Seeing the Bigger Picture: Delivering Local Sustainable Development(Reconciling Environmental & Social Concerns S.)

Drawing on a range of information sources, this report identifies the obstacles and barriers to the successful delivery of sustainable development at local level. It assesses the policy actions and new power relations between central and local government which might be adopted to overcome these restrictions. Seeing the bigger picture identifies how government policies and performance requirements within the central-local context might be better shaped for the future, and suggests that a new public service ethos that embraces lasting change is needed in order to inspire greater government commitment at all levels. The study concludes with a review of the policy implications of its findings and will be of interest to all those working to create a more sustainable local environment. This timely publication offers some challenging opportunities in the light of the on-going review of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy, and the findings of the ODPM commissioned Egan Review on 'sustainable communities'. The report also advances a new concept of 'Principled Localism', as a basis of a new code for sustainability in governance, and offers strategic and specific practical suggestions for central and local government partners to re-energise their efforts delivering sustainable development at the local level that adds value to the Government's modernisation of the public sector.

About the Author :
Fay Blair joined Global to Local Ltd (G2L) as a sustainability consultant in January 2003, following her role as International Sustainable Development Co-ordinator for the Local Government International Bureau. She has 15 years of practical experience working as Environmental/Local Agenda 21/Community Planning Co-ordinator with local authorities. She has also worked in education and marketing and tends now to focus on research, training and facilitation. Over the years she has contributed to many local, national and international (ICLEI) practitioner networks, conference and training events. She has been an advisory project member for studies linked to the Economic and Social Research Council and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and assists on the editorial boards for journals Local Environment and EG. Bob Evans is Director of the Sustainable Cities Research Institute at the University of Northumbria, an applied research consultancy organisation which works to develop and promote sustainable approaches to urban living. He has written widely on environmental and town planning, in addition to many book chapters and articles on land use, environmental planning and sustainable development. He is co-founder and co-editor of the international journal, Local Environment. Bob Evans has also worked as a community worker and town planner in the public, private and voluntary sectors.