Sustainable development (SD) is about ensuring well-being and a better quality of life for everyone now and for generations to come. SD policy should include planning for the long-term, considering impacts beyond the local area and ensuring full integration of social, economic and environmental dimensions of development. Sustainable Development is the process by which we move towards sustainability, and its principles should lie at the heart of all local government activity.
This Framework seeks to provide practical guidance in support of efforts to deliver sustainable development. The Framework has been developed by Local Government officers, service-specific experts, sustainability experts (such as our partner charity Forum for the Future) aswell as Assembly and Wales Audit Office representatives.
Delivery of the Framework
The WLGA, in partnership with the Environment Agency and supported by Value Wales will be offering a menu of supporting seminars and workshops so as to address both broad commitments to mainstreaming SD and specific areas where you require support in order to progress. Details will be posted in the coming months, on this website and communicated to authorities through our policy networks.
Hyperlinked Useful Resources - Suggested Additions Welcomed
Click the download link below for an extensive list of useful Sustainable Development resources. To add a resource to the list email the contact at the bottom of this page listing the full hyperlink to the webpage on which that resource appears and the sub-category in which you feel it belongs.
Download Excel Spreadsheet *The links included in no way reflect WLGA policy and inclusion is in no way a comment on the quality (or otherwise) of any document, resource or views expressed therein. The WLGA is not responsible for the content of any external websites.
Corporate Modules
Guidance on mainstreaming sustainability and aligning corporate functions towards delivery of sustainable development.
If there is a link 'Download PDF' below the document it is available for download
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Introductory Document Introduces sustainable development, sets policy context and business case for the sustainable way forward. Audience: Elected Members, Senior Officers, key partnerships. |
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Sustainable Development in the Wales Programme for Improvement (SD in WPI) An advisory following the WPI guidance note 28/2005 which positioned SD as a ‘key component of effective, efficient performance’. Audience: Improvement / Policy Officers, Senior Officers, Elected Members |
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Delivering Better Public Services Through Sustainable Development: A Briefing for Councillors Introduces SD, Importance for your Council, What members can do to lead and help deliver SD locally. Audience: Elected Members, Member Support Officers |
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Sustainability Standard for Welsh Local Government (Developed by Forum for the Future) Tool supporting mainstreaming of SD, self-assessment benchmarking of progress, Audience: Senior Officers (Management Team), Elected Members |
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Procurement Explains business case and suggests key steps for progress towards sustainable procurement. Audience: Procurement Officers, Finance Officers |
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Facilities and Property Management Explains business case for sustainable management of estates, greater resource efficiency and suggests key steps for improvement. Audience: Directors, all managers, esp. Biodiversity, Energy and Facilities Officers, Elected Members |
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Engagement and Communication Explains the vital role effective engagement and communication can play in delivering and communciating sustainable development within communities. Audience: Communications Officers, Community Strategy Officers, Service Managers, Elected Members. |
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Leading by Example Explains importance of demonstrating SD leadership as a major local employer and suggetss key steps for improvement. Audience: Human Resources Managers, Transport/Travel Planners, Health and Well Being Co-ordinators |
Service Modules
Specific guidance on making your services more sustainable and more effectively cross-coordinating services.
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Waste Management Awaiting Waste Policy Review |
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Housing Click document image (left) to Download consultation draft responses accepted before end of December 2007 |
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Education Consultation in October - email to recieve. |
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Transport Forming Working group - email for details |
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Construction | ![]() |
Regeneration |
Weblinks - for which the WLGA holds no responsibility
Sustainable Development Commission
Welsh Assembly Government Sustainable Development
For more information contact: Tim Peppin







