Beacon Authority, Tackling Climate Change

Council celebrates Beacon Hat-Trick!

Woking Borough Council has made significant progress towards the environment, sustainability and climate change agenda over a number of years. In 2005/06 the Council was recognised through the prestigious Beacon Council Scheme for `Sustainable Energy'. The following year, the Council was awarded Beacon Status for `Promoting Sustainable Communities through the Planning Process' during 2006/07. An illustrious treble was completed on 4th March 2008 when the Council was awarded a third Beacon Award for `Tacking Climate Change' under Round 9 of the Beacon Scheme for 2007/08. The Council will undertake a range of activities over the forthcoming year to disseminate information about the good practice that has led to the award.

 

The Beacon scheme is administered by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDEA). In setting the criteria for the award for Tackling Climate Change, the IDEA stipulated that `Beacon authorities will have taken a strategic overview of the opportunities for reducing carbon emissions from the areas for which they are responsible (mitigation) and will have put in place a strategy for dealing with the inevitable impacts of climate change in their area (adaptation). Beacons will have defined objectives for carbon reduction, in excess of national criteria, as well as having developed innovative projects, which take a low carbon approach. Beacons can demonstrate that their strategies are resulting in practical actions to reduce emissions and adapt to unavoidable climate change. This will include evidence that climate change is being considered in the development and implementation of all relevant strategies, plans and policies within the authority'.

The Council underwent a stringent application and assessment process prior to receipt of the award. This included a detailed application form, an inspection visit from a panel of three appointed Beacon assessors, and a presentation to a panel of experts. Woking was one of five Local Authorities that received the award. The other successful Councils were London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, City of London, Eastleigh Borough Council, Middlesbrough Council and Worcestershire County Council.

The Beacon Assessors commended Woking Borough Council officers and Councillors for the `long standing commitment from senior management and a cross party group of members, which has given Woking an impressive record of achieving emissions reductions'. The assessors were impressed with the Council's imaginative use of energy management, an energy service company and renewable technologies. They concluded that `the Council's actions have led to high levels of climate awareness within the community and the authority has engaged very effectively with partners, including the Asian business community, and plays a key role within the regional climate change forum'.

Reacting to the awards, Communities and Local Government Minister, Parmjit Dhanda said: "I would like to congratulate Woking Borough Council for being awarded Beacon status in Tackling Climate Change. This authority is leading the way in their use of new ideas and methods and is ideally placed to drive change throughout the sector."

Woking Borough Council's Information Sheets for the Beacon Assessment Team includes case study information that formed part the Council's application documentation.  The Improverment and Development Agency have issued a Beacon Theme Guide which includes details of achievements of the six Local Authorities that were awarded Beacon status under the Tackling Climate Change theme.

For more information about the Council's Beacon Award email policy@woking.gov.uk or see the case study document.