Braintree District Council's Green Travel Plan

Braintree District Council recently received a Bronze award from Essex County Council for its new Green Travel Plan which focus’ on Causeway House, the Council’s main offices. This plan has been produced to support the relocation of ECC staff to Causeway House. The plan will be reviewed to include the Council’s fleet transport to ensure that the vehicles used to deliver the Council’s operations and services and as green as possible and minimise carbon emissions.

The purpose of the new Green Travel Plan is primarily to reduce the use of private cars by employees in travelling to and from work, travel at work and to target visitors to our Council buildings. It is expected to have major benefits in meeting carbon reduction targets and demonstrates our community leadership on reducing our carbon impact. The plan considers health improvements for staff and proposes actions to investigate longer-term financial benefits to the organisation.

The Council first produced a Green Travel Plan in 2001 and the original focus was on environmental pollution, air quality and congestion. While these remain important issues the primary focus is now on climate change and reducing carbon emissions combined with fuel efficiency in response to rising fuel prices and anticipated limited supply linked to Peak Oil.

In January 2006 Braintree District Council, together with Uttlesford District Council, became the first local authorities in Essex to sign the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, a public commitment to take action on the causes of climate change. Producing and maintaining an up-to-date Green Travel Plan is a necessary step in an ongoing process to meet this commitment as transport is a key source of carbon dioxide and other global warming gases and of emissions which affect air quality in the District. Transport accounts for 42% of the Council’s own carbon emissions and during 2009-10 the authority spent a combined total of £708k on fuel and business mileage.

The rural nature of the District and relatively limited public transport provision and cycle and pedestrian infrastructure compared with more urban authorities will require continued dependence on the use of vehicles for service delivery, but this cannot prevent action within the organisation. The identified actions include:

·          Increase the provision of flexible working arrangements

·          Encouraging greater use of tele-conferencing facilities

·          Facilitating greater take-up of home working

·          Increasing provision of bike rack and storage facilities to facilitate more cycling and walking

·          Comprehensive review of current lease car scheme with focus on low emissions vehicles

·          Review and propose options for Causeway House staff car park including eligibility and charging

·          Encourage greater use of the car sharing scheme

·          Re-assess the mileage payment criteria to ensure there is no disincentive to using more sustainable modes of transport.

·          Provide Green Driving Training

·          Support DC Leisure in producing a green travel plan for our leisure sites

An annual review of the Action Plan will be undertaken to assess the progress to ensure it is meeting the requirements of the organisation. Staff travel surveys will be carried out every 2 years to understand the impact of travel behaviour within the organisation. This will inform a review of the Green Travel Plan every 2 years in order to reflect Government legislation and the objectives of the Council.

This Green Travel Plan has been developed by the Climate Change Team based on the findings of the Energy Saving Trust Fleet Review 2008, the 2010 staff green travel survey and examples of best practise from other organisations.

The plan covers 3 main areas of travel:

·          Travel to and from work

·          Travel at work

·          Travel by elected members and visitors to Council buildings

The plan sets an example to partners and local businesses and is expected to form the basis for a much greater awareness of travel planning throughout the District.

Journeys to and from work

Increased home working and flexible working options are the first step in eliminating commuting journeys.  A considerable number of staff live within walking or cycling distance of the main offices and more lie in areas well served by public transport.  For those staff that still need to bring a car to work, car share can have a major impact. 

Journeys at work

The nature of our business and the character of the area means that car use is often unavoidable.  However better journey planning, improved driving techniques and a willingness to try other forms of transport will help reduce carbon emissions.

Please click on this link to open the full version of our Plan.