Local Governance Taskforce

11 June 2012, LINK Local Governance Taskforce, Parliamentary Briefings

The Environment & Local Government

Scotland’s Councils are crucial to the delivery of sustainability, but at present environmental delivery by our local government is patchy. It can be significantly improved if the national framework and the local planning of Councils are enhanced. LINK intends to persist with this task of the improvement of environmental delivery at local levels. We believe that the best way to achieve this improvement is through the full and proper exercise of public scrutiny by our elected representatives in Holyrood and the Council Chambers.

11 June 2012, LINK Local Governance Taskforce, Parliamentary Briefings

Defining Community Empowerment

This briefing offers ideas from LINK and its members as Scotland begins to discuss the proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill. It is written to promote thinking on the basic nature of the communities in which we live and to try to provide solid foundations for the debate and for the Bill. The health of our democracy relies on recognition of the existence of communities of both place, and interest, and the representative function of people who have the assent of both types of community.

12 March 2012, LINK Local Governance Taskforce, Press Releases

LINK calls for details of party manifestos for the local elections

Local Governance Taskforce Press Release - March 12th 2012

Scottish Environment LINK today called for a clarification from our political parties as to when manifestos for the local elections will be published. Enquiries have revealed that the parties are all relying on their local organisations in each of the 32 Council areas to publish manifestos, but very little information is available as to when these will be ready for publication – if at all.

1 November 2011, LINK, Position Papers

LINK Response to the Inquiry into Reform of Parliamentary Business

A response from Scottish Environment LINK to the Inquiry into reform of parliamentary business - remodelling the parliamentary week being held by The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

26 October 2011, LINK, Position Papers

Acting Locally - the Scottish Environment LINK Manifesto for the Scottish Council Elections, 2012

On May 1st, 2012, for the first time since the re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, the Scottish people will have nationwide local government elections in Scotland. This will allow a proper focus on the way that Councils perform as they are held to account by the electorate. In no field of policy will this be more important than the field of protecting and enhancing the environment. Scotland’s Councils are essential to achieving truly sustainable development.  With this manifesto Scottish Environment LINK wants to help our Councils improve their environmental performance.  We also  want to help the Scottish political parties as they establish their policies for the next four years - and to assist them in putting sustainability at their core.  

26 October 2011, LINK, Press Releases

Acting Locally press release

Acting Locally, LINK's Manifesto for the 2012 Scottish Council elections, is designed to assist politicians at all levels ensure that environmental matters are at the heart of their manifestos for the elections to Scotland’s Councils in May 2012.

14 September 2011, LINK, Parliamentary Briefings

LINK Briefing for the Local Government and Regeneration Committee meeting of 14th September, 2011

LINK written evidence to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee covering planning; regeneration; local government, sustainability and Scotland's environment.

13 September 2011, LINK Local Governance Taskforce, Parliamentary Briefings

Revising Scotland's National Performance Framework

This is a briefing prepared by Friends of the Earth Scotland, WWF and Oxfam Scotland support by LINK's Local Governance Task Force.

12 April 2011, LINK Local Governance Taskforce, Position Papers

Single Outcome Agreements and Action for People, Places and Community - Seminar Report

A report prepared for the seminar held on 21 February 2011 at COSLA, Edinburgh

2 February 2011, LINK Local Governance Taskforce, Position Papers

Delivering for the Environment in our Communities: An Audit of Single Outcome Agreements

This new audit of Single Outcome Agreements (prepared for LINK by CAG Consultants) captures how sustainable development and the environment are being addressed by each Community Planning Partnership, and determines emerging trends. It finds significant gaps in addressing national priorities such as climate change adaptation, landscape, the historic environment and the sustainable management of water resources, despite evidence that we can achieve more by joining up economic, social and environmental services. Whilst the audit points to good practice by a few Councils which recognise the benefits of strong environmental policies in terms of adding value to health, jobs, and pride in the community, the report demonstrates that many local authorities, along with their Community Planning Partnerships are failing to see sustainable development as a priority.

In their previous report and advocacy, LINK members argue that financial constraint calls, now more than ever, for local authorities to seek solutions which maximise the economic and social benefits of a healthy environment. LINK members will be monitoring trends and seeking to influence development of new or ‘refreshed’ outcomes-based agreements for the national elections this spring and the local elections in 2012.

See also: Print Version of this report | Working for Sustainable Development through Single Outcome Agreements

2 February 2011, LINK Local Governance Taskforce, Press Releases

‘Patchy’ council commitment to the environment puts national targets at risk

The patchy coverage of environmental issues across local authorities could be putting Scotland's chances of meeting its national targets on issues such as climate change, public transport, biodiversity and active health at risk.

See also: Delivering the Environment for our Communities: an Audit of Single Outcome Agreements

11 February 2010, LINK Local Governance Taskforce, Position Papers

Working for Sustainable Development through Single Outcome Agreements

LINK's report on priority issues for the Single Outcome Agreement process aims to help ensure that the SOA process works towards a more sustainable future for Scotland.  It aims to offer the support of the LINK and its member bodies to councils and Community Planning Partnerships through the onging process of development of SOAs, in relation to sustainable development, particularly the environment.

It addresses ten priority topics - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ecological Footprint, Education/Volunteering, Historic and Built Environment, Landscape, Physical Activity/Health, Recreational Access, Transport, Water and Flooding.  LINK will monitor how these are addressed and overview emerging trends in the lead up to the national and local elections in 2011 and 2012.

Print version