Supplementary memorandum by the Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
IMPLICATIONS OF THE SUB-NATIONAL REVIEW ON
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(RSPB) wants the best institutional arrangements to ensure the
protection and enhancement of biodiversity in the English regions.
In the Government's response to the consultation
on "prosperous places", sustainable growth is defined
as "economic growth that is within environmental limits,
but also enhances the environment and delivers social welfare".
The Government's proposals have outlined how economic growth can
be delivered in the new arrangements, but have so far failed to
provide effective mechanisms to deliver "economic growth
within environmental limits". As presently framed, we do
not believe the current proposals will enhance the environment,
and lead to improved outcomes for biodiversity.
To support the Government's aim of achieving
economic growth within environmental limits across the English
regions, the following points should be addressed:
— there should be a robust duty on
Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and Leaders' Boards to deliver
sustainable development, not just sustainable economic growth.
— Regional priorities should be aligned
with programmes of central government. Regional strategies should
therefore reflect government's wider commitments to sustainable
development, climate change and the natural environment and therefore
be aligned to the relevant Public Service Agreements 27 and 28.
— The implementation and monitoring
arrangements should include alternative non-Gross Value Added
metrics. We are concerned that RDAs and Leaders' Boards will have
little incentive to promote economic growth that benefits the
natural environment, if their performance is judged on economic
targets, measured by GVA. The RDAs and Leaders' Boards should
be required to report on how they are implementing sustainable
development in all its facets as well as sustainable economic
growth.
— Regional strategies must be required
to include policies to protect and enhance biodiversity and promote
the sustainable management of natural resources.
— All regional strategies and plans
must be subject to Strategic Environmental Assessment/Sustainability
Appraisal. Developing the evidence base for the strategy should
cover far more than an assessment of local economic conditions.
It should assess the state of the environment within the sub-regions
alongside the economic assessment. Assessment tools are useful
to ensure that economic development takes place strategically
and within environmental limits.
— Formal arrangements must be introduced
to enable environmental partners to be involved in the preparation,
implementation and monitoring of the regional strategies and plans.
December 2008
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