Declaration

INTRODUCTION

OPC acknowledges and considers Climate Change in daily life and lists projects on its Strategic Plan which will help to respond to Climate Change, eg:

• Sustainable transport – EVCP’s
• Increasing biodiversity, including developing a Biodiversity Policy
• By listing a local recycling scheme in the Village Centre Action Plan
• By using local contractors which work to positive environmental policies
• By reducing travel to physical meetings and using Zoom where possible

CLIMATE CHANGE DECLARATION

At the full Council meeting on 21st September 2021, Councillors debated Climate Change and resolved that:

“OPC acknowledges the Government’s Climate Emergency pledge and will:

1. Consider Climate Change in all decision making and delivery of services and activities.
2. Review all Council services and functions and draw up an Action Plan within 6 months setting out where carbon emissions can be reduced.
3. Following adoption and review of the Action Plan, OPC will consider whether to declare a “net zero carbon pledge.”

The development of OPC’s Climate Action Plan is a key priority for the Council but this won’t halt other work and projects already underway.

AGREED ACTIONS:

At the same meeting, OPC also resolved to undertake the following actions which are listed with a progress report as at August 2023:

1. Develop and ratify an Environment and Climate Change Policy – the Environment and Climate Change Policy was adopted by OPC on 15th February 2022.
2. Commission a biodiversity audit of all OPC owned land – a biodiversity audit was commissioned and completed by Arcadian Ecology Consulting Ltd.  The results are published in the Biodiversity Action Plan which was adopted by OPC on 16th August 2022.
3. Commission and adopt a management plan for all OPC land which prioritises methods which will protect and increase biodiversity and reduce the carbon footprint –
   – A Biodiversity Action Plan was adopted by OPC on 16th August 2022.
   – A paper setting out the ways in which OPC would progress the Biodiversity Action Plan was agreed at the December 2022.
   – Following a review meeting with OPC’s ground contractor in the Autumn of 2022, several changes to the mowing regime were made during the 2023 growing season to promote biodiversity.  Further details of these sites can be viewed at biodiversity areas.
4. Enrol in the Greening Campaign and lead the campaign across Odiham and North Warnborough – OPC enrolled in The Greening Campaign early 2022 and successfully launched Phase 1 in October 2022.  OPC has also signed up for Phase 2 and work is in progress.  As part of Phase 2, OPC co-ordinated a thermal imaging of local properties early 2023.
5. Review business and services of OPC and move to options that reduce the carbon footprint of the OPC wherever practicable – OPC reviews all contracts annually and records evidence that suppliers who a current Environment Policy.  A review of office procedures is in progress.