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Local authorities, like central government, are committed to leading
by example on sustainable development. This page is designed to guide
local government on ways toinclude sustainability into services and council
operations.
As key players in local economies, local authorities can make a significant
contribution to the creation of sustainable communities and at the same
time have an influence on the habits of residents. Many are already improving
performance and reducing impacts through environmental management systems,
sustainable procurement practices and by learning new ways of working
involving new and different skills. Follow the links below to find out
more about local authorities leading by example.
Training and skills
for local government
To achieve the vision of sustainable communities requires the commitment
of a broad range of occupations and many, different skills. Not just those
needed to build places to live but also generic skills such as community
engagement, leadership, project management and partnership working. It
also involves greater cross-occupational learning, allowing people from
different fields to work together.
Most training for sustainable communities happens at a regional and local
level. Below are national organisations offering opportunities for learning
as well as relevant publications and resources.
Skills and training organisations
- Academy for Sustainable
Communities: The Academy was established by Office of the Deputy
Prime Minister (ODPM) to become the centre of excellence for the skills
and knowledge needed to create sustainable communities. Visit its website
for information on programmes, latest research and expertise and useful
links.
- National
School of Government: The School works to help public sector organisations
build capacity in good governance and offer more effective, better value
services. It is currently working on ways to embed sustainable development
thinking into all its programmes. Visit the website for details of its
programmes.
- Improvement and Development
Agency (IDeA): IDeA offers a range of services designed to
help councils improve, including on the sustainable communities agenda.
Visit IDeA's website for information on learning opportunities, development
courses and programmes.
For skills and training opportunities for local strategic partnerships,
visit the local leadership page.
Publications and resources
Sustainable Public Procurement
With an annual budget of over £40 bn, local government expenditure
on goods, works and services clearly has significant economic, social
and environmental impacts. Alongside other public sector spending, it
also has the power to transform markets and encourage the private sector
to join forces in pursuing sustainable purchasing policies.
Many local authorities have been pioneering sustainable procurement and
have already experienced some of the benefits that it can bring, such
as reducing waste and emissions and making more efficient use of public
resources through, for example, reduced energy bills and less packaging
waste.
The UK aims to be among the leaders in the EU by 2009 on sustainable
public procurement. To bring about this step-change, the Government's
Sustainable
Procurement Task Force has drawn up an Action
Plan to guide public sector spending into more sustainable purchasing.
Below are two examples of initiatives currently promoting sustainable
public
procurement and links to further case studies.
| Making it happen
- A prerequisite for schools realised under the Government's
'Building Schools for the Future' programme is that designs
achieve a BREEAM 'very good' rating. BRE's Environmental Assessment
Method for Schools, 'BREEAM for Schools' , is a mechanism
for assessing and certifying the environmental performance of
a school design. Visit the Building
Schools for the Future website for more information.
- 'Good corporate citizenship' describes how NHS organisations
can embrace sustainable development and tackle health inequalities
through their day-to-day activities. The NHS spends around £17
bn a year on goods and services, contributing up to 10% of regional
GDP. By steering some of this into local economies and more
sustainable procurement it can help build sustainable communities.
For more information and case studies, visit the Good
Corporate Citizenship in the NHS website.
- For examples of local government sustainable procurement practices,
including Forest of Dean District Council's sustainable procurement
guide, Dorset County Council 'green fleet' and Trafford Metropolitan
Borough Council's healthy meals in schools initiative, visit IDeA's
website.
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Further information
Environmental Management Systems
Environmental management has become a core issue for many sectors, including
local government and a growing number of local authorities are recognising
the benefits of implementing a robust and externally certified environmental
management system (EMS).
A local authority can use an EMS to help reduce its environmental impacts,
improve resource efficiency, reduce costs, and demonstrate that it is
managing its environmental risks and liabilities responsibly.
It is more thorough than ad-hoc approaches such as recycling paper, using
low energy light bulbs, or installing low-flush toilets because it puts
systems in place to ensure that the council has a genuine and positive
impact on the environment.
This can have major benefits at a strategic level and can help councils
to develop an overall framework for delivering public services and programmes
including initiatives on waste, water, energy, transport, and planning.
Government recommends that all types of organisations, including public
sector bodies, should use a robust and credible EMS, which is externally
certified to a national or international standard. It should be audited
by an independent certifier accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation
Service (UKAS). There are three recognised standards:
- ISO 14001: The international standard for environmental management
systems, ISO 14001 specifies the features and requirements necessary
to identify, evaluate, manage and improve performance. To obtain a copy
of the standard visit the British Standards
Institution website.
- EMAS: The Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a voluntary EU
wide scheme, which requires organisations to produce a public statement,
focuses on legislative compliance and includes ISO 14001. For more information,
visit the EMAS website.
- BS 8555: A new British Standard, BS 8555 allows phased implementation
of an EMS leading to full certification to ISO 14001 or registration
for EMAS. Breaking up ISO 14001 into specific stages makes it much easier
for organisations with limited resources to put in place an EMS and
also enables them to proceed at their own pace. It is primarily (but
not exclusively) aimed at small and medium sized enterprises. The Acorn
Inspection Scheme can provide accredited certification for each stage
of BS 8555 and ensures that data has been independently validated and
that the information they provided to stakeholders is both credible
and reliable. The Acorn scheme can also be used very successfully in
green procurement and can help manage supply chains more effectively.
For full details see the IEMA website.
Making it happen
- Launch of Local Authority Environmental Legal Register CD
Kirklees Metropolitan Council and Groundwork Blackburn Ltd have developed an Environmental Legal Register specifically tailored for Local Authorities.
It is a guidance tool for evaluating environmental legal compliance and will help Local Authorities who are working towards certification to an Environmental Management System.
- The CD’s development has been financially supported by Defra and so will be available free of charge to all Local Authorities in the UK from mid January 2007. A 6 monthly register update service will also be available for a small annual cost of £350 (plus VAT).
- If you would like more information about the register or update service please contact Helena Tinker at Kirklees Metropolitan Council on:
01484 223605 or Email helena.tinker@kirklees.gov.uk.
- If you would like to register your Local Authority to receive a copy of the CD please contact Joan Vevers or Val Gledhill on 01484 223568 or email Joan.vevers@kirklees.gov.uk and Val.Gledhill@kirklees.gov.uk
- Kirklees Metropolitan Council, with support from Defra, has set up EMS regional network groups across the UK to assist organisations in the public sector implement an environmental management system by sharing skills, expertise and best practise.
- Kirklees
Metropolitan Council achieves EMAS certification,
a key part of the council's rating as an 'excellent' authority
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Further information
Government
position statement on environmental management systems (Sept 05)
European
Union public sector EMAS information including a large number of
case studies
Institute
of Environmental Management & Assessment website contains information,
briefing papers and case studies
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