UK Presidency EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities

Policy Papers

UK Presidency EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities

Policy Papers

March 2006 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: London

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CONTENTS
FOREWORD BY THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 5

PAPER 1 Conclusions of Bristol Ministerial Informal Meeting on Sustainable Communities in Europe

PAPER 2 EIB and Investment in Sustainable Communities in Europe: Proposal for an Expert Working Group

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PAPER 3 Skills for Sustainable Communities

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Foreword by the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

In December 2005, on behalf of the UK Presidency of the European Union, I invited 29 Ministers and representatives from Member States and European institutions to Bristol to discuss a common European approach to sustainable communities. This publication contains the conclusions of that Informal Meeting and our agreement which became known as the Bristol Accord. Of course, people across Europe already recognise and implement the ingredients of a sustainable community. Great European cities like Barcelona, Berlin and Birmingham are demonstrating that creating great places to live is also the best way to create the skills and jobs we need in todays global economy.

Rt. Hon John Prescott MP, Deputy Prime Minister

But European nations have not always pulled these ideas and ingredients together. The Bristol Accord does this. It identifies Europe-wide principles and characteristics of a sustainable community. It provides a comprehensive and coherent framework to deliver sustainable development, economic prosperity and social justice in an era of rapid global economic change. And it encourages a better environment, stronger democracy and effective local leadership. The Bristol Accord is a practical approach with a strong focus on outcomes, including sharing good practice and capacity building, drawing on ideas from across Europe. The Bristol meeting proposed work to increase the potential of the European Investment Bank to finance innovative projects that help to deliver sustainable communities. And it recognised that we need to change the culture of decision making and to invest in the new skills needed to create more and better sustainable communities.

UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

The Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hbner, also presented a draft paper on Cohesion Policy and Cities. This paper outlined how, with support from the new Structural Funds programmes, cities can promote competitiveness and cohesion across all regions of the European Union. It demonstrated that the Commission is putting urban policy at the heart of its programmes to promote jobs and growth. The Bristol Accord builds on the work of preceding Presidencies especially the Rotterdam Urban Acquis and is an important next step to help deliver the Lisbon agenda for jobs and growth, the goals for environment sustainability set in Gothenburg, and the declaration on effective democratic governance, agreed by the Council of Europe in Warsaw. We will work with succeeding Presidencies to support and advance the ideas in this publication. We particularly look forward to the new working groups on skills and investment reporting to the German Ministerial Informal meeting in 2007. Our common European approach the Bristol Accord will help shape new ideas, new partnerships and new investment. It will lay a foundation for future progress and cooperation between Member States over the coming years. Our aim is strong cities, in strong regions, in a strong and democratic Europe confident and capable of succeeding in the face of global economic change.

PAPER 1

Conclusions of Bristol Ministerial Informal Meeting on Sustainable Communities in Europe

Summary
The purpose of the Informal Meeting in Bristol (67 December 2005) was to discuss and agree the benefit to all Member States of creating sustainable communities across Europe. Ministers were asked to endorse the Bristol Accord eight characteristics of a sustainable community, and a commitment to share good practice case studies. Ministers were also asked to agree to specific proposals to: (i) enhance the impact of European Investment Bank (EIB) loan finance and (ii) foster generic place-making skills.

Brunels Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol

The Bristol Accord set out (i) eight characteristics of a sustainable community; and (ii) an agreement to compile good practice case studies that demonstrate sustainable communities characteristics to an agreed template. Building on the Rotterdam Urban Acquis principles of effective urban policy-making, the Bristol Accord comprised characteristics of successful places.

