Midddelsbrough: LA 21 "Action 2020" Plan and Environment City

Abstract:

In response to the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio and the Agenda 21 that was adopted there, Local Agenda 21 efforts have been organized since 1997 in Middelsbrough, England. This has involved both Top-Down and Bottom Up strategies. The Middlesbrough Borough Council has organized an "Environmental Sustainability Strategy", (top down) while an "Action 2020" plan has been prepared by the citizens' organization Middlesbrough Environment City - MEC - (bottom up). The Middlesbrough LA 21 is worth reviewing primarily for its planning processes that have combined the activities of local governmental and local citizens' groups.

Concept and aims

During the 1990s, the Middlesbrough Council stated its commitment to LA 21 principles through the signing of a number of charters including the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Aalborg Charter and the Lisbon Action Plan. The Middlesbrough Council commisioned the MEC in 1996 to develop and coordinate the town's Local Agenda 21 program, known as 'Action 2020.' Meanwhile, the Council has drafted an Environmental Sustainability Strategy to improve its own performance, or as it says 'to get its own house in order.' The participatory aspects are a reflection of the Agenda 21 emphasis on involving citizen's in local planning, generally described as a process of consultation. The two processes and resulting documents have been seen in any case as complementary, and overall coordination has been maintained by the Council.

With an emphasis on learning, the Middelsbrough LA 21 Action Plan states that:

• Sustainable development is the responsibility of everyone.
• It is important that education for sustainable development is integrated throughout the National Curriculum in schools.
• Education for sustainable development is seen in terms of lifelong learning.
• It is important that local communities are involved in making decisions which will affect their future.

LA 21 activities in Middlesbrough can generally be related to one of two campaigns:

1. Middlesbrough Environmental City LA 21 "Action 2020" Plan,
2. Middlesbrough Council "Environmental Sustainability Strategy" Document.

Middlesbrough Environmental City (MEC) LA 21 and Action 2020 Plan

LA 21 efforts in Middlesbrough have been built on existing structures and institutions, for example the MEC, which was seen in the City as the ideal organization to facilitate the bottom-up processes. The MEC coordinated its LA 21 campaign through its Specialist Working Groups (SWGs) on energy and waste, natural environment and built environment, environmental quality and education, health, social welfare and culture, and transportation. Projects were coordinated with the City, Middlesbrough Community Councils and other local organizations, and workshops and outreach activities came together in 1997 in the form of the Action 2020 Plan. Schools were involved, such as the Hall Garth local secondary school, which contributed to Action 2020 through activities organized by its School Council and Youth Action Panel.

By the year 2000, a wide range of projects were either in planning or being implemented, dealing with such topics as home composting demonstrations, water saving strategies, and bicycling and public transportation initiatives. Other efforts are concerned with gardening at home or in local schools, or with safety and health. Altogether, the MEC LA 21 projects can for the most part be seen as an expansion and further development of previously existing Middlesbrough environmental planning efforts, with an emphasis being placed on "environmental sustainability."

Middlesbrough Environmental Sustainability Strategy Document

Published in September 2000, the Middlesbrough Environmental Sustainability Strategy Document is a comprehensive vision for the future development of Middlesbrough. This represents the third in a series of such Documents since 1998, and deals with the period 2000 - 2004, and in some vases beyond. Sixteen topic strands include health and social welfare, community safety, and economic development as well as traditional environmental themes such as energy conservation, transportation, and waste management. Representatives of all Council services were involved in the drafting of the policy statements, objectives, targets, and planned actions. Each topic strand has been given a lead department and the strategy in its entirety was coordinated by the Council's Environmental Sustainability Coordinator which is overseen by the inter-departmental Environmental Sustainability Officer Group. While some of the planned actions can be carried out by the Council many actions will depend on partnerships with other public and private organizations. A main mechanism for involving the public is the town network of 26 Community Councils, which bring together ward councillors and council officials with local people.

