Sustainable development team - what we do

What does the sustainable development team do?

We help to ensure that environmental issues are given equal consideration alongside social and economic factors and reflected appropriately within council policy. 

We lead the development of policies, strategies, and plans to ensure that the council meets its requirements with regards to sustainable development.  Specifically, our Environmental Policy acts as an umbrella for other plans and policies on topics such as biodiversity, coastal management, environmental management and inland waterways. 

We work with  internal and external partners to help them to contribute to the enhancement of the East Riding’s environment for the benefit of all.  We also work to ensure that the council’s corporate priorities are taken forwards, particularly the  ‘Valuing our Environment’ corporate priority.

Which areas of work does Sustainable Development cover?

Our team's work covers policy, strategy and partnership development in the following areas:

• Sustainable communities
• Environmental management
• Climate change
• Fairtrade
• Coastal management
• Nature conservation and wildlife
• Inland waterways

What key policies do the Sustainable Development team lead on?

We have developed and implemented an Environmental Policy to help set priorities and guide the work of the council. The Environmental Policy covers all aspects of the council's environmental work and helps to guide us towards continuous environmental improvement.

Our other policies and plans on topics such as biodiversity, waste management, and environmental management include the East Riding of Yorkshire Biodiversity Action Plan and the Shoreline Management Plan. Just like additional documents held by other teams, our plans and policies help to deliver the priorities of the Environmental Policy.

We recognise that council operations and service delivery can affect the environment both at a local level and in a wider context.  We are committed, where practicable, to reducing our effects by managing our own environmental impacts, encouraging and supporting others to do the same and continuously improving the environment for the benefit of residents, employees, businesses, and visitors to the East Riding of Yorkshire. 

How does the council work with others on sustainable development issues?

We work with internal and external partners at various levels through a number of partnerships whose ambition is to bring together people who care about the environment and want to improve it now and for the future. 

Existing partnerships include:

Yorkshire Marine Nature Partnership 

Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this emerging partnership will encourage, and provide a vehicle for, collaboration amongst a wide range of partners in order to support, manage, understand and care for Yorkshire's unique marine and coastal environment. 

The partnership will facilitate new links and identify shared priorities with wider stakeholders in the heritage, tourism, industrial, cultural and public health sectors, whilst also providing new opportunities for those already active in the coastal environment.  

Email: ymnp@eastriding.gov.uk

Hull and East Yorkshire Local Nature Partnership 

The Hull and East Yorkshire Local Nature Partnership works to maximise investment in the natural environment to create benefits for people and the economy. 

We will make sure that nature’s inherent value, and the value of the free services it provides to the economy and the people who live here, is taken into account in local decisions. 

Email: sustainable.development@eastriding.gov.uk 

Find out more details about the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Nature Partnership.

East and North Yorkshire Waterways Partnership 

Waterways are important for many reasons, including navigation, biodiversity, heritage, flood risk management, freight, tourism and recreation. This diversity of function means that managing and improving our waterways can often be a challenge. 

The Waterways Partnership encourages water managers, regulators, users and other stakeholders to work cooperatively so we can ensure that our waterways contribute to local economic, environmental and community wellbeing. 

Email: waterwayspartnership@eastriding.gov.uk 

Website: Rural Programmes East Yorkshire - Waterways partnership (external partnership site)

Flamborough Head European Marine Site Management Scheme 

The Flamborough and Filey coast is internationally-recognised as an important place for marine species and habitats. The sheer cliffs rising out of the North Sea host the UK's largest mainland breeding seabird colony during the summer months. Flamborough's distinctive chalk headland supports life below the waves too, with reef, kelp forests and caves providing food and shelter for a diverse range of species.  

The management scheme exists to bring together organisations with a statutory obligation to manage and care for this unique area, working closely with local conservation organisations and national experts to ensure the protection afforded to these unique wildlife and habitats is upheld. 

Email: sacofficer@flamboroughheadsac.org.uk 

Find out further information about how we work with our partners on sustainable development issues.