Meetings and Events
Members held an informal meeting with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms MP, and officials of several depart-ments, on 3 April, to discuss the Round Table's work on economic instruments and indicators of sustainable development.
The Chairman Derek Osborn, together with Derek Norman and the Secretary, represented the Round Table at a West European Round-table of National Councils of Sustainable Development (NCSDs) in Brussels on 6&7 April. This addressed topics for the forthcom-ing meeting of UNCSD-8 and preparations for the EU 6th Environmental Action Programme and Sustainable Development Strategy.
The Chairman and Secretary also represented the Round Table at an international forum for NCSDs in New York, under the auspices of the UN and the Earth Council, on 17-19 April. This considered the UNCSD-8 topics and arrangements for an Earth Summit in 2002.
The Round Table extended its work on regional issues. It carried out a survey of regional round tables of sustainable develop-ment and organised a seminar about them in Manchester on 19 June.
Reports and Responses
The Round Table report on economic instruments Not Too Difficult! was published on 12 April. It argues that the objections often raised to greater use of such instruments in pursuit of sustainable development - notably on the grounds of equity, competitiveness and efficiency - can be addressed effectively by careful design in each case.
The report Indicators of Sustainable Development was published on 11 May. As well as welcoming the Government's report Quality of life counts and making recommendations for further improvement of the indicators, it ident-ifies a number of areas in which urgent action is required to reverse unsustainable trends.
The report Delivering Sustainable Develop-ment in the English Regions was published on 7 July. It urges action to promote political accountability in the regions and comments on the roles of Regional Development Agencies and regional round tables of sustainable development.
Copies of all these reports are available from the secretariat.
The Government published its response to the report Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in May. Copies are available from the Sustain-able Development Unit, DETR.
Plenary Meeting
The final plenary meeting of the Round Table was held on 22 June. The Chairman reported the resignation of Peter Madden, who had been appointed to support Michael Meacher in DETR.
Sustainable Development Commission
It was reported that the Chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission was likely to be appointed early in July, and members later that month, so the Commission could start work after the summer break. [As we go to press, appointment of a Chairman is expected very shortly.]Government Responses to Reports
It was agreed that the Round Table's recent, more active engagement with Government on a number of issues was more effective than the formal process of reporting and responding. The process should be reconsidered for the Commission, to ensure that the Commission's views were not ignored, and impose a disci-pline on the Government to respond, but allow flexibility as to the manner of the response.Regional Issues
Members considered a draft report on regional issues. They agreed to separate it into two sections: the report itself, which would present the conclusions and recommendations of the Round Table, and an appendix presenting the findings of the various activities held over the past few months. [The report has since been published; see above.]Local Government
The Government had invited the Round Table to comment on its draft guidance under Part I of the Local Government Bill, which gave local authorities a power to promote the economic, environmental and social well-being of their area and a duty to prepare a community strategy. This followed earlier engagement by the Round Table in this issue, including comment on an early draft of the guidance. It was agreed that the Chairman would write again, reiterating some of the key points in his previous letter.Annual Report
The fifth and final Annual Report of the Round Table, delayed to reflect the extension of life, was considered in draft. It was agreed that, in his Preface, the Chairman should comment on the degree of success the Round table had achieved and on the new, more interactive working methods adopted in the past year.International Issues
The Chairman reported briefly on the two recent gatherings on NCSDs (see above). The Sustainable Development Commission should keep in touch with international issues and take part in any further such meetings.Concluding Remarks
On behalf of the Government, Andrew Burchell thanked members for all they had done, and for continuing actively in post beyond March whilst arrangements for the Sustainable Development Commission were finalised. The Round Table had made an important contribution to progress on sustainable development and had significantly influenced Government thinking.The Chairman also thanked members for their commitment and contribution, and to the secretariat for their support and service. All joined in wishing every success to the Commission, hoping that it would build on the best of the methods and achievements of the Round Table.
Secretariat
The secretariat can be contacted at:
5th Floor
Romney House
Tufton Street
London SW1P 3RA(Please note that this is slightly different from the address given in the previous update.)
General enquiries:
Tel: 020 7944 4963
Requests for reports:
Tel: 020 7944 4964
Fax: 020 7944 4959
E-mail: sd_commission@detr.gov.uk
Website:
http://www.open.gov.uk/roundtbl/hometb.htm
Published 10 August 2000
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