Implementation

Middlesbrough Environment City (MEC) was established in 1992 as the second of four Environment Cities in the UK (other cities include Leeds, Leicester, and Peterborough). The Environment City Programme itself is sponsored by British Telecommunications (BT) and supported by the national Department of the Environment. MEC is a partnership between the public, private and voluntary sectors, and aims to demonstrate more environmental and sustainable ways of managing cities.

LA 21 efforts in Middlesbrough as well as elsewhere in England have been encouraged and supported through the national Local Government Management Board (LGMB) and several local government associations. The MEC has also been assisted by the national Environment Agency, which has the challenge of implementing a national strategy for sustainable development.

The Middlesbrough LA 21 Action Plan, published in 1997, was envisioned as a first step in a long-term process. Copies of the plan have been circulated in libraries and public buildings, and a summary of the plan was included in a supplement to Middlesbrough Council's newsletter which is circulated to all households. The Plan is designed to both inform and inspire, discussing goals as well as providing good examples. Relevant Projects from other Middlesbrough groups are also illustrated.

The 2020 Action Plan is reviewed each year at the annual Community Environment Conference, from which an annual report is published. At the Conference priorities are established for projects in the coming year. A draft list of sustainability indicators has also been created, but it remains to be seen if these will have an effect on future planning and development decisions.

Representatives of local organizations and communities are invited to participate in LA 21 projects through the Community Environment Forum, which also manages the Community Environmental Action Fund.

Financing and resources used

LA 21 efforts in England have been supported and funded locally, with the assistance of national local government networks. Aside from the Middlesbrough Council's own Sustainability Strategy, primary work has been done through the MEC, which is organized both as a registered charity and as a limited liability company with the hope of achieving some financial independence. MEC was established through the initiative of the Middlesbrough Council in 1992 and its core activities continue to be funded and supported by the Council.

Community groups in Middlesbrough can be awarded between £100 and £500 towards projects that both encourage community involvement and lead to environmental improvements. A total amount of £5500 was made available for projects in 2001.

Results and impacts

It is apparent that Middlesbrough LA 21 activities have their history, and perhaps their future in environmental projects, and in this context it may very well be that LA 21 is only a short episode in local planning and environmental activities. While the combination in Middlesbrough of top-down and bottom-up processes is significant, the sustainability of the LA 21 campaign itself is questionable. Without a serious commitment of resources to the implementation of the Sustainability Strategy and Action 2020 Plan, the local plans and documents will in a few years be remembered simply as interesting, and while not expensive, at least time-consuming exercises. In any case, any substantial results of these initiatives will first be seen after a number of years, and so again we see the long-term nature of sustainable development and LA 21 projects.

References

Middlesbrough Council (2000) Middlesbrough Environmental Sustainability Strategy Document

Counsell, David, Bob King, and Joanne Smithson (1998) 'Top down' and bottom up': a two tier approach to Local Agenda 21 in Middlesbrough. unpublished paper.

Middlesbrough Environment City (1997) Action 2020, working for a better tomorrow: Action Plan for Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough Environment City UPDATES (1996-1998)

Middlesbrough Council

www.middlesbrough.gov.uk

Middlesbrough Environment City

www.menvcity.org.uk

Sustainable Development, UK Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

www.environment.detr.gov.uk/sustainable/index.htm

Environment Agency United Kingdom

www.environment-agency.gov.uk/

Contact:

Cities:

Middlesbrough:

This city has a history as a center for heavy industry, for example iron, steel and shipbuilding. The city also grew due to its access to water through a number of ports and docks. Recent decades have seen the replacement of industry with services and administrative institutions. The 1990s have seen a number of large development efforts in Middlesbrough, for example the pedestrianization of the town centre, a reuse of a number of old industrial sites, a new stadium for the local football club, and a variety of projects involving new retail and service activities.

Population:

Project was added at 05.09.2001
Project was changed at 05.09.2001

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