‘Struggling with Sustainability’: Weak and Strong Interpretations of Sustainable Development within Local Authority Policy

1998 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1351-1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
D C Gibbs ◽  
J Longhurst ◽  
C Braithwaite

In recent years there has been a growing interest in sustainable development as a guiding principle to allow the integration of economic development and the environment within policy and strategy. At all levels of policymaking a major emphasis has been placed upon the local scale as the most appropriate for the delivery of such policies and initiatives, with a particular stress upon local authorities as the major delivery mechanism. Though it is often assumed that this integration is relatively unproblematic, this paper indicates that this is not the case. The paper draws upon research with urban local authorities in England and Wales, which reveals that there are varying interpretations of the environment within local authorities, reflecting environmental and economic development perspectives. In each case, however, these are effectively interpretations which tend towards the ‘weak’ end of a sustainability spectrum and it is suggested that such divergent interpretations of sustainability are hindering integrative activity and the potential for introducing ‘strong’ sustainability measures.

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
T B A

Global warming, climate change is now affecting the world. The effort of the leaders to achieving the sustainable development is from New Urban Agenda (NUA), Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and local level is local authorities.  SDG’s goal number 13 takes urgent action to combat climate change and its impact also SDG’s number 11 to sustainable cities and communities. The gap of this paper  Different cities face different challenges and issues. Local authorities will play a significant role in undertaking policy initiatives to combat carbon emissions of the city. Low Carbon Cities (LCC) is to reduce carbon emissions in all human activities in cities.  The objective of this paper is by applying the LCCF Checklist in planning permission for sustainable development. The methodology of this research is a mixed-method, namely quantitative and qualitative approach. The survey methods are by interview, questionnaire, and observation. Town planners are the subject matter expert in managing the planning permission submission for the development control of their areas. Descriptive statistical analysis will be used to show the willingness of the stakeholders, namely the developers and planning consultants in implementing of the LCCF. The contribution of this research will gauge readiness at the local authorities level. The findings of the LCCF checklist are identified as important in planning permission into the development control process. Surprisingly, that challenges and issues exist in multifaceted policy implementation the LCCF Checklist in a local authority. Finally based on Subang Jaya Municipal Councils, the existing approach in the application of the LCCF Checklist in the development control process will be useful for development control in a local authority towards sustainable development.  


1986 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Young

Local authority involvement in economic matters has become widespread since the early 1970s. Recent developments in the pattern of local economic activity have been the increasing use of section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 to fund local programmes, the spread of local authority involvement from the Assisted Areas to the more prosperous regions, and the increasing interest shown by the smaller shire districts, often in rural areas. The portfolio of possible interventions has also changed, bringing a new diversity to the practice of local economic development. Whereas central government has in the past eschewed the temptation to exercise close controls over these activities, the new diversity of local economic initiatives presents it with new dilemmas. It can no longer be assumed that such initiatives will be supportive of central government's spatial or sectoral policies. This vacuum in central-local relations is unlikely to remain, and renewed pressures to grant specific economic development powers to local authorities can be expected. If these claims are accepted, central government will be drawn inexorably into local economic affairs by the need to develop the capacity of local authorities to intervene effectively in pursuit of economic and employment goals.


2006 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tan Thean Siew

One of the most important functions of a local authority in Malaysia is development control under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1976 (Act 172) and the Street, Drainage and Building Act, 1974 (Act 133). With the powers under these acts, the local authority is responsible to ensure that any activity of development is carried out in an orderly manner so as not to cause immediate as well as long-term undesirable impacts on the neighbours, the surroundings and the environment. To do this the law requires that any person intending to carry out any development will need a planning permission and a building plan approval from the local authority. In giving such an approval the local authority has to check and ensure that the developer can and will carry out the development properly and according to a good set of by-laws, standards, regulations and guidelines drawn up to protect the safety, health and amenity of the people in the local authority area. However most local authorities, due to numerous valid reasons, have problems carrying out this task and are often accused of causing delays to the development process and hence to the economic progress of the country. Often, justly or unjustly, local authority officers and decision-makers have been branded as not transparent and corrupt for taking such a confusing and lengthy process in considering applications for development approval. Local authorities have hence an almost impossible task of protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable development and at the same time promoting further development and timely economic growth. In an attempt to overcome this problem the Municipal Council of Penang Island (MCPJ), with grants from the Development Application Grant Scheme (DAGS) of the National IT Council (NITC) of Malaysia, embarked on a project to develop an Electronic Local Authority Management System, or "eLAMS". This will assist in the day-to-day functions of processing and considering of applications for planning permission, building plans and earthworks plans, in accordance with a good quality management and environmental managen1ent system. This paper examines the problems of the development control process for sustainable development and the problems of adopting and adapting the electronic system faced by local authorities in Malaysia in general and the Municipal Council of Penang Island in particular. This paper will also outline the proposals to overcome these problems with eLAMS.


