Sustainable Development Performance Report
Perth and Kinross Council · 15 February 2023
Back to Climate Change and Sustainability Committee — 15 February 2023 and its agenda
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL Climate Change and Sustainability Committee 15 February 2023 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PERFORMANCE REPORT Report by Executive Director (Communities) (Report No. 23/45) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 This report provides members with an update on Perth and Kinross Council’s (PKC) progress towards delivering Sustainable Development. It reviews overall performance and progress as required by the Best Value Sustainable Development duty, in light of the 2020 changes to statutory guidance. It also signposts areas for improvement in 2023/24. 1.2 In the current cost of living crisis, and the climate and biodiversity emergencies, embedding sustainable development in our Council operations has never been more important. Sustainable Development is a key pillar in the framework for ensuring that we are achieving Best Value in everything that that the Council does. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 It is recommended that Committee: • notes and approves the updated performance position for the Council’s compliance with the Best Value Sustainable Development duty. • approves the proposals for main areas of focus in 2023/24. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background • Section 5: Progress to date • Section 6: Proposals • Section 6: Conclusion • Appendices
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4. BACKGROUND 4.1 The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 introduced a statutory framework for Best Value. It places a duty on all local authorities in Scotland to secure Best Value while discharging their duties in a way which contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development. 4.2 Best Value statutory guidance was first issued by the Scottish Government in in 2004, with Theme 6 – ‘Sustainability’ identifying the characteristics of Best Value that best demonstrate contribution to the achievement of sustainable development. In-line with the guidance, the Council developed a corporate sustainable development framework in 2007, laying out processes for an integrated approach to sustainable development. 4.3 Revised Best Value statutory guidance was published in 2020. This report provides the review of the Council’s current corporate sustainable development performance in line with the revised guidance. 5. PROGRESS TO DATE 5.1 This report covers the current progress made in contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in-line with Best Value duty requirements. Perth & Kinross Council - Best Value & Sustainable Development Progress Report 2022/23 (Appendix 1) provides a full summary of performance and next steps. The key points are summarised below. 5.2 Perth and Kinross Council is making steady progress in delivering sustainable development in compliance with the 2020 revised guidance – with all Best Value criteria being RAG assessed as either green or amber. There is a clear commitment to sustainable development as reflected in strategic priorities and objectives. This commitment is also represented by elected members and senior management adopting an integrated approach towards the impacts of decision-making on the delivery of sustainable development. Effective partnership working and engagement with stakeholders is helping to promote sustainable development within the community to raise awareness and encourage a shift towards more sustainable behaviours. Work is already underway to ensure sustainable development principles are integrated into all Council corporate and service level plans, as well as to increase awareness of sustainable development through operational practices.
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Areas of good performance 5.3 Corporate commitment towards sustainable development is reflected in the Council’s vision and strategic priorities, with: • the objectives of the Council’s Corporate Plan, the Perth and Kinross Local Outcomes Improvement Plan and the Perth and Kinross Offer together reflect proposed action towards environmental, social and economic well-being, necessary for delivering and achieving sustainable development • the establishment of the Perth and Kinross Climate Commission (Report No. 21/142 refers) • the establishment of a Climate Change and Sustainability Committee (Report No. 22/253 refers). 5.4 Sustainable development considerations are embedded in the Council’s governance arrangements, with: • established risk management processes being in place and the Strategic Risk Register 2022 identifying key risks, controls and actions for a number of risk areas which contribute to sustainable development through the achievement of environmental, social and economic well-being • an established set of sustainable development performance indicators reported to the public via the Organised to Deliver page of the Council’s website. 5.5 A systematic approach to the management of resources, which are planned and used in a way that contributes to sustainable development, with: • the Council fulfilling its legal obligations and duties towards Climate Change, including acting in a way that it considers most sustainable – with continued submission of the annual statutory Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report to the Scottish Government • the Council fulfilling its legal obligations and duties towards Biodiversity – with submission of the 3 yearly statutory Biodiversity Duty: Delivery Report (covering January 2018 to December 2020). 5.6 Sustainable development is effectively promoted through partnership working, with: • the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP), the new Corporate Plan and the Perth and Kinross Offer jointly reflecting proposed action towards environmental, social and economic well-being necessary for achieving sustainable development. • An established set of Perth and Kinross wide indicators (PK Performs) annually monitoring the progress of the LOIP and an annual report on the Corporate Plan.