Bristol City Council

UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

Ministers were requested to note the contribution of the EIB to the sustainable communities agenda. Ministers were asked to agree to the establishment of an Expert Working Group to consider how to enhance the impact of EIB loans. The group would comprise Member States, EIB and the European Commission and report to the same group of Ministers under the German Presidency in the first half of 2007. Finally, Ministers were asked to agree the importance of fostering skills for successful place-making and the value of co-operative activity on this theme across Member States. Ministers were asked to support a proposal for a European Skills Symposium, hosted by the UKs Academy for Sustainable Communities and organised in partnership with European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN). The aim of the Symposium is to share good practice and to build capacity in the generic skills required for creating sustainable communities as the first step in a possible longer term programme of European co-operation for skills development. Ministers from 12 Member States agreed to make a contribution of h10,000 each in support of the Symposium and an associated bursary scheme, principally for new Member States and candidate countries. These themes build directly on the Rotterdam conclusions (2004) notably the Urban Acquis and the EUKN and subsequent progress under the Luxembourg Presidency. The Bristol papers reflected continuity and set out how work on these themes would continue under future Presidencies. Ministers were also asked to note the European Commissions staff working paper Cohesion Policy and Cities: the urban contribution to growth and jobs in the regions and the Commissions intention that the conclusions of the paper might be reflected in its final proposal for the Community Strategic Guidelines on Cohesion. Ministers were asked to agree to submit detailed comments in writing by 17 February 2006, noting that the Guidelines will need to be adopted by the Council and the European Parliament, and will therefore be discussed in the Councils Structural Actions Working Group and the General Affairs and External Relations Council in due course. Ministers noted the linkages between the contents of the staff working paper and the aim of the UK Presidencys Sustainable Communities approach as exemplified in the Bristol Accord.

Creating Sustainable Communities in Europe: UK Presidencys Conclusions

PURPOSE 1. The purpose of the Informal Meeting in Bristol (67 December 2005) was to discuss and agree the benefit to all Member States of creating sustainable communities across Europe. Ministers were asked to endorse the Bristol Accord eight characteristics of a sustainable community, and a commitment to share good practice case studies. Ministers were also asked to agree to specific proposals to: (i) enhance the impact of European Investment Bank (EIB) loan finance and (ii) foster generic place-making skills.

Conclusions of Bristol Ministerial Informal Meeting on Sustainable Communities in Europe

Ministers discuss the Bristol Accord

CONTEXT 2. Ministers agreed that, despite the diversity of geography, socio-economic performance and demography, all share a similar set of EU Member States challenges to building more attractive places or Sustainable Communities where people want to live and work, both now and in the future. Ministers acknowledged the influential role that regions, cities and other urban areas should play in delivering the revitalised Lisbon Agenda, in the context of the National Reform Plans and the proposed Community Strategic Guidelines for making Europe and its regions more attractive places to invest and work1. National policies therefore needed to create innovative, flexible and balanced solutions to economic, social and environmental challenges. The Bristol Accords Sustainable Communities approach will help Member States to deliver Lisbon goals. Ministers noted the importance of territorial cohesion in delivery of the growth and jobs agenda. The purpose of territorial cohesion was to achieve a more balanced development, to build sustainable communities in cities and other human settlements in urban and rural areas and to see greater consistency with other sectoral policies that have a spatial impact2. They welcomed the continuing co-operation between Member States in taking forward the conclusions on Territorial Cohesion, endorsed at Rotterdam and Luxembourg, by the Ministers responsible for spatial development. Ministers acknowledged the importance of complementary efforts to ensure that territories are well led and well served; and are well designed and built, in order to achieve the creation across Europe of sustainable communities.

3.

4.

5.

1 2

Draft Community Strategy Guidelines (July 2005). ibid. 9

Phil Jackson: phill@philljacksonphotography.com

UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

6.

Ministers also noted that sustainable development is a fundamental objective under the Treaties of the Union that requires dealing with economic, social and environmental policies in a mutually reinforcing way3. Ministers recognised the contribution of the Sustainable Communities approach in helping Member States to address common challenges to their communities; and, in particular, to deliver their Lisbon goals, social justice, territorial cohesion, and sustainable development.

7.

THREE KEY THEMES: A SUMMARY 8. Ministers endorsed the Bristol Accord, which set out (i) eight characteristics of a sustainable community; and (ii) contained an agreement to compile good practice case studies that demonstrate sustainable communities characteristics to an agreed template. Building on the Rotterdam Urban Acquis principles of effective urban policy-making, the Bristol Accord comprised the characteristics of successful places cities and other human settlements in urban and rural areas. Ministers noted the commitment of the UK Presidency to reaching an agreement before the end of 2005 on the financial perspectives for the period 2007-2013. They underlined the importance of an early agreement on the financial perspectives in order to create a stable basis for planning future Structural Fund programmes. It was recognised that grant finance at European level has been an important lever for attracting additional public and private support from national sources and for the promotion of a more strategic and innovative approach to sustainable communities and urban development issues. Ministers noted the role of the EIB and its contribution to a sustainable communities and urban development agenda. They also took note of the new co-operation agreement currently being worked out between the Commission the EIB and the Council of Europe Development Bank in the field of urban renewal and development ands social housing. They agreed to the establishment of an expert group to consider how to enhance the impact of EIB loans in fostering sustainable communities. The group would comprise Member States, EIB and the European Commission and would report to the same group of Ministers under the German Presidency in the first half of 2007. The European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions would have observer status on the group. Finally, Ministers agreed the importance of fostering skills for successful placemaking and the value of co-operative activity on this theme across Member States. Therefore they agreed a proposal for European Sustainable Communities Skills Symposium hosted by the UKs Academy for Sustainable Communities in partnership with the European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN) in November 2006. The aim of the Symposium would be to share good practice and to build capacity in the generic skills required for creating sustainable communities as the first step in a possible longer term

9.

10.

11.

Conclusions of European Council, Gothenburg, 15 and 16 June 2001.

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Conclusions of Bristol Ministerial Informal Meeting on Sustainable Communities in Europe

programme of co-operative activity on skills development. Ministers from 12 Member States agreed to make a contribution of h10,000 in support of the Symposium and an associated bursary scheme, principally for new Member States and candidate countries.

(1)

A COMMON APPROACH TO CREATING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: THE BRISTOL ACCORD At the Informal meeting in Rotterdam in 2004 Ministers endorsed a set of principles common to successful urban policies the Urban Acquis (see Annex 2). Ministers agreed that the Bristol Accords Sustainable Communities approach represented by eight characteristics attached complemented the Acquis. Where the Acquis listed agreed inputs of successful urban policy, the Accord defined an aspirational set of objectives of successful places (both urban and rural). They agreed that the Accords sustainable communities characteristics were familiar to all Member States, but their combination into a single approach was original. As such, the Accords Sustainable Communities approach represented an ambitious and inspiring set of goals or outcomes that could serve as a common framework for evaluating success. Ministers recognised that the Accord provided an important next step towards achieving the goals of Lisbon. Ministers endorsed the Bristol Accord. It comprised: (i) A common, European set of characteristics that define a successful sustainable community (for example, a city, small town, neighbourhood or rural area). (ii) An agreement to compile good practice case studies displaying these characteristics to the template established by the EUKN. The case studies should demonstrate flexible and transferable solutions to common challenges. Ministers agreed that all future case studies would be submitted and considered by the EUKN. The information would be made available through the EUKN.

12.

13.

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15.

Ministers recognised that Part II of the Accord (below) sought Encouraging Good Practice, Policy Learning and Capacity (final category of Urban Acquis) by recommending that Member States agree to compile and share good practice case studies of successful places. Ministers agreed to prepare case studies from their own Member States to be submitted to the EUKN4. Sharing of good practice also featured heavily as part of the UK Presidencys proposals regarding EIB and the Skills Symposium (see below).

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UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

THE BRISTOL ACCORD, DECEMBER 2005

Part I: Characteristics of a Sustainable Community Definition: Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services for all. There are a number of key pre-requisites for the aim of creating genuinely sustainable communities across Europe. These are: i. Economic growth is of central importance. Without economic growth, EU Member States are unable to invest in the creation and maintenance of sustainable communities. ii. The integrated Sustainable Communities approach grows directly out of Europes unique tradition of social inclusion and social justice. iii. The role of cities is key to success. Successful cities with strong cultural identities deliver sustainable communities beyond their limits regionally, nationally and even internationally. And achieving the goals of Lisbon will require Europes cities to be places of international excellence that allow the knowledge economy to thrive. iv. Sustainable communities are ones that respond to the challenge of social segregation at all levels, including neighbourhoods. v. Sustainable communities also embody the principles of sustainable development 5. They balance and integrate the social, economic and environmental challenges and meet the needs of existing and future generations. vi. Recognition that sustainable communities can exist at different spatial levels: neighbourhood, local, city, regional. Sustainable communities are diverse, reflecting their local circumstances. There is no standard template to fit them all. But they should be: (1) ACTIVE, INCLUSIVE AND SAFE Fair, tolerant and cohesive with a strong local culture and other shared community activities (2) WELL RUN with effective and inclusive participation, representation and leