Council staff will be cracking down single-use plastics consumption.

Cotswold District Council will conduct an audit to find sustainable or reusable alternatives for items such as drinking water cups and refuse sacks.

The in-house audit – which will be undertaken by the council’s energy and resources projects officer - was discussed at the CDC Cabinet meeting on Thursday May 17 when members agreed a motion – submitted by Cllr Ray Brassington – to encourage a reduction in plastic waste.

Cllr Sue Coakley cabinet member for the environment, said: "The JWT has always been fully committed to reducing all unnecessary waste, including many single use plastics, and promotes seasonal events encouraging people to reduce, reuse and recycle.

"I will ensure that we continue with these efforts and take every opportunity to educate people about the need to find practical alternatives to single use plastics whenever possible – or to recycle when their use cannot be avoided.

"Across the country, manufacturers and retailers are waking up to the dangers to our planet caused by single use plastic thanks to calls from the government."

Cllr Brassington commented: “I welcome every effort to eliminate single use plastics and I am pleased that this motion was so warmly welcomed.

"People are becoming more conscious about the global harm caused by the unnecessary accumulation of many forms of plastic waste. This Motion is a small step towards tackling this crisis but if others follow our lead we can generate a much wider response which will be a real force for good.”