Author(s):  
Sean Bevin

This paper examines the initiatives that local authorities in New Zealand have taken since the late 1970s to facilitate the economic development and employment creation in their districts. The paper examines why local authorities have become involved in both issues, the variation across them in both level and range of initiatives, and levels of effectiveness. Several case studies will highlight a number of the opportunities as well as the difficulties involved. The paper concludes that whilst local authorities have attempted to play a constructive and responsible role, there are still a number of unresolved issues concerning their role in local economic development. This paper argues that local authorities should be involved and have the ability to develop and implement programmes to address local employment issues.


2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tan Thean Siew

One of the most important functions of a local authority in Malaysia is development control under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1976 (Act 172) and the Street, Drainage and Building Act, 1974 (Act 133). With the powers under these acts, the local authority is responsible to ensure that any activity of development is carried out in an orderly manner so as not to cause immediate as well as long-term undesirable impacts on the neighbours, the surroundings and the environment. To do this the law requires that any person intending to carry out any development will need a planning permission and a building plan approval from the local authority. In giving such an approval the local authority has to check and ensure that the developer can and will carry out the development properly and according to a good set of by-laws, standards, regulations and guidelines drawn up to protect the safety, health and amenity of the people in the local authority area. However most local authorities, due to numerous valid reasons, have problems carrying out this task and are often accused of causing delays to the development process and hence to the economic progress of the country. Often, justly or unjustly, local authority officers and decision-makers have been branded as not transparent and corrupt for taking such a confusing and lengthy process in considering applications for development approval. Local authorities have hence an almost impossible task of protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable development and at the same time promoting further development and timely economic growth. In an attempt to overcome this problem the Municipal Council of Penang Island (MCPJ), with grants from the Development Application Grant Scheme (DAGS) of the National IT Council (NITC) of Malaysia, embarked on a project to develop an Electronic Local Authority Management System, or "eLAMS". This will assist in the day-to-day functions of processing and considering of applications for planning permission, building plans and earthworks plans, in accordance with a good quality management and environmental managen1ent system. This paper examines the problems of the development control process for sustainable development and the problems of adopting and adapting the electronic system faced by local authorities in Malaysia in general and the Municipal Council of Penang Island in particular. This paper will also outline the proposals to overcome these problems with eLAMS.


1996 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 354-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Gibbs ◽  
David Devins ◽  
Geraint Hughes ◽  
Keith Tanner

Outline There has been much recent comment about the development of the "information superhighway" and the opportunities that this will create for economic development. Yet elements of such a superhighway are already in place through the activities of cable companies in the UK This paper outlines the development of cable to date and examines the response of local authorities to such developments.


Author(s):  
N.N. Balashova ◽  
◽  
D.A. Korobeynikov ◽  
S.A. Popova ◽  
◽  
...  

Typologization of rural areas, taking into account differences in population density and level of socio-economic development, is necessary to identify “growth points” and strategic sustainability benchmarks. The method of integrated assessment of the level of socio-economic development of rural territories is proposed, according to which the grouping of Russian regions is carried out. Applying data on rural population density to the results of calculations allowed us to identify 12 typological groups, in the context of which unified recommendations on sustainable development of territories should be formed.


Author(s):  
A.I. Chernykh ◽  
◽  
O.V. Goncharenko ◽  

Rural settlements occupy a significant part of the territory of Russia, where about 25% of the population lives and significant natural resource potential is concentrated, but the level of their socio-economic development is significantly inferior to urban ones. Increasing depressiveness of rural areas and spatial socio-economic differentiation is a systemic problem and an obstacle to the balanced development of the national economy, reduces its competitiveness due to insufficient use of economic potential, creates challenges to the economic and national security of the state. A powerful tool for countering such trends is the formation and implementation of the potential for the development of small agribusiness, which is mainly based on households created in the form of peasant (farmer) and personal subsidiary associations. The article ana-lyzes the potential of small agribusiness development in rural areas.


2020 ◽  
pp. 75-83
Author(s):  
L.Z. Khalishkhova ◽  
A.Kh. Temrokova ◽  
I.R. Guchapsheva

The article is devoted to the issues of measuring environmentally oriented economic development. The current stage of economic development requires the integration of environmental development, taking into account: environmental boundaries, biosphere processes, social problems, human needs and environmental processes. A green economy can become the main point of growth for the modern global economy. The article presents a complex of measures for the transition to a green economy, as well as tools for their implementation.


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