When I first heard about the Sustainable Communities Act, I assumed it was the usual nonsense; a bit of bien pensant thinking mixed in with some social engineering. But it did suggest some possible angles of attack for liberating taxpayers’ money from the local quangocracy.
Rather than directly using the SCA to do something, Bristol City Council has opted to run a competition to collect ideas; said list to then be vetted and voted upon by a committee organised by local VCSE flag-bearer VOSCUR.
Bristol City Council - Sustainable Community Act suggestions - June 2009
The proposals described in this document lack detail, but they have been vetted by the Council’s legal services team:
The Council’s legal services department commented on all the suggestions and advised whether they met the requirements of the Sustainable Communities Act:
It would need a change in government policy / legislation to be implemented.
It would contribute towards sustainability as defined in the Act.
So although these particular suggestions are not immediately actionable (e.g. top answer “Have more powers over local bus operators” could mean anything) it is worth noting that someone with a modicum of legal training believes that the Sustainable Communities Act could be used by a Local Authority to exert some authority over all of these policy areas.
And that’s quite exciting or scary depending on how you look at it.
A cushy gig for a politician is to be responsible for something that sounds important (strategic even) but doesn't actually require that decisions be made about matters that will directly eaffect voters in the four years between elections. An excellent example can be seen in our local administration:
Politicians responsible for Climate Change & Sustainability: 3
Politicians responsible for educating your children: 1
Could anyone offer a concise definition of what "sustainability" actually means? If you explain what "Social Justice" is while you're at it that would also be a big help.
