Launch of the new east of England sustainable development round table

04/12/2006

The inaugural meeting of the new East of England Sustainable Development Round Table, SDRT-East, is being held today, 5th December, in Cambridge.

SDRT-East is an independent body whose aims are to promote Sustainable Development in the six counties of the East of England (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk & Suffolk).  It will do this by bringing together people with relevant experience and expertise from across the region and across disciplines to explore issues, challenge current practice, raise awareness, change perceptions and act as a ‘critical friend’ to key Regional bodies in the integration of economic, environmental and social policies. 

It will also strive to influence those who are responsible for delivering these policies – particularly in relation to the critical issues the region faces, such as achieving growth expectations in a region which is sensitive to environmental and resource pressures.

To coincide with the launch, a new website has been created to promote the work of SDRT-East and that of the former SDRT.  The website is at: www.sustainabilityeast.org.uk

Members of the new Round Table are;

Caroline Neville, Regional Director, Learning and Skills Council East of England
Richard Powell, Regional Director, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Gwyneth Jones, Executive Director, Inspire East
David Bissonnet, Principal, Purcell Miller Tritton LLP
Ila Chandavarkar, Chief Officer, MENTER, the East of England Black & Minority Ethnic Network
Greg Smith, Head of Regional Advocacy and Partnerships, Natural England
Andrew Day, Group Sustainability Manager, Countryside Properties PLC
John Devall, Operations Director, Essex and Suffolk Water
Pamela Forbes, Regional Director, National Farmers’ Union
Sarah Fowler, Regional Strategy Manager, Environment Agency
Corinne Meakins, Regional Director, Campaign to Protect Rural England
Mike Barnes, Head of Sustainable Development, Government Office for the East of England
Paul Hinds, East of England Development Agency
Ian Monson, EERA representative, Norfolk County Council

Further members will be sought to represent other key sectors.

Members were appointed by a panel which included representatives from the national Sustainable Development Commission (the Government’s independent watchdog on sustainable development), the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA), the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East), and representatives of the business and health sectors. To maintain its relationship with the national Sustainable Development Commission, an SDC Board member will also sit on SDRT-East.

A first major task for SDRT-East is to work with EERA to identify and agree a set of  “Sustainable Development Principles” which will become an integral part of a new Integrated Regional Strategy, and which will provide underlying principles behind all future regional and sub regional strategies.  They will also work with EEDA to develop a new Regional Economic Strategy. 
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
The new SDRT-East has been created in accordance with “Securing the Regions’ Futures” published earlier this year as the Governments response to the Sustainable Development Commission review of Sustainable Development in the English Regions.  One of the key recommendations was that regions were advised each to review or create a champion body for Sustainable Development. 
 
The new SDRT-East is a formally constituted body, which invited applicants from a very wide range of regional organisations, representing the public, private and voluntary sectors, and covering a variety of key issues for the Region.  It replaces an informal SDRT which has been operating since 1998.  Because the new SDRT-East has a formal constitution, and underwent a stringent appointments process, it should achieve greater recognition as an authoritative champion for sustainable development in the East of England.

Sustainable Development is based on a set of guiding principles, which need to be undertaken mutually in order to achieve a good quality of life now and for future generations.  These are:

• Living within environmental limits;
• Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society;
• Achieving a sustainable economy;
• Promoting good governance;
• Using sound science responsibly.

The following websites can provide further information about the SDRT, SDC and Securing the Regions’ Futures:
www.sustainabilityeast.org.uk
http://www.sd-commission.org.uk
http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/