AN action plan outlining how a council aims to work with the community to improve the environment is being launched today.

Councillor Ken Walker, the leader of Middlesbrough Borough Council, will be at the town's central gardens for the launch of the authority's environmental sustainability strategy.

The strategy contains eight themes, which will help the council work with residents to improve the area.

One priority will be the effcient use of resources to minimise waste and meet local needs.

This will involve the council reducing its energy consumption, promoting energy efficiency in homes, and enabling more household waste to be recycled.

The council will also improve indoor air quality, and aims to reduce noise complaints and monitor pollutants.

The strategy plans a sustainable transport system, which makes facilities and services accessible to everyone.

This will include developing a car parking strategy, and encouraging half of Middlesbrough's employers to adopt green travel plans for their employees by 2005.

There are also plans to enhance open spaces and leisure opportunities by, for example, improving four community parks.

There are proposals to improve health and well-being through the development of neighbourhood trusts.

The strategy comes after Middlesbrough's success at being placed at the top of the Audit Commission's table of forward-looking authorities.

Coun Walker said: "Promoting a safe, sustainable and attractive environment is a priority for the council.

"The strategy spells out how we will work with the whole community to put our principles into action."

Middlesbrough's plan is in keeping with a directive from the United Nations, which has challenged all local authorities to "think globally and act locally" as part of a Local Agenda 21 scheme. The Prime Minister has asked all councils to have similar documents ready by the end of the year.

Coun Walker said: "Middlesbrough is ahead of the game as our first strategy was launched in 1998.

"Our environmental sustainability strategy is a major contribution to this local agenda and ensures Middlesbrough remains in the vanguard of environmental innovation.