More Information
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- Sustainable Communities
- Sustainable Communities Act
Have you got a good idea?
Have you got an idea about something that could be done with the piece of disused land at the end of your street? Or about how the Council could improve public transport? If so, the Sustainable Communities Act is a good chance for you to express your ideas and even see them put forward for government action. The ideas need to be about things for which central government action is needed, over and above what the Council and local bodies can do at present.
Email your ideas to communities@doncaster.gov.uk, or write to us at Sustainable Communities Act, SSSC Policy and Change Team, Council House, College Road DN1 3AJ.
In your correspondence please explain:
What is the issue you would like to change?
Why is this an issue for your community?
Does this affect a wide section of the community? Give details about how.
What will Government need to change? What solution do you propose?
What difference would this make? In what way would the solution result in the increased sustainability of communities in Doncaster – whether economically, socially or environmentally?
All ideas needed to be received by 3 July 2009 and then considered by a panel of community organisations and representatives – those that are most suitable under the Act will be put forward by 31 July 2009 to Central Government.
Check here for updates and progress on the ideas!
Latest information
The deadline for Sustainable Communities Act suggestions to central government, via Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, was 3 July 2009.
The deadline has now passed. If central government provide a further opportunity to submit your suggestions we will make the information available on this page.
The submissions we received have been considered by the Interim Sustainable Communities Panel, chaired by Cabinet Member, Cllr. Ransome and on 31 July 2009, 5 proposals have been submitted for consideration by the National Selector Panel.
Environment
This proposal relates to several issues all associated to environmental sustainability. First, it seeks measures to improve the options for local people to install renewable energy and sell surplus energy back to the national grid. It also seeks to ensure that sustainable lighting sources are integrated into all new developments such as multi-use games areas and skate parks, so that young people can use the facilities throughout the year. The proposal considers the environmental impact of excessive packaging and seeks additional regulations aimed at minimising the use of packaging, and requiring supermarkets to provide facilities for recycling / meet the costs of landfill of non-recyclable packaging. Finally it seeks a policy change from central government to ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are installed in new build homes and in the homes of older people/ vulnerable people.
Discretionary business rates reliefs
Legislative change from central government to enable local authorities to grant discretionary business rates reliefs to businesses that contribute to sustainability (environmental, economic and social). Local discretion over take up of this power and type/level of reliefs to be granted.
Post Office network
Legislative/policy change from central government to enable local Post Offices to be used by local authorities and partners, to channel services and support the viability of Post Offices. Secondly, policy change concerning planning for the Post Office network, increasing the influence of local authority and partners in the decision-making process on Post Office network / closures, expanding the consultation period and introducing criteria in the decision-making process that relate to social wellbeing and community demographics.
Parish Councils and planning
Legislative change to enable the Parish tier of local governance to be represented in major planning committee decisions, building on the existing consultation framework.
Public transport costs for young people and bus route planning
Seeks a national policy on provision of universal concessionary passes for young people (up to 18 years) in full time education, training or apprenticeships, and requires public transport providers / executive to have greater regard to the level of provision on route other than main road bus routes, taking into account accessibility issues / demographics and social isolation.
I submitted a suggestion - what will happen to my suggestion now?
1. Officer evaluation - your suggestion will be evaluated the first week in July 2009 by council officers. If your suggestion meets the criteria outlined on this page we will progress it to the next stage.
2. Panel - Doncaster Council will work with its interim Sustainable Communities Panel in July 2009 to further develop your suggestion and to shortlist which suggestions will progress to the next stage.
3. Cabinet - the Cabinet will decide in July 2009 which shortlisted suggestions they will turn into formal proposals to be sent to the Local Government Association (LGA). The LGA deadline is 31 July 2009.
4. LGA - from July 2009 onwards, the LGA will consider the proposals and will discuss them with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State has the final say on which proposals will be implemented.
