The University of Edinburgh

SEAG Engagement Task Group (SEAG-ETG)

22 August, 2013

Edinburgh Sustainable Development Partnership

Brief description of the paper

This paper provides the draft Vision, Mission and Remit & Membership for the re-formed cross-cutting Partnership body which will contribute to The Edinburgh Partnership. These are due to be approved at a meeting on 2 September and the University has been invited to participate in both the partnership and the three working groups:

  • Edinburgh Community Energy Projects Group
  • Edible Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh Biodiversity Group

The Sustainability Adviser currently participates in the first two of these working groups which have each met on several occasions in 2013.

Action requested

SEAG ETG is invited to note the emergence of a wider civic forum devoted to promoting sustainability.

Resource implications

Does the paper have resource implications? No

Risk Assessment

Does the paper include a risk analysis? No

Equality and Diversity

Does the paper have equality and diversity implications? No

Freedom of information

Can this paper be included in open business? Yes

Originator and Presenter of the paper

David Somervell
University Sustainability Adviser

15 August 2013

Edinburgh Sustainable Development Partnership

Vision

The Partnership has adopted the ‘Sustainable Edinburgh 2020’ vision:
“Edinburgh in 2020 will be a low carbon, resource efficient city, delivering a resilient local economy and vibrant flourishing communities in a rich natural setting.”

Mission

The purpose of the Edinburgh Sustainable Development Partnership is to provide the city and its key stakeholders with strategic, cross-sector leadership on the sustainable development of Edinburgh.

The Partnership will form part of the Community Planning Partnership arrangements for the city as a cross-cutting partnership operating within the Edinburgh Partnership

Remit and Strategic Objectives

  • The Edinburgh Sustainable Development Partnership objectives and activities are explicitly linked to national outcomes 1,3,12 and 14:
  1. We live in a Scotland that is the most attractive place to do business in Europe;
  1. We are better educated, more skilled and more successful, renowned for our research and innovation.
  1. We value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations
  1. We reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production.
  • To act as a nexus for sustainability good practice, knowledge, awareness, actions and players in Edinburgh;
  • To identify aspects of the city’s life that could benefit from stronger action around sustainability and collaborate to stimulate and deliver appropriate improvements;
  • To represent sustainability interests at governance level;
  • To agree and drive demonstrable commitments, actions, targets in outcomes relating to sustainable development in Edinburgh;
  • To ensure that all sectors in the city are active members of the partnership;
  • To foster debate both within and outwith the partnership on key issues relating to the city’s sustainability;
  • To identify and develop opportunities for synergies between partners that are mutually beneficial and increase sustainability capacity in the city.

Membership

The ESDP will endeavour to ensure membership encompasses a range of prominent organisations operating in different sectors within the city of Edinburgh.

Members at each meeting are not only present as a representative of their individual organisation, but also as a representative of their sector (whether social, economic, environmental or cultural).

As each meeting is thematically arranged, organisations may wish to select their representative for each meeting based on knowledge, experience and potential contribution to the partnership meeting, rather than maintaining a permanent representative.

All members of the Partnership commit to supporting the agreed objectives and to:

  • Proceeding with openness, integrity and respect to others;
  • Building and developing trust and cooperating between themselves and other partners;
  • Taking back to the body/bodies they represent, issues which fall outside their mandated authority;
  • Constructively challenging and dealing with problems which limit the effectiveness of the group.
  • See Appendix 1 for list of potential Members

Sub-Groups

Sub-groups (e.g. the Edinburgh Community Energy Projects Group, Edible Edinburgh, Edinburgh Biodiversity Partnership) can be set up and people co-opted onto these at the agreement of the membership;

It will be a standing item on the agenda for the chair of these sub-groups to report to the ESDP on their commitments, actions, targets and outcomes.

Format

  • The partnership will meet 4 times per annum, with each meeting organised around a selected core theme;
  • The location for the meetings will not be fixed, in order for the venue to be specific to each meeting’s selected theme;
  • A request for agenda items will be circulated to all members during the period of 28 and 21 days before the meeting;
  • A final agenda, relevant papers and relevant information will be circulated 5 working days before the meeting;
  • Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary will be elected positions, held for a two year period;
  • Decisions should be reached by consensus or by one member, one vote if necessary;
  • The ESDP must present regularly to the Executive and Board of the Edinburgh Partnership to report on actions and progress.
  • These Terms of Reference, including membership, can be amended with the approval of over 50% of members.

