Introduction to sustainability Introduction to sustainability policy and reporting in other policy and reporting in other sectorssectors

Tim Birley

Tim Birley Consultancy for CaSPr

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

ECONOMIC

ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL

Defining Sustainable Defining Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment“ 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: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:Statement of Requirements:Local Government/Wider Public SectorLocal 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:Guide to the Toolkit:

Enablers & Barriers

Statement of Requirements

Routes to Entry

Further sources of advice

Self Assessment Questionnaire

Role of Scrutiny

Features of SD & BV

Case Studies

Outcomes

Policy context

Push FactorsPush Factors

Duty on Accountable OfficersScottish Public Finance ManualScottish Sustainable Development

StrategyStatute (for some)Requirement for European supportCommunity planningSubject to Audit

Mainstreaming Sustainable DevelopmentMainstreaming 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: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 RossHighland 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 imperatives and

short-termism Rhetoric over substance and real impact BUT some examples of very good practice and

commitment

PotentialPotential

Existing good practiceLatent activityIndicators & measuresMainstreaming - becoming naturalSupport and learningBetter: joined-up governance

Potential: Potential: Miles BetterMiles Better

Mainstreaming - becoming naturalIndicators & measuresLatent activityExisting good practiceSupport and learningBetter: joined-up governance

Performance MeasuresPerformance 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: CriteriaMainstreaming: 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

Performance indicators 1Performance indicators 1

* NEET= Not in education, employ-ment or training

SD Indicators Wheel – Organisational Indicators (e.g. an Environmental Body)

NAT’L HERITAGE & RESOURCES

Colour in the “rim”can indicate priority, or performance over previous year, for each indicator, for the organisation concerned

Each organisation would develop a “wheel”appropriate to its own remit and activities, in agreement with the Scottish Executive, encouraging it to consider all the contributions it can make, both main and secondary

Main contributions

Secondarycontributions

Health Inequality

16-19 yrs NEET*

Community

Crime

Households

Waste

BiodiversityMarine

GreenhouseGas

River Quality

Renewables

GDP per head

Age Profile

Transport

EcoSchools

Employment

Air Quality

Carbon Emissions

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

910

11

12

14

13

15

16

17

18

Performance Indicators 2Performance Indicators 2

Capacity BuildingCapacity 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.