footprint, and it is hoped that more businesses will come forward to get involved in the initiative to make the Wokingham borough a greener place.

(CD/JM)