The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) is using the Sustainable Development Framework to ensure that good practice is shared by local government and its partners. Good practice arising from the development of the Sustainable Development Framework and other examples are listed below. If you would like to add your good practice examples to this website, please email Tim Peppin tim.peppin@wlga.gov.uk
Sustainable Development and Communications
As part of the Sustainable Development Framework, the WLGA has funded a project on Sustainable Development and Communications to improve the way that sustainable development messages are delivered to the public and to promote awareness and behaviour change at a local level.
The aims of the project were to:
- communicate consistently across Wales on sustainability issues, in a way that will encourage behaviour change;
- take the Welsh Assembly’s National Sustainability vision and implement this campaign at a local level, encouraging behaviour change.
To achieve these objectives, sustainability and communications experts within Welsh local authorities have worked closely together to develop sustainability communications campaigns that deliver results. The project was organised by the Sustainable Development Coordinators Cymru Network, with input from the ‘Futerra’ consultancy.
An outcome of the project has been the production of guidance booklets for local authority staff. The separate booklets are aimed at those officers dealing with sustainable development issues in their day-to-day work and those responsibilities lie in communicating with the public.
The WLGA has provided a ‘Bespoke Projects’ Fund to encourage innovation and good practice examples in sustainable development for local government in Wales. Reports on the completed projects are listed below:
Agile Working Policy (Monmouthshire CC)
The Staff Travel Survey was commissioned to inform the Agile Working Policy being developed by Monmouthshire County Council. The context of the study includes the development of a new headquarters in Usk, planned for completion in 2012 (accommodating 450 members of staff), and the developing urgency for local authorities to reduce their carbon footprint amid rising concerns around climate change.
Publication: Agile Working Policy - Staff Travel Survey Report
For more information contact Alison Howard at Monmouthshire County Council alisonhoward@monmouthshire.gov.uk
Sustainable Regeneration Implementation Plan: Pilot on the Tawe Riverside Corridor Strategy (City and County of Swansea Council)
The main aim of this project was to develop and pilot a model Sustainable Regeneration Implementation Plan that can be adapted and replicated to be used on other key regeneration sites both in Swansea and in other local authority areas. The purpose of the SIP is to ensure that the regeneration of the Tawe Riverside Corridor achieves its potential for generating more sustainable development. The final outcome was a detailed report with a Framework of Sustainability Objectives, key recommendations and an on-going monitoring framework.
Publication: Sustainable Regeneration Implementation Plan Report
Environmental Management System Support for Local Authorities (Torfaen CBC and Bridgend CBC)
A suite of support tools for local authorities that can be used to implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) has been developed by Torfaen CBC in partnership with Bridgend CBC. It will assist local authorities in benchmarking environmental performance and setting objectives and targets for improvements.
To request a copy of the Environmental Management System Toolkit, please email Rachael O’Shaughnessy at Torfaen County Borough Council Rachael.O'Shaughnessy@torfaen.gov.uk
Sustainability Index for Schools (Caerphilly CBC)
The aim of this project is to develop a Sustainability Index for Schools in partnership with the New Economics Foundation (NEF), Torfaen County Borough Council, Carmarthenshire County Council and Keep Wales Tidy (Eco Schools Wales). The Index is to be used as a tool for explaining sustainability and providing information on how to be more sustainable to school-age children and young people.
The ‘Green Grins’ Index enables children to calculate their own sustainability score. By answering ten questions the children are given a score for their ecological footprint, happiness and health. They are then given feedback based on their own answers, which gives tips and advice on how to live more sustainably.
The Index is currently being piloted in eleven primary and one secondary school. For more information, contact Tracey Evans evansta@caerphilly.gov.uk or Paul Cooke cookepa@caerphilly.gov.uk at Caerphilly County Borough Council
LA Asset Management Plans - Sustainable Appraisal Process (City and County of Swansea Council)
This project aimed to create a ‘blue print’ methodology for carrying out Sustainability Appraisals of local government Asset Management Plans. Welsh Local Government has been required to carry out Asset Management Plans since 2006. These plans are published annually and form part of the Council’s strategic planning framework.
The 'Asset Sustainability Appraisal’ Tool aims to help in decision making and business planning around Service's assets; to inform the Corporate Asset Management Plan and to help Services to:
- consider the future management of a service's assets against a range of environmental, economic and social criteria
- encourage a future focus (20-30 years) to consider the impact of longer term trends in population and climate which may present risks or opportunities to the asset and services delivered from it
- focus on opportunities for more sustainable asset management rather than just recording impacts or risks and threats (like many other appraisal tools)
- dovetail with the Council's business resilience and risk work (services may need to draw on this to inform the process)
Publication: Asset Management Sustainable Appraisal Process Report
For more information contact: Tim Peppin