Projects, Programmes, and Initiatives - United Kingdom Strategies for Sustainable Cities

The Prime Minister has stated "I want all local authorities in the UK to adopt Agenda 21 strategies by the year 2000 ", (New York, UN General Assembly Special Session on the Environment, 23rd June 1997). The UK and Local Agenda 21 As well as being encouraged to use EMAS and to develop local environmental plans authorities do not have to, by law, develop a Local Agenda 21 plan. However, the local authority leads most LA21 processes with broad involvement by the local community. LA21 strategies should inform all other local plans, policies and programmes. Partnership between regional and local tiers is essential: guidance encourages regional development agencies to take account of LA21 strategies and high level sustainable development frameworks to be prepared for each English region will also draw on LA21 work. The Government guidance to local authorities recognizes four principle objectives: 1. social progress which recognizes the needs of everyone; 2. effective protection of the environment, 3. prudent use of natural resources; 4. maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment Further details regarding how local authorities should undertake building sustainable communities is detailed at this web site: http://www.environment.detr.gov.uk/sustainable/la21/policy/index.htm The cross-sectoral Local Agenda 21 Steering Group was established to promote the Local Agenda 21 process in the UK, by supporting local authorities in this and has provides a wide range of guidance and training materials. A significant contribution has been the establishment of the Local Agenda 21 Case Study Project, which is available on-line via the Local Sustainability website: (http://cities21.com/coldfus/citylist.dbm). The growing body of guidance on EMAS has been influential in helping local authorities get their own houses in environmental order. More info: http://www.la21-uk.org.uk/ YORK CITY LA21 STRATEGY About York York is a modern commercial city renowned for its heritage, religious significance and chocolate. A number of elements combine to define the character of the city. The important core of historic buildings, mostly within and around the city walls, that give the city its international reputation as a heritage centre, is supplemented by a rural setting of open countryside and small villages that emphasize the compact urban form of York. The city's role as a major tourist destination and sub-regional shopping centre together with the availability of a skilled workforce (as a result of railway engineering works) have combined to bring strong development pressures for a wide range of uses. The York Local Plan City of York Council published its Draft Local Plan in May 1998. This sets out the strategy for the development of the City of York over the next eight years. The local plan, "A Sustainable Vision for York" highlights that the process of sustainable development requires forward-looking and long-term strategies. The main policies set out in the plan are concerned with the economic and social issues of sustainable development which both take precedence over environmental issues. The Council recognise that "The extent to which these conflicts can be reconciled will depend on changing global, national and local attitudes over time." Local Plan Goals The following goals have been: 1. Protecting key features of the environment (e.g.. historic buildings, nature conservation, the city's countryside setting); 2. Promoting economic growth and new jobs; 3. Providing for future housing needs; 4. Enabling access to services and recreation; 5. Enhancing social prosperity; 6. Promoting good use of natural resources (e.g.. water, air and minerals); 7. Minimizing waste; 8. Concentrating new development in existing settlements, on previously developed sites; 9. Minimizing the need to travel; 10. Providing a clear city centre focus; and 11. Community safety. Initiatives The aims of the York Local Agenda 21 plan is to give everyone a good quality of life today, whilst ensuring that the environment we leave behind supports at least as good a quality of life for future generations and has helped to establish the following activities. York and North Yorkshire Business Environmental Forum, which offers advice to businesses on improving environmental efficiency York and North Yorkshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, which offers advice to householders and small businesses and York Energy Savers, which is being set up to offer direct help to householders Young Transnet, which works with schools to reduce the effects of traffic on their locality City Harvest, a scheme for local growers of organic produce Travelwise, a project to help employers improve the efficiency of staff and business transport Further information is available: http://www.york.gov.uk/environment/agenda21.html OTHER UK CITY STRATEGIES Vision for Leeds: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/lcc/vision/vision.html The Vision for Leeds is a comprehensive framework for guiding the future development of the city - on a sustainable basis - for the next 10 years. The Strategy is structured around six themes, although there are significant linkages and overlaps between them. Making the most of people: A city where all residents have the opportunity to reach their full potential and lead a fulfilling life Competing in a global economy: A city that is internationally recognized as a thriving and cosmopolitan centre for business, learning and the arts. Integrated transport: An accessible city with a quality transport system supporting the economic and social activity, yet minimizing environmental damage. Looking after the environment: A green, clean and attractive city, committed to continuous environmental improvement. Creating better neighbourhoods and confident communities: A good place to live, with no neighbourhoods where people do not want to be. A planned approach to technology: Planned use of telematics for improved economic performance and quality of life. Norwich 21: http://www.norwich.gov.uk/council Norwich 21 promote a sustainable future for Norwich by seeking to balance economic development, social development and environmental protection; engage the public and partner organisations in the process; develop a joint Vision for the city; an Annual Vision and Action Plan. This has been achieved by initiatives such as: environmental campaigns in our local newspaper on energy, water, waste and traffic. empowerment of the local community to have influence in environmental issues by established democratically elected 'community power' forums developed corporate working teams on environmental issues, such as contaminated land introduced training for officers and Members on environmental and sustainability issues Also included in the strategy is an initiative entitled Best Value has as a guiding principle the involvement of the community in developing and evaluating services. EMAS, Leicester: http://www.leicester.gov.uk/city/environ/environ.htm In 1990, Leicester became Britain's first "Environment City" took part in the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro one of only twelve cities from across the world invited to attend. The Council adopts the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) to ensure that these standards are monitored, maintained and improved to reach the Council goal its goal of achieving sustainable development in everything it does. The activities that have been launched in Leicester include: ENVIRON -an independent agency advising on environmental and community development; Eco-House - a state-of-the-art ecological construction and Vision 2020 a long term multi-sector programme for transport, energy, ecology and waste. The Tree of Life, Plymouth: http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/star/frames30.htm Community aspirations and involvement can take many forms. The Plymouth Disabled Arts Forum created a tree of life sculpture. It was used as a way of expressing how different cultures see the World -and its also a way of getting your message across. The messages, pledges and ideas pinned to the city's tree of life help with future Local Agenda 21 plans in the City. Some examples messages included: To support any initiatives to improve and maintain the environment. To stop my husband throwing his fag butts on the floor. To stop moaning and do something positive. To motivate myself to take all my newspapers and bottles to be recycled more often. To try to be kinder to animals and bugs. To make the world a better place. To keep trees healthy. Cambridge Local Agenda 21: http://www.cambridge.gov.uk Calls for public and community involvement through lifestyle changes such as: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Encourage wildlife, Reduce food miles buy locally, Reduce water and electricity consumption, use the best energy rated equipment. Citizen's Pledge, York: http://www.york.gov.uk/environment/york/agenda/index.html The York LA21 strategy is launched in March 2000 with 15 action points aimed at improving the quality of life in York. One of the activities to coincide with the launch of this is the citizen's pledge. This scheme involves citizens promising to "do their 'bit' " such as cycling to school to cut down on traffic pollution to raising awareness about social issues. GLOGE (Going Local on a Better Environment), Reading Reading Borough Council set up the GLOBE neighbourhood Agenda 21 project to strengthen links between the council and local people/communities so that they become more informed and motivated to take action on local issues. The GLOBE activities have increased local knowledge of decision making processes and creating a direct link between the local community and the council such as the creation of a Transport Forum. GLOBE has also focused on ethnic minorities; a group identified as under-represented in earlier stages of the work.

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