Environmental Performance of Public Bodies Initiative
Action by Scottish Government Agencies and Public Bodies
In 2004 the Cabinet agreed that the then Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Ross Finnie, should take the lead on encouraging Scottish Government NDPBs and Agencies to develop their environmental management systems. These bodies were asked to audit where they were in areas such as energy use, waste minimisation, use of recycled materials, travel, water use, procurement and biodiversity. Following their audit they were asked to adopt suitable environmental management policies which would include specific environmental targets for 2006/2007.
Once these policies, procedures and targets are in place, agencies and public bodies will be required to report annually on their performance, either in their annual reports or in a freestanding document. This information will also be collated annually and published on the Scottish Government website.
As agreed by Cabinet NHS bodies, local authorities, the police and fire services were excluded from this exercise as they are covered by other requirements. Some advisory bodies and tribunals were also excluded at this time as they have no assets that they manage directly.
This initiative also forms part of Choosing Our Future, Scotland's Sustainable Development Strategy. It is one of the measures being introduced to reduce Scotland's global environmental impact in the Public Sector.
At present 51 organisations have been asked to provide policies and targets. This number will increase if any new agencies or public bodies are created.
The publication of the current policies and targets will be used as a benchmark for continual improvement in the coming years. As you will see the quality of this documentation is quite varied as many of these bodies identify their baselines and develop their policies, procedures and targets for the first time.
To ensure that the majority of these organisations adopt appropriate policies the Government will provide further advice and guidance to strengthen the policies and targets in place. Over the coming months the Government's Greener Scotland Directorate will be assessing this documentation to ensure it is fit for purpose and fully meets the requirements of this initiative. For areas that fall below acceptable standards, GSD officials will meet with individual public bodies to discuss ways of strengthening their policies and targets as well as assessing what other help and assistance is necessary to make sure that they fully comply with this initiative.
New Agencies and NDPBs will be also be pulled into this initiative in the coming months e.g. Transport Scotland, Social Work Inspection Agency, Architecture and Design Scotland, the University for Industry and the Risk Management Authority.
Current Policies and Targets of Public Bodies in this Initiative
Accountant in Bankruptcy
Audit Scotland
* Bord Gaidhlig na h-Alba
Cairngorms National Park Authority
Caledonian MacBrayne
Care Commission
* Communities Scotland
Crofters Commission
Deer Commission
Fisheries Research Services
* General Register Office for Scotland
General Teaching Council for Scotland
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Historic Scotland
HM Inspectorate of Education
* Learning and Teaching Scotland
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
* Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland
* National Archives of Scotland
National Galleries of Scotland
National Library of Scotland - policy and targets
National Museums of Scotland - policy and targets
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
* Parole Board for Scotland
Registers of Scotland
Royal Botanic Garden
* Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
Scottish Agricultural Science Agency
Scottish Arts Council - updated April 5 2007
Scottish Building Standards Agency
Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
Scottish Court Service - updated May 2 2007
* Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
* Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
Scottish Funding Councils
Scottish Law Commission
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Scottish Natural Heritage - policy and targets
* Scottish Prison Service
Scottish Public Pension Agency
Scottish Qualifications Agency
Scottish Screen
Scottish Social Services Council
* Scottish Water
Sportscotland
Student Awards Agency for Scotland
Visitscotland
Water Industry Commission for Scotland
* These organisations are still finalising their policies or are awaiting approval from their Management Boards. The information should be available in the coming months.