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Introduction to sustainability policy and reporting in other sectors. Tim Birley Tim Birley Consultancy for CaSPr. Sustainable Development. ECONOMIC. ENVIRONMENTAL. SOCIAL. Defining Sustainable Development.
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Introduction to sustainability policy and reporting in other sectors Tim Birley Tim Birley Consultancy for CaSPr
Sustainable Development ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL
Defining Sustainable Development “ Sustainable development is commonly defined as being development which serves a balance of social, economic and environmental well-being in the impact of activities and decisions, and which seeks to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Statutory Guidance)
Policy Context: • Sustainable Development: • Choosing Our Future: Scotland’s Sustainable Development Strategy, December 2005 • Best Value: • Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 • Wider public sector: Updated High Level and Secondary Guidance on Best Value, May 2006 Good Practice Toolkit, September 2006 • Planning Scotland Bill • European Structural Funds
Statement of Requirements:Local Government/Wider Public Sector • Leadership and commitment • Embedded in all objectives and plans at corporate and operational level • Communities / Consultation & joint working • Quality of Life Indicators / Performance measures • Review activities • Procurement • Management of resources
Guide to the Toolkit: Policy context Statement of Requirements Enablers & Barriers Routes to Entry Further sources of advice Self Assessment Questionnaire Features of SD & BV Role of Scrutiny Outcomes Case Studies
Push Factors • Duty on Accountable Officers • Scottish Public Finance Manual • Scottish Sustainable Development Strategy • Statute (for some) • Requirement for European support • Community planning • Subject to Audit
Mainstreaming Sustainable Development • ESEC/WoSEC (2005) Seminar’s views • Potential Advantages • Encourages partnership & joined-up approach • VFM: more effective use of resources • Awareness raising • Better quality & more durable outcomes • Learning opportunity • Disadvantages to avoid • Lack of ownership and commitment • Difficult, complex and risks ‘tick box’ approach • Risks losing focus & conflicting priorities • Perceived costs • May inhibit opportunities • Difficult to measure
Routes to Entry: • Leadership & champions • Corporate initiative • Community planning • Performance & output indicators • Policy review; SEA • Procurement strategy • Spending review; asset management • Demonstration
Highland Council: Cllr Ian Ross • Realities • Perceived relevance of S.D. • Consider the operating context – “SPS” • Another “burden” • General awareness of elected members and senior officials • Pressure of economic imperativesandshort-termism • Rhetoric over substance and real impact • BUT some examples of very good practice and commitment
Potential • Existing good practice • Latent activity • Indicators & measures • Mainstreaming - becoming natural • Support and learning • Better: joined-up governance
Potential: Miles Better • Mainstreaming - becoming natural • Indicators & measures • Latent activity • Existing good practice • Support and learning • Better: joined-up governance
Performance Measures • What Criteria established? • What sustainability Indicators adopted? • Contributing to Quality of Life Indicators? • How are Outcomes contributing to sustainable development? • How are Lessons being learned? • What has Changed? • Have Early Wins been used? • How is Benchmarking used? • What Monitoring is in place? (and Information for this) • What steps are taken to meet SEA obligations?
Mainstreaming: Criteria • Net Additional Jobs • Evidence of Demand • Partnership & Leverage • Infrastructure Impact • Resource Efficiency • Environmental Impact • Access & Equal Opportunity • Local Added Value • Capacity Building • Social Inclusion • Strategic Integration • Durability & Feasibility
Capacity Building • The need for joint working; • The on-going synthesis of guidance; • The exchange of good practice; • Provision for encouraging innovation and rewarding best practice; • Securing a common framework for performance measurement and audit; • Practical outcomes.