Publisher's Synopsis
Drawing on a range of information sources, this report identifies the obstacles and barriers to the successful delivery of sustainable development at local level. It assesses the policy actions and new power relations between central and local government which might be adopted to overcome these restrictions. Seeing the bigger picture identifies how government policies and performance requirements within the central-local context might be better shaped for the future, and suggests that a new public service ethos that embraces lasting change is needed in order to inspire greater government commitment at all levels. The study concludes with a review of the policy implications of its findings and will be of interest to all those working to create a more sustainable local environment. This timely publication offers some challenging opportunities in the light of the on-going review of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy, and the findings of the ODPM commissioned Egan Review on 'sustainable communities'.;The report also advances a new concept of 'Principled Localism', as a basis of a new code for sustainability in governance, and offers strategic and specific practical suggestions for central and local government partners to re-energise their efforts delivering sustainable development at the local level that adds value to the Government's modernisation of the public sector.
