APPENDIX 22
Memorandum from South Gloucestershire
Council
ABOUT SOUTH
GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL
South Gloucestershire Council is a unitary authority
created in 1996. It was formed from the previous districts of
Kingswood and Northavon, and part of the former County of Avon
and has a population of approximately 250,000. The population
is expected to rise by approximately 2,500 per year, reaching
290,00 in 2021. The population is increasing faster than anywhere
else in the South West and South Gloucestershire is one of the
fastest growing areas in the country. Promoting and achieving
sustainable development is therefore a priority for the Council.
"Has the Strategy acted as a driver or does
it occupy a limbo existence, which has little impact on departments'
real priorities?"
1. General Comments
The UK Sustainable Development Strategy has been helpful in setting out sustainability as a national priority and has helped with the development of action at a local level. However there are certain limitations and some of these are set out here.
| 1.1 The definition of sustainable development in the strategy in particular the reference to growth means that it's meaning is interpreted differently by different government agencies and departments to suit their own goals and more clarity and emphasis on what is meant by sustainable economic growth would be helpful.
1.2 Whilst the Sustainable Communities Plan refers to the UK Sustainable Development Strategy the implementation and guidance on the two do not seem to have been effectively linked. This has resulted in some confusion at an operational level to the interpretation of the meaning of sustainable communities and sustainable development.
1.3 The Local Government Act sets out the requirement for Community Strategies to contribute to sustainable development in the UK and in South Gloucestershire we have agreed a Strategy that provides a strategic sustainability framework. However there is no requirement for a sustainability appraisal of the strategy or subsequent monitoring and this has meant that in some areas Community Strategies are very parochial and only deal with local environmental issues. As Community Strategies are meant to mainstream Local Agenda 21 it is of concern that these monitoring arrangements are not in place.
1.4 A lot of effort is expended on developing strategies and at the moment there are a proliferation of strategies at a sub regional level that set out aspirations but do not seem to have any teeth. Greater use of legislation to control resource use and waste and the impact of private and public sector organisations would be more effective and help implementation of UK Sustainable Development Strategy at a local level.
1.5 Complicated funding streams for carbon reduction initiatives result in a disproportionate amount of time being spent in submitting funding bids for relatively small scale projects with little impact on overall CO2 emissions.
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| 2. The limitations on implementing the Strategy for Local Planning Authorities
| 2.1 Emerging national planning policy guidance, which is now issued in the form of Planning Policy Statements, often refers to the Sustainable Development Strategy, and planning policies are in theory designed to achieve it. In practice there is often a gap between the aspirations set out in national planning policy documents and the powers that local planning authorities have to ensure those outcomes.
2.2 The Development Plan Regulations require local authorities to have regard to environmental considerations when preparing development plans. PPG12 outlines issues that local authorities may address in development plans including the reduction of CO2 emissions through energy efficient design.
2.3 The Audit Commissions inspection of the Council's Building Control Service recommended that the Council should be promoting energy efficiency standards above those set out in the Building Regulations.
2.4 A policy on energy efficient design was included in our Deposit Draft Local Plan. The Government Office for the South West objected to this on the basis that the Building Regulations are the appropriate legislative regime for promoting energy conservation measures through building design and the local plan should not seek to duplicate or extend such provisions. This is now being considered through the Public Inquiry.
2.5 This type of inconsistent and conflicting advice from different government departments and agencies make it difficult for local authorities to have an impact at a local level.
2.6 Without additional regulation it is unlikely that Local Planning Authorities will be able to influence significant improvements to new homes, buildings and developments in terms of sustainable construction.
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| May 2004 | |
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