Putting the Environment at the Heart of LSPs?
Filed under: Planning, Policy & Networks
Vinciane Rycroft reports on the Environment Agencys conference on 5 December 2002.
LSPs raise a wide range of hopes and fears. They are presented as the new well-being power of local authorities; but are they, as one conference participant commented just a way for local governments to get hold of extra money to improve basic service provision?
As Ian Christie (Local Futures Group) usefully reminded us, everything that we do has social and environmental implications. The question is: are we doing it well or are we doing it badly? Are we doing it sustainably or not?
In practice however, how realistic is it for community representatives to be engaging in the LSP process in their spare unpaid time, considering the vast amounts of documents they are asked to deal with?
Tim Bisset of Groundwork Hackney said: LSPs are very good idea if they are what it says on the tin and participation is more than a tokenistic activity. Can we take this opportunity to experiment with participatory processes?
Jane Connor from the LB of Enfield offered some ideas: using participative community planning such as the three-day Shaping Edmontons Future process; establishing a sustainability advisory panel to the LSP and actively encouraging LA21 groups to join the Community Empowerment Network.
What I took away from the day was a lesson from Jenny Jones (GLA Greens) about the necessity for all those working for sustainability to communicate differently - to learn to talk to the Police, Health or Education institutions in their own language, using their own jargon and referring to their own goals, about the local environment and the liveability of our communities.
A challenge to take to heart if sustainability is ever going to be taken seriously.
Resources on LSPs and LA21
Cooper and Pilling articles on LSPs and sustainability in the EG journal www.westminster.ac.uk/eric
(EG is available from the London 21 resource centre)
The basics about LSPs and sustainability - a London 21 article.
Mainstreaming Sustainability
A new resource by IDEA and WWF to help local authorities make sure that sustainability is integrated into everything they do.
Tel: 020 7296 6420
www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk.
LSP Handy Guide
This easy-to-use handy guide to getting involved in Local Strategic partnerships has been produced by Urban Forum and Community Development Foundation. Can be downloaded in pdf form from www.urbanforum.org.uk/lsp_pages/lsp_home.html
Tel: 020 7253 4816
Fax: 020 7253 4817
28 January2003 - London 21 support group on LSPs and LA21
For community representatives only. A small working group of individuals with experience in LA21 and LSPs meeting to make realistic proposals and circulate their experience through the network.
London 21 offices. 6pm.
Tel: 0207 239 1392
vinciane@london21.org
5 February 2003 - Training Day
Promoting Sustainability in Neighbourhood Renewal & Local Strategic Partnerships. Contact: Environmental Trainers Network
Tel: 0121 358 2155
Fax: 0121 358 2194
www.btcv.org/etn
22 February 2003 - Involving residents in LSPs
A London-wide event by the Quest Network
Tel: 0845 850 8800
lsp@quest-net.org
Government documents
Preparing Community Strategies Government Guidance to Local Authorities
www.local-regions.odpm.gov.uk/pcs/guidance
Local Strategic Partnerships - Government Guidance Summary
www.local-regions.odpm.gov.uk/lsp/guidance
Neighbourhood Renewal & Regeneration (Government Office for London)
www.go-london.gov.uk/nrandregeneration/index.php
Neighbourhood Renewal & Regeneration (National)
www.neighbourhood.odpm.gov.uk/