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6. PROPOSALS Areas of focus for 2023/24 6.1 The main area of focus will be to develop and implement an Impact and Value Assessment (IVA) tool to screen strategies, plans and policies for sustainable development impacts across a range of considerations, including for example: environmental assessment, climate change, equality and fairness, human and child rights, sustainable procurement and resource use, and financial/budgetary implications. 6.2 The IVA will promote improvement across the four Best Value Sustainable Development criteria. This will provide more effective evidence of the Council’s compliance with the Best Value duty. 6.3 Focus will also be given to producing sustainable development guidance and training for all elected members, staff and senior management, as well as the development of a digital indicator platform. This is to further demonstrate the impact of sustainable development in relation to key economic, social, and environmental issues. 7. CONCLUSION 7.1 Perth & Kinross Council continues to make steady progress in mainstreaming sustainable development throughout the Council’s processes and practices, in-line with the statutory requirements of Best Value. Author Name Designation Contact Details Angela Harris Sustainable Development Officer (01738) 475000 ComCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Approved Name Designation Date Barbara Renton Executive Director (Communities) 31 January 2023 APPENDICES • Appendix 1 - Best Value & Sustainable Development Progress Report 2022/23
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial No Workforce No Asset Management (land, property, IST) No Assessments Equality Impact Assessment No Strategic Environmental Assessment No Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) Yes Legal and Governance No Risk No Consultation Internal Yes External No Communication Communications Plan No 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 The objectives of the Perth and Kinross Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement together reflect proposed action towards environmental, social and economic well-being, necessary for delivering and achieving sustainable development. The proposal therefore relate to all 5 priorities: (i) Giving every child the best start in life (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations
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Corporate Plan 1.2 The objectives of the Council’s Corporate Plan collectively reflect proposed action towards environmental, social and economic well-being, necessary for delivering and achieving sustainable development. The proposal therefore relates to all 5 priorities: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 This report has no direct resource implications. Workforce 2.2 This report has no direct workforce implications. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 This report has no direct asset management implications. 3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. The Equality Impact Assessment undertaken in relation to this report can be viewed clicking here. This section should reflect that the proposals have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome: (i) Assessed as not relevant for the purposes of EqIA This proposal is presented as an update in an advisory capacity only.
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Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. This section should reflect that the proposals have been considered under the Act and: Option 1 However, no action is required as the Act does not apply to the matters presented in this report. This is because the Committee are requested to note the contents of the report only and the Committee are not being requested to approve, adopt or agree to an action or to set the framework for future decisions. Sustainability 3.3 Under the provisions of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 the Council has to discharge its duties in a way which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development. Under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 the Council also has a duty relating to climate change and, in exercising its functions must act: • in the way best calculated to delivery of the Act’s emissions reduction targets; • in the way best calculated to deliver any statutory adaptation programmes; and • in a way that it considers most sustainable. 3.4 Whilst the proposal is presented in an advisory capacity only, it seeks to inform of the Council’s contribution towards sustainable development, in-line with Best Value requirements. The next steps presented in the report will have positive benefits for improving how the Council’s processes and practices work towards contributing to the achievement of sustainable development. Legal and Governance 3.5 This report has no direct legal and governance implications. Risk 3.6 This report has no direct risk implications. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 The Council’s Corporate Performance and Corporate Procurement Teams were consulted on the report and appendices.
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5. Communication 5.1 None 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 No additional documents have been relied on in preparing the report, other than those reports already referenced within the main body of the report.