Agenda item

Consider report by Chief Executive.  (Copy attached.)

5.1    There had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Executive proposing that the Council formally commit to embedding sustainable development in its strategies, policies and service delivery.  By doing so, the Council would ensure that it had a clear, coherent and overarching ethical framework for its activities, which brought benefits to the organisation and supported its efforts to optimise outcomes.  It was proposed that the Council manifest its commitment to sustainable development by pledging to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals as they related to local government.  Such a commitment recognised the increasing urgency that we lived and used resources in ways which did not compromise the quality of life of future generations. The report identified two key areas of benefit from the Council pledging to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals, namely:-

          1.       An overarching ethos bringing clarity, consistency and coherence to the Council’s approach across the full range of its activities.

          2.       Taking a leadership role in relation to sustainable development enabling the Council to maintain and build value organisationally through the efficient and sustainable use of resources, to develop public value in its relationship to citizens and communities, and to manage reputational risk.

To support implementation, the Sustainable Procurement Policy Group was to be renamed ‘the Sustainable Development Group’ and its role extended to ensure that appropriate practice was adopted and followed in how the Council undertook the full range of its activities.  The Sustainable Development Group would report annually to Council on progress.  It was recognised that not all SDGs targets carried the same relevance in the context of the Council’s responsibilities and the Sustainable Development Group would promote a practical view of this based on good practice.

5.2     Members discussed the proposal for this responsibility to sit with officers and Councillor H. Anderson, seconded by Councillor Bell, moved an amendment to the recommendation which, following discussion was worded as follows:-

          “That recommendation (a) and (b) rebadged as (c) be approved.  That recommendations (c) and (d) be deleted and a new (b) be added to read:-

          (b)     that a Sustainable Development Committee be established in order to drive and monitor the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as they relate to local government.

                   (i)      that the Committee be constituted with a membership of 9 members, comprising 5 members of the Administration and 4 members of the Opposition;

                   (ii)     that the Committee review recent decisions and actions of the UK and Scottish Governments, UK local authorities and Borders wide voluntary sector initiatives, with a view to making recommendations as to how the Council can exercise leadership in tackling climate change; and

                   (iii)     that the Committee shall report to Council annually on progress.

          The proposed amendment was unanimously agreed.

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)     formally to commit to implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals as they related to local government;

(b)     that a Sustainable Development Committee be established in order to drive and monitor the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as they relate to local government:

          (i)      that the Committee be constituted with a membership of 9 members, comprising 5 members of the Administration and 4 members of the Opposition;

          (ii)     that the Committee review recent decisions and actions of the UK and Scottish Governments, UK local authorities and Borders wide voluntary sector initiatives, with a view to making recommendations as to how the Council can exercise leadership in tackling climate change; and

          (iii)    that the Committee shall report to Council annually on progress;

(c)     to note that, to support implementation of sustainable development, the Sustainable Procurement Policy Group would be renamed ‘the Sustainable Development Group’ and its role extended to ensure that appropriate practice was adopted and followed in how the Council undertook the full range of its activities; and

(d)     that the appointment of Members for (b)(i) above be considered at the next Council meeting in September.