Forum:Sustainable Communities Act

(This is a draft for emailing to local councillors)

Re: using the Sustainable Communities Act

Dear Cllr (...)

As a local resident I am writing to you to urge you to please do all you can to ensure that the council decides to ‘opt in’ to the new Sustainable Communities Act process when invited to by central government in October this year.

I request the Council to ensure that it is informed about the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, to 'opt in' to the Act and to use it to the fullest extent possible to help local people make their communities more economically, environmentally, socially and democratically sustainable. The Act gives the government a legal duty to 'assist local authorities in promoting the sustainability of local communities' by making recommendations to the Secretary of State. Recommendations from UK local authorities are combined, and result directly in new powers for councils, more funding and nationally binding legislation. The Act also gives local authorities a duty: to set up 'panels of representatives of local people' to decide on the recommendations made. I specifically request the Council: 1) To ensure that all Members and key Officers have seen a copy of the guide to the Sustainable Communities Act produced by the Localworks coalition (www.localworks.org). 2) To ensure that all Members and key Officers are aware that the first invitations for participation are scheduled to be issued in 2008 and that councils must opt in to participate. 3) To opt into the Sustainable Communities Act when invitations are issued. 4) To ensure that an agenda item discussing implementing the Sustainable Communities Act is scheduled for full Council, and that a dialogue is opened with the local community about implementing the Act, as soon as possible.

I am sending a similar email to Cllr (...). I am also copying the content of these emails on the Sustainable Community Action wiki which is open for others to comment on these emails and any replies received. Local Works have asked for copies of replies. It would be good also to have your permission to copy your reply to the Sustainable Community Action wiki, or you can put it in the wiki directly yourself if you wish.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

(name and address)