Local Agenda (LA21)

2. Introduction

2.1 Tameside, as one of the earliest industrialised areas in the world, has experienced the uneasy relationship between economic development and the desire to protect and enhance the environment. Most people wish to achieve higher standards of living for themselves and their children, which generally exerts pressure for development in various forms. This in turn has resulted in major impacts and threats to the Borough's environment and consequently the health and well being of its citizens.

2.2 At a global level these same pressures, combined with massive increases in the human population have led to an environmental crisis unprecedented in human history. At the forefront of these concerns are issues like ozone depletion, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, global warming and acid rain. There is increasing evidence that the way the human race is using energy and resources, altering ecosystems and releasing wastes is jeopardising the future ability of the planet to support life. These conditions in many instances are having a detrimental affect on the quality of people's lives and often this is disproportionately worse for both the poorest in our society and the poorest nations. It has been calculated that the richest 16% of the world's population consume eleven times more energy per head than those in developing countries, generate half of the CO2 emissions, create three quarters of all the industrial waste and four fifths of all hazardous waste. As a consequence, the developed nations must bear a substantial degree of responsibility for the exploitation of natural resources and the resulting impact on the Earth's environment.

A New Agenda

2.3 The need for change was recognised by world leaders at the Rio Earth Summit, which led to a commitment to work towards sustainable development in the form of Agenda 21. A new United Nation's body, the Commission for Sustainable Development, has been set up to help governments do this and receive reports on their progress. Sustainable development is the overarching concept, which aims to reconcile the need for development with the protection of the environment. The most commonly acknowledged definition was coined in the Brundtland Commission report of 1987, which states that it is:

"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".

The World-Wide Fund for Nature also defines sustainable development as:

"Improving the quality of life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems".

2.4 Sustainable development is not just concerned with the traditional environmental agenda but also with the well being of society as a whole, which means encompassing health, economic and social dimensions. Inequalities in health between social groups, unemployment, homelessness, poverty and crime are currently pervasive in our communities. A prerequisite for a sustainable community is that it must be based on the principles of equity, fairness and social justice. This is recognition of the fact that our quality of life is not only dependent on the preservation of the natural world, but also on the well being of all members of society.

2.5 Decision-making is another significant issue addressed by this new agenda. The aim of extending the democratic process to as wide a cross section of the community as possible is meant to engender greater ownership of issues by all sectors, and their participation in identifying and tackling problems. The approach taken to the production of this Action Plan (see section 3 - The LA21 Process) is an illustration of how this principle might be put into practice. Furthermore the Council has now established District Assemblies, which provide a major new vehicle for improving community involvement in decisions that affect them and their local area.

Think Global - Act Local

2.6 Seeking solutions to such a wide range of issues presents us with a significant challenge and clearly there are many aspects, which can only be tackled at a national or international level. Despite this it is important to focus on the areas which can be influenced locally. This Action Plan aims to identify those practical tasks which we in Tameside can undertake, whilst also highlighting some matters which are the responsibility of other agencies including central government.

The Wider Context

2.7 When considering Tameside's contribution to Agenda 21 it is important to see it in the context of international, national and regional strategies for sustainability.

European Union

2.8 The last twenty years have seen the growth of European Union (EU) policy-making in relation to environmental matters. Currently the Fifth Environmental Action Programme is being promoted by the EU under the title of "Toward Sustainability" and is developing practical and legislative measures in which it aims to involve a range of key players.

National Strategy

2.9 At a national level, central government published four reports in 1994; Sustainable Development - The UK Strategy (currently being reviewed); the Climate Change Programme, The Biodiversity Action Plan and Sustainable Forestry - The UK Programme. These fulfil the commitment made by the government at the Earth Summit in 1992 and represent the first national sustainability programme.

2.10 In order to complement the national strategy, the Local Government Association established an initiative to support Local Agenda 21 projects, which is co-ordinated by the Local Government Management Board. In addition the Local Government Association has published a consultation document "The Environmental Manifesto for Local Government", which sets out the key objectives and actions for local and central government.

Regional Initiatives

2.11 At the regional level the North West Regional Chamber (formerly Association) has been actively pursuing sustainability with particular reference to economic development strategies. It is noted that the newly created North West Development Agency will have the achievement of sustainable development as one of its key objectives. Most recently the Chamber published the first North West Quality of Life and Sustainability Audit, which identified key goals and indicators against which future progress can be measured. In parallel with these developments the Government Office for the North West is preparing a report "Action for Sustainability", which will in part provide comparisons of activity on LA21 across the region.

2.12 Greater Manchester as a county currently has no formal policy relating to sustainable development. However, the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (of which Tameside is a member) and the Town and Country Planning Association have carried out research into what would constitute a sustainable city region. The report titled "Manchester 2020" was published in 1996 and subsequently two further research projects have been approved to take this work forward.

2.13 Despite there being no Greater Manchester Authority certain functions e.g. waste disposal, transportation policy, police and emergency services continue to be provided on a county-wide basis. It is important to recognise that Tameside's future fortunes are dependent, to a greater or lesser extent, on that of the rest of the conurbation. Sustainable development can only be achieved in co-operation with neighbouring districts, which requires that all our objectives are compatible and part of a strategic framework.

About this Action Plan

2.14 Sections 7 to 16 of this Action Plan address each of the key topics in turn with an introduction, which provides some background information about the subject. This is followed by a table that identifies the 'actions', the 'timescale' for their implementation and those responsible for taking the initiative forward in the 'partners' column.

The key to the 'timescale' column is as follows:-