The way we do things
SSN's Guiding Principles
The Sustainable Scotland Network exists to improve local government's contribution to achieving a sustainable Scotland. But what does that mean in practice?
Three principles guide SSN's work:
- Maintenance of, and in-depth support to, a network of sustainable development officers and advocates from Scotland's local authorities
- Collaborative working with others developing projects, support programmes and research initiatives, (if you want to know who we work with, see partners & steering group, below);
- Sustaining a high level of network communication, through a regular events programme, training, an annual conference, newsletters and this very website.
SSN's 6-Point Improvement Framework
There are a number of common principles for all local authorities in their engagement with sustainable development. SSN's experience shows that progress is needed across the following six areas for local authorities to make significant moves toward sustainable development.
- Legislation: The need to use existing legislation better, or to introduce new legislation on sustainable development.
- Leadership: The need to stimulate and support better leadership on sustainable development.
- Programmes for Action: The need for distinct, practical, collaborative approaches to performance improvement.
- Scrutiny and Accountability: Strengthening internal and external monitoring, auditing, reporting, planning.
- Resources: Allocating new resources, or managing existing resources differently, to support action.
- Culture Change: To support access to information, awareness raising, learning and behaviour change.
We practically apply this 6-point framework through our four priority themes: Climate Change, Best Value & Sustainable Development, Procurement for Sustainability and Local Footprints. Visit our priority themes page for more information on our work around these four themes.
SSN: Origins and Support
SSN is core funded by The Scottish Government, through the Greener Scotland team.
SSN is hosted by Keep Scotland Beautiful, which is home to a raft of other projects working toward similar aims. These projects include: Waste Aware Scotland (WAS), Eco Schools, Going Carbon Neutral Stirling, the Climate Challange Fund (CCF) and the People & Places Programme. This gives SSN access to a wealth of expertise.
SSN originated as a self-managing network of LA21 Officers. The Network was awarded core funding from the Scottish Government in 2003, which enabled the recruitment of a Development Officer. Since this time, the SSN has gone from strength to strength, and is now staffed by a small national development team: contact us.
SSN's work programme is directed by an active and able Steering Group. We also benefit from partnerships with a number of other agencies and organisations.