A council has been given the go ahead to enforce an ambitious action plan to cut carbon emissions by 30 per cent over the next five years.

The Carbon Management Plan, developed with the Carbon Trust states how Reigate and Banstead Council plans to achieve targets of a 10 per cent saving during 2010/11 and a 30 per cent saving by March 31, 2014.

Councillor Julian Ellacott, executive member for environment, said “As a council it is important that we play a proactive, leading role in addressing the issues of climate change.

“To achieve the required savings the Council needs to invest £1.5million, £1.1million of which is already budgeted for through existing plans such as lighting improvements and leisure refurbishment projects.

“By cutting our carbon emissions we will make significant financial savings on our energy bills, helping to keep Council Tax down in the future.”

As well as the carbon management plan the Council has already invested in a number of projects to help lower it's carbon emissions and energy.

A reduction in gas use at Earlswood depot this year by just under 50 per cent led to savings of £8.235 and 38 tonnes of CO² and fitting energy efficient lighting in Reigate's Bancroft Road multi-storey car park saved over £17,000 and 89 tonnes of CO².

The Carbon Management Plan's progress will be monitored through the measurement of the Council's total CO² emissions each year.