If your suggestion does not meet the sustainability criteria or is not shortlisted by the local panel we will not progress your suggestion further. However, we will provide feedback to you and if appropriate we will pass your suggestion on to another forum for further consideration outside of the remit of the Sustainable Communities Act.
What is the Sustainable Communities Act?
The Sustainable Communities Act encourages local communities across the country to suggest actions that central government could take to improve the economic, social or environmental well being of their area.
Actions might include a change in legislation or government policy or a transfer of responsibilities from one public body to another.
The Act gives local councils the responsibility for collecting these suggestions and passing them on to the government.
Suggestions that do not require central government action may not be considered.
Who was able to submit a suggestion?
Anyone was able to submit a suggestion, but here in Doncaster we have particularly welcomed suggestions from representative organised groups: such as community groups, Parish Councils, tenants and resident associations and local branches of national organisations.
What kind of suggestions will be considered?
Suggestions must aim to improve the economic, social or environmental well being of an area or areas in Doncaster, making it more sustainable. Social well being also includes suggestions that will promote participation in civic and political activity.
Parliament has identified a list of sustainability criteria to illustrate the type of issues any suggestion might aim to address. The list is not exhaustive and you may have other ideas to contribute, but it includes:
List of matters:
1. Provision of local services, and the extent to which the volume and value of goods and services are produced within 30 miles.
2. Rate of increase in the growth and marketing of organic food.
3. Reasonable access of residents to nutritional food.
4. Number of local jobs.
5. Measures to conserve energy and increase the quantity of locally supplied energy.
6. Measures taken to reduce the level of road traffic, including local public transport provision, measures to promote walking and cycling and measures to decrease the amount of product miles.
7. Increase in social inclusion, including an increase in involvement in local democracy.
8. Measures to increase mutual aid and other community projects.
9. Measures designed to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases.
10. Measures designed to increase community health and well-being.
11. Planning policies – including new arrangements for the provision of affordable housing.
12. Measure to increase the use of local waste materials for the benefit of the community.
For more information and definitions of terms used in this list please read the Act.
Evaluation criteria
Suggestions made under the Sustainable Communities Act will be evaluated against the criteria shown below. These criteria have been developed by the council, based on information available from the Local Government Association (LGA).
The Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council Cabinet will decide which suggestions will be turned into formal proposals to be sent to the LGA. The LGA will consider the proposals and will discuss them the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State has the final say on which proposals will be implemented.
Please note, your suggestion may not be progressed further if it does not meet criteria 1 and 3.
1. Is the proposal something that a local council or (other local partner body) could do anyway, without action from central government? This would include action taken by the council which it is able to take using its section 2 Local Government Act 2000 "wellbeing power. " The well-being power gives local authorities the power to do anything they consider is likely to promote the economic, social and environmental well-being of their area; unless what is proposed is explicitly prevented elsewhere in legislation.
2. What legal issues might be involved? Do any local bodies (council, police, health, others) already have the necessary powers?
3. Will it contribute to environmental, economic or social sustainability, including participation in civic and political activity?
4. Assessment against the list of matters set out in a Schedule 1 of the Act which council’s are required to have regard to e.g. preserving local jobs, services and facilities, energy conservation, sustainable transport and food production.
5. What are the overall costs and benefits to the local community?
6. Does the proposal support the council’s Sustainable Communities strategy and other key strategies and plans?
7. What will be the impact of the proposal, in terms of geographic area or population affected? Is it of very local significance or potential sub-regional impact? (The LGA is likely to shortlist small-scale as well as larger ideas, in keeping with the devolutionary intent of the Act).
8. If there are proposals for transfer of functions, what other bodies are affected? What are the budgetary implications?
9. What government agencies and/or public bodies would need to be involved in the proposals, or would be affected by its impact?
10. Evidence of local support for the proposal? e.g. petitions, letters from local councillors, MPs, businesses, public bodies.
Is any extra money available to the council to act on suggestions?
No. When preparing your suggestion please bear in mind that the Act does not provide Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council with any additional funding from central government.
