APPENDIX 1
Memorandum from the Local Government Association
The Local Government Association (LGA) represents
all but a few of the five hundred local authorities in England
and Wales, totalling communities of over 50 million people.
The local government associations and the Local
Government Management Board have, for some years, been working
to promote the concept of sustainable development principally
under the banner of the UK Local Agenda 21 Initiative established
in 1993. An integrated approach combining social, economic and
environmental objectives is essential and the LGA is particularly
pleased that this is the approach being advocated in the new central/local
government document "Sustainable Local Communities for
the 21st century". In this context, the issues of environmental
taxation and "Greening Government" are particularly
pertinent.
B. GREENING GOVERNMENT
Sustainable development requires government,
local and central, to approach problems in an integrated way.
We will not operate more sustainably if policies compete against
each other and issues are dealt with in traditional departmental
compartments.
The LGA recognises that delivering this integrated
approach is as challenging for local authorities as it is for
central government. Making sustainable development "more
corporate" within local authorities is a major theme of the
LGA's work in supporting all local authorities to produce Local
Agenda 21 strategies by 2000.
However, the LGA also believes that there is
valuable experience within local government, which demonstrates
that a commitment to sustainable development can provide a framework
for more integrated working and maximise the benefits to local
communities. There is a wealth of experience on good practice
in Local Agenda 21 which could be shared with central government
to help it "green" its activities.
In particular, there is increasing interest
in local authorities in environmental management systems, principally
the local authority Eco-Management and Audit scheme (EMAS). By
adapting the existing framework of a local authority and only
creating new systems when absolutely necessary, EMAS helps to
ensure that policy commitments are delivered in an efficient and
effective manner. The setting of objectives and targets, the assignment
of responsibilities and resources and the auditing of progress
are crucial element in reducing negative impacts and maximising
positive effects. EMAS is an integral part of a local authority's
Local Agenda 21 process and one which allows credibility and commitment
to sustainable development to be publicly demonstrated. About
46 per cent. of local authorities are currently involved in EMAS
work.
Experience from local government shows that
senior management and political commitment is essential if the
principles of sustainable development are to be integrated across
the work of the authority. For this reason, "Sustainable
Local Communities for the 21st Century" suggests under
"Getting Started" that local authorities should
appoint a co-ordinator in the Chief Executive's office.
From this perspective, it appears that the Government's Sustainable
Development Unit, based in the DETR will have to work hard to
influence the rest of Government.
January 1998
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