Sustainable Development

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CIPFA Annual Conference 2006 Sustainability
and the public sector
Vicky Burvill, David Bent Forum for the
Future v.burvill_at_forumforthefuture.org.uk
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Forum for the Future

• Who are we and what do we do?
• Aim to show that a sustainable future is possible
  and desirable
• We work with leading organisations in public and
  private sector to find practical ways we can
• create economic prosperity
• be socially just
• live within environmental limits

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Why sustainability mattersto your career

• Sustainability will form the backcloth for the
  next 30 years
• Dealing with climate change
• Making poverty history
• Public service improvement
• Leaders will turn to their accountants for advice
• Info systems where are we?
• Decision tools what should we do?

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Why sustainability mattersto your career

• Private sector accountants are leading the way
• ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards
• ICAEW Corporate Responsibility Committee
• Examples of new business practices
• CapEx appraisal
• Strategy setting

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The Forum Challenge Pub Quiz
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Data Sources

• 1. A MORI survey of local authorities
  approaches
• to sustainable development for IDeA and LGA
• Working for a Sustainable Future May 05
• 2. Securing the Future UK Government
• Sustainable Development Strategy, March 05
• 3. Sustainable Procurement Task Force report,
  June 06

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Round 1 UK Government sustainability strategy
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Question 1 Government sustainability strategy
In Securing the Future, the Government has
defined five principles for the UK. What are
they?

• Meeting societys needs now and in the future
• Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society
• Maintaining economic growth
• Maximising resource efficiency
• Living within environmental limits
• Addressing climate change

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Question 2 Hey big spender!

• The UK government sustainable development
  strategy Securing the Future set out four key
  priority areas for action
• Sustainable consumption and production
• Climate change and energy
• Protecting natural resources
• Creating sustainable communities and a fairer
  world.
• How much is spent by the UK public sector
  annually on delivering goods and services?

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Question 3 Who said it??
On Monday a Government task force reported its
findings. Who said it, and what is the report he
is referring to? ..Future generations will
neither excuse us nor forgive us for ignoring the
signals that we can see todaybut if the
government's huge spending power is harnessed as
recommended in this report future generations
will have much to thank our leaders for.
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Question 4 Cost neutral ? Sounds a bit fishy
Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust has moved from
conventional catering supplies to sourcing its
supplies locally, e.g. fresh instead of frozen,
Cornish fish, dairy and meat. This has reduced
food miles, strengthened the local economy,
improved patient recovery and has been cost
neutral. How many food transportation miles have
been saved per year? A. 546, 000 miles B.
116,000 miles C. 81,000 miles
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Question 5 Let there be light!

• Noosa Shire Council, Australia replaced all of
  its light fittings with energy efficient
  equivalents.
• This equates to an annual saving of 15,680
  meaning that the capital cost will be recouped
  over 5 years.

• Energy consumption by lighting was reduced by
• A. 46
• B. 11
• 30

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Question 6 Whats the link?
What opposites do these lists represent?

• Hull
• Knowsley
• Blackburn
• South Tyneside
• Easington
• Merthyr
• Blaenau Gwent
• Stoke
• Pendle
• Middlesbrough

• Kingston Thames
• Kensington
• Westminster
• Richmond
• Wandsworth
• Isles of Scilly
• Hammersmith
• Elmbridge
• Camden
• South Bucks

are they the UKs..? A. Highest lowest flood
risk areas B. Chubbiest slimmest C. Coolest
warmest D. Happiest most depressed
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Question 7 Clearing the fog
1 How many deaths are caused by air pollution
each year in the UK? A 12,000
B 18,000 C 24,000
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End of Round 1
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Answer 1
In Securing the Future, the Government has
changed the four, central aims of its 1999 UK
Sustainable Development Strategy. What are
the new shared principles to achieve
Sustainable Development? Fill in the
blanks
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Securing the Future Answer 2

• The UK government sustainable development
  strategy Securing the Future set out four key
  priority areas for action
• Sustainable consumption and production
• Climate change and energy
• Protecting natural resources
• Creating sustainable communities and a fairer
  world.
• How much is spent by the UK public sector
  annually on delivering goods and services?
• Answer 150 bn

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Answer 3
On Monday a Government task force reported its
findings. ..Future generations will neither
excuse us nor forgive us for ignoring the signals
that we can see todaybut if the government's
huge spending power is harnessed as recommended
in this report future generations will have
much to thank our leaders for. Sir Neville
Simms. Sustainable Procurement National Action
Plan Procuring the Future (Sustainable
Procurement Task Force report)
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Answer 4
Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust has moved from
conventional catering supplies to sourcing its
supplies locally, e.g. fresh instead of frozen,
Cornish fish, dairy and meat. This has reduced
food miles, strengthened the local economy,
improved patient recovery and has been cost
neutral. How many food transportation miles have
been saved per year? A. 546, 000 miles B.
116,000 miles C. 81,000 miles
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Answer 5

• Noosa Shire Council, Australia replaced all of
  its light fittings with energy efficient
  equivalents.
• This equates to an annual saving of 15,680
  meaning that the capital cost will be recouped
  over 5 years.

• Energy consumption by lighting was reduced by
• A. 46
• B. 11
• 30

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Answer 6
What opposites do these lists represent?