Structural Fit

The Edinburgh Sustainable Development Partnership will appear as a ‘Cross Cutting Theme’, working as part of all the strategic grouping across the city and reporting to the Edinburgh Partnership.

EPB Members:

1 Universities Rep

1 Vocational Education Rep

1 Voluntary/Charity Sector Rep

1 Business Forum/EDSP Rep

1 CPST Representative

1 Neighbourhood Partnership Rep

Edinburgh Sustainable Development Partnership: Membership

Members are invited from a range of high-profile City of Edinburgh organisations to participate in the Edinburgh Sustainable Development Partnership, a cross-cutting partnership of the Edinburgh Community Planning Partnership. Members will engage in discussion and action relating to the problems and opportunities of sustainable development existing within the city, in order to achieve the partnership vision:

“Edinburgh in 2020 will be a low carbon, resource efficient city, delivering a resilient local economy and vibrant flourishing communities in a rich natural setting.”

Representation

Members at each meeting are not only present as a representative of their individual organisation, but also as a representative of their sector (whether social, economic, environmental or cultural) and its concerns pertaining to sustainable development in Edinburgh.

As each meeting is thematically arranged, organisations may wish to select their representative for each meeting based on knowledge, experience and potential contribution to the partnership meeting, rather than maintaining a permanent representative (e.g. The ‘energy efficiency specialist’ in any organisation may not be most suited to attending a meeting on awareness raising, in lieu of a communications or marketing team member).

Values and Principles

All members of the Partnership commit to supporting the agreed objectives (see TOR) and to:

  • proceeding with openness, integrity and respect to others;
  • building and developing trust and cooperating between themselves and other partners;
  • taking back to the body/bodies they represent, issues which fall outside their mandated authority;
  • constructively challenging and dealing with problems which limit the effectiveness of the group.

Benefits to Members

Throughmembership of the Edinburgh Sustainable Development Partnership, members are able to:

  • Gain understanding of good practice amongst same sector and cross-sector organisations;
  • Increase knowledge, in aid to improving their own efforts towards sustainable development, through the sharing of good practice;
  • Develop relationships with other individuals, organisations and businesses whilst working towards a sustainable future;
  • Learn of networking and funding opportunities;

Participate in a city wide forum to discuss sustainability concerns, ideas and issues, as well as contribute to meaningful action.

Potential Priority Themes for the Partnership


The priorities of the Edinburgh Sustainable Development Partnership align with those of the Edinburgh Partnership’s Single Outcome Agreement as well as those objectives identified by the Sustainable Edinburgh 2020 vision and framework.

  • Edinburgh will maintain a good quality of life for all its citizens while consuming minimum resources
  • Edinburgh will be a leading knowledge, demonstration and development centre for sustainable development
  • Edinburgh will have a new trademark – the “Sustainable City” – attracting visitors, industry and investors
  • Edinburgh will have created significant new employment opportunities in low carbon and green technologies
  • Edinburgh will have preserved and enhanced its biodiversity, landscape and coastal environments

Sustainable Edinburgh 2020

In aiming to retain focus and maximise outcomes, the Edinburgh Sustainable Development Partnership will focus on a limited number of actions within a set of four identified key themes. Each meeting will address one of these specific themes, rather than risk efforts being spread too thinly over too many activities.

Some suggestions for these specific themes are detailed below:

  • Climate Change
  • Poverty and Inequality
  • Education and Awareness Raising
  • Parks And Open Spaces
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Technology

Sector/Attributable Pillar of Sustainability / Organisations
Social / EVOC
The City of Edinburgh
NHS Lothian
Police Scotland
Edinburgh Compact (Strategic Partnership)
Edible Edinburgh (Chair)
Economic / Edinburgh College
Queen Margaret University/Universities Scotland
Edinburgh Napier University
University of Edinburgh
Scottish Enterprise
Edinburgh Business Forum
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
Environmental / Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation
Edinburgh Community Energy Projects Gp (Chair)
Edinburgh Biodiversity Partnership (Chair)
Changeworks
Transition Edinburgh
Adaptation Scotland
Edinburgh and LothiansGreenspace Trust
Lothians and Fife Green Network Partnership
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Scottish Water
Cultural / Artlink
Creative Carbon Scotland
Festivals Edinburgh
VisitScotland
Edinburgh World Heritage/Historic Scotland
Cockburn Association
Saltire Society Scotland

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