The following are a selection of activities already underway for 2008 - 09. They build on our achievements from the past 12 months and concentrate on providing practical support to district councils.

Demonstrating the Links

The survey completed at the beginning of the year highlighted the need for SNI to demonstrate the links between the Sustainable Development Strategy and each council departments. This process is already underway and has involved mapping existing strategies, policies and legislation, which include sustainability targets. It is anticipated that the outcome will emphasise that many of the key strategies that district councils in Northern Ireland already have responsibility for delivering directly relate to the targets and actions set out in the Sustainable Development Strategy.

In addition to demonstrating these linkages to all council departments, the outcome of the process will also demonstrates to central government the necessity of fully integrating councils within the sustainable development framework.

Sustainability Audit Matrix (SAM)

For councils to integrate sustainability into their strategic, operational and service level plans, they have indicated that they need a simple but effective tool. Sustainable Northern Ireland has developed a Sustainability Audit Matrix (SAM). SAM will provide a structured approach for local government (and other organisations) to deliver sustainable development. SAM is consistent with the objectives and principles identified in the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy.

SAM is being piloted with North Down and Ards Borough Councils and involves an excel spreadsheet which when completed produces a sustainability appraisal and route map. Additional guidance to support SAM is also in development.

Development of Annual Sustainability Score

A new initiative, which we will be investigating over the coming 12 months, is the development of an annual district council sustainability score closely tied to SAM. This will be part of our programme to increase sustainability integration within public authorities and to embed sustainability principles within the policies and functions of the organisation.

Below is a copy of Sustainable Northern Ireland's annual report detailing our activities in 2007 -08. We have had a productive year focusing on the implementation of the new Duty for Sustainable Development and what it means for district councils.

Sustainable Northern Ireland launched a set of three manuals to help district councils implement sustainable development.The first manual provides council leaders with a strategic overview of sustainable development, the new Duty and the likely impact on their organisation. The second manual is aimed at senior departmental managers to raise their awareness of sustainable development and highlight some of the action required by their department to comply with the Duty. The final manual gives a more detailed explanation of sustainable development, the new legislation and the action required (both in-house and operational) for councils to successfully integrate sustainable development throughout their structures, policies and operations.

The finds of a survey (PDF of report below) carried out by Sustainable Northern Ireland in May 2007 indicate that:

• The last five years has seen a decline, rather than an increase in the way in which Northern Ireland's district councils are promoting Sustainable Development.
• Local authorities now see this as a lower priority, placing a greater emphasis on awareness raising around SD, rather than integrating SD with core council functions.
• There is still a range of good practice in SD being undertaken by Northern Ireland's district councils, mostly focussed on environmental initiatives rather than the economic or social dimensions of SD.
• Since 2002, there have been a number of global, international and regional initiatives for promoting Sustainable Development - for Northern Ireland's councils the most critical have been the Northern Ireland Sustainable development Strategy and the establishment of a the Statutory Duty to promote SD. While these are positive developments, they have not yet been supported by guidance on how Councils are expected to promote SD.
• There is a need for dedicated expertise and guidance in local sustainable development issues in Northern Ireland.
  

These findings suggest that for district councils to further promote sustainable development, the following will be required:

• Government should immediately issue good quality guidance on how district councils are expected to fulfil their new Statutory Duty to promote sustainable development.
• Councils should review the skills they require to more effectively promote SD and invest in qualified staff if required. The Northern Ireland Assembly should consider providing additional financial resources for this.
• Government should establish more formal and regular mechanisms for engaging with district councils on local sustainable development issues.
• Councils would benefit from the transfer of practical experience and good practice in local sustainable development and should therefore establish a Northern Ireland Local Sustainable Development Forum through which this can be undertaken.