The Sustainable Scotland Network
The Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) brings together Scottish local authorities to advance sustainable development action - previously under the name Local Agenda 21. It works closely with the Executive.
Its website is www.sustainable-scotland.net See this for information on Scotland's Climate Change Declaration. (The Declaration Development Group involves the Scottish Government, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA), the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (Scotland) (SOLACE), the Improvement Service, the Energy Saving Trust, the Carbon Trust, the UK Climate Impacts Programme, the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER) and the Local Energy Support Programme, as well as SSN.)
Government support for the Network
The Executive's funding of a Development Officer post since October 2002 allowed the Network to expand its activity. It was funded through the Scottish share of the Aggregates Levy. The support was £62,000 up to March 2004 and £40,000 per year was provided from 2004 to 2007. Announcing the award in October 2002 the then Environment Minister Ross Finnie said:
"Action at a local level is essential to deliver effective sustainable development policies. Local authorities currently do a great deal of work in implementing policies which take account of sustainable development, and this funding will help them do even more.
"This post will provide a common resource so that the Network can do its job effectively. Its creation will strengthen linkages at a local level, promote good practices in sustainable development in Scotland, and help raise awareness. It will also improve co-operation amongst local authorities, and between them and other bodies."
"Choosing Our Future - Scotland's Sustainable Development Strategy" of December 2005 stated that the Executive would provide additional resources to the Network. The Executive offered additional grant to allow an additional post to be created, so that the two posts of Strategy, Policy and Programme Development Manager and Development Officer can develop: new national programmes (climate change, procurement, Local Government in Scotland Act); co-ordinated training across local authority functions; a framework for Local Authority Sustainable Development Performance Improvement; collaborative approaches to programme delivery, and seeking to attract additional resources.
Additional grant of £60,000 in 2006-07 gave total grant of £100,000. In 2007-08 the grant offer is £115,000.
Development of the Network
In 1997 the Prime Minister challenged all local authorities to produce Local Agenda 21 strategies by the end of 2000. These strategies were to outline how councils planned to promote sustainable development in their areas.
Action in Scotland was encouraged by the conference 'Sustaining Change,' held in November 1997, which marked a new partnership between CoSLA, the Scottish Local Agenda 21 Co-ordinators Network and The Scottish Office. Between 1998 and 2001, a LA21 co-ordinator was based in CoSLA and funded largely by The Scottish Office. The Network brought Councils together and guidance was produced by CoSLA in 'The LA21 Route Planner'. The report 'Changed Days' published in 1998 reported on LA21 activities from each Scottish local authority.
Action at a local level is essential to deliver effective sustainable development policies. The Sustainable Scotland Network, which now co-ordinates activity in Scotland, includes representatives from all local councils and encourages networking and discussion on the implementation and monitoring of policies and projects on sustainable development.
The Sustainable Scotland Network holds an annual conference. The October 2006 conference, 'Planning for a Sustainable Scotland,' at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, focussed on the role of land use planning, and the new Scottish Planning Bill, in developing a more sustainable Scotland. The theme of the 2007 conference was Local Government and Climate Change.
You will find the contact details for your local authority SSN member(s) and information about sustainable development initiatives underway in your area on www.sustainable-scotland.net. You can also contact George Tarvit, the SSN Strategy, Policy and Programme Development Manager on 01786 468235 or e-mail: george.tarvit@encams.org