Bath & North East Somerset Council have been named the region’s Most Proactive Public Sector Body in the South West Green Energy Awards 2013. The Liberal Democrat led Council competed against other public sector bodies from across the south west such as colleges, local authorities, health bodies, fire services and the police.

Hosted by renewable energy champions Regen SW, the winners were announced at a ceremony at the Assembly Rooms. When presenting the award the lead judge said “ Bath & North East Somerset Council provided compelling evidence of a long, impressive and diverse list of achievements across electricity, heat and transport plus other low-carbon/sustainability agendas. The judges were particularly impressed by the way they developed a replicable and strong partnership with a local community group – a partnership that has proved highly effective for delivery of projects on the ground.”

The judges were impressed with the wide range of actions that the Lib Dem Council has developed to facilitate a 45% cut in CO2 by 2026, including: a very low energy new build office in Keynsham; becoming the first local authority to begin a major programme to convert street lights to LED; driving forward a cooperation agreement to enable the development of Bath & West Community Energy; launching the Bath Green Homes joint project with Transition Bath and Bath Preservation Trust; creating the Energy@Home partnership to support residents to save energy at home; providing community group training under the Local Energy Champions scheme; making a political commitment to making the Bath Enterprise area a zero carbon regeneration scheme; cutting 80% of city centre deliveries to businesses subscribed to the Freight Consolation scheme and; achieving 52%+ of residential waste being recycled with the aim to recover value from 80%+ of our waste in 2013/14 through mechanical biological treatment (MBT).

Bathwick councillor David Martin is the council’s Energy Champion, responsible for promoting many of the schemes praised. He said: “We have robust policies in both renewable energy and energy efficiency and a strong team of officers in many departments that have contributed towards this success. It really has been a team effort.”