• Hull
• Knowsley
• Blackburn
• South Tyneside
• Easington
• Merthyr
• Blaenau Gwent
• Stoke
• Pendle
• Middlesbrough

• Kingston Thames
• Kensington
• Westminster
• Richmond
• Wandsworth
• Isles Scilly
• Hammersmith
• Elmbridge
• Camden
• South Bucks

They are the UKs A. Highest lowest flood risk
areas B. Chubbiest slimmest C. Coolest
warmest D. Happiest most depressed
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Answer 7
1 How many deaths are caused by air pollution
each year in the UK? A 12,000
B 18,000 C 24,000
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Round 2 Looking forward to a sustainable future
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Looking forward to a Sustainable Future

• Forum for the Future believe that public sector
  organisations can progress SD by integrating
  sustainability principles into day to day
  delivery.
• This requires
• Senior commitment, followed up with with
  dedicated resources
• Staff ownership and understanding
• Processes to ensure SD is incorporated in
  mainstream work
• Partnership influencing within sphere of
  activity

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Question 8 Helps and hindrances

• In a MORI survey all local authority chief
  executives were asked
• To what extent do the following hinder the
  integration of SD into the work of your local
  authority?
• Which of these was cited as the biggest
  hindrance?
• A. Lack of statutory pressure not part of CPA
• B. Competition from other services or
  priorities
• C. Lack of officer knowledge
• D. Lack of engagement from senior officers

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Question 9 Improving fast

• All local authorities were asked
• In what aspects of local authority work, if
  any, is the level
• of integration of SD most improving?
• Which one of these did not make it into the top
  five?
• A. The community strategy
• B. Waste management
• C. Education
• D. Land use planning

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Question 10 But what exactly is it?

• All local authorities were asked
• How strongly do the following statements about
  SD relate to your local authority?
• Which understanding of SD was considered more
  common?
• A. SD is mainly associated with the
  environment.
• B. SD addresses economic development , social
  inclusion and
• environmental protection at the same time.
• 2- point bonus question which, if any, is right?

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End of Round 2
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Helps and hindrances
Answer 8

• All local authorities were asked
• To what extent do the following hinder the
  integration of SD into the work of your local
  authority?
• Which of these was cited as the biggest
  hindrance?
• A. Lack of statutory pressure not part of CPA
• B. Competition from other services or priorities
• C. Lack of officer knowledge
• D. Lack of engagement from senior officers

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Improving fast
Answer 9

• All local authorities were asked
• In what aspects of local authority work, if
  any, is the level
• of integration of SD most improving?
• Which one, below, did not make it into the top
  five?
• A. The community Strategy
• B. Waste management
• C. Education
• D. Land use planning

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But what exactly is it?
Answer 10

• All local authorities were asked
• How strongly do the following statements about SD
  relate to your local authority?
• Which understanding of SD was considered
  more common?
• SD is mainly associated with the environment.
• SD addresses economic development , social
  inclusion and environmental protection at the
  same time.
• 2-point bonus question which, if any, is
  right?
• Neither is right!

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Working Towards a Sustainable Future
Bonus Answer 10
Securing the Future- UK Sustainable Development
Strategy Sustainable Development is about
delivering social justice and recognising
environmental limits through a strong and stable
economy, good governance and responsible use of
sound science.
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Round 3 In the news
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Question 11
Which veteran broadcaster and former Forum for
the Future council member has recently come off
the fence and publicly linked human behaviour to
climate change?
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Question 12, 13, 14 Headlines
12. Which government department is nicknamed de
clog? 13. David Cameron has said this week he
wants to lead a new green ________________? 14.
What have John Prescott and the characters of
Alice in Wonderland got in common?
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Question 15

• Add the following together
• The number of local authorities in the UK
• The number of football teams taking part in the
  world cup
• The number of billion spent on construction by
  the UK public sector per year

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End of Round 3
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Answer 11
Which veteran broadcaster and former Forum for
the Future trustee has recently come off the
fence and publicly linked human behaviour to
climate change? David Attenborough
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Answers 12, 13, 14
12. Which government department is nicknamed de
clog? DCLoG Department of Communities and
Local Government 13. David Cameron has said this
week he wants to lead a new green
revolution? 14. What have John Prescott and the
characters of Alice in Wonderland got in common?
Croquet
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Answer 15

• Add the following together
• The number of local authorities in the UK 9237
• The number of football teams taking part in the
  world cup 32
• The number of billion spent on third party
  public service provision in the UK per year
  26.49 bn
• 9295.4

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Question 14Rising to the challenge

• How can the public sector help create a
  sustainable future?

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Question 15Rising to the challenge

• What key changes will be needed to make this
  happen?

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Question 16Rising to the challenge

• What is the role of public sector accountants in
  getting a sustainable future to happen?

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CIPFA / Forum for the FutureA Sustainability
Reporting Framework for the public sector?

• Our public sector partners tell us that the
  finance department are powerful
• CIPFA is the key player for the UK
• The right timing current and forthcoming
  government agendas will include sustainability

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Why sustainability reporting?

• Can help an organisation deliver
• Accountability to stakeholders
• Manage what you measure learn improve
• Bring disparate measures together in a meaningful
  way
• Raises awareness, internally and externally
• Transparency promotes the public good

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Forum for the Future www.forumforthefuture.org.uk
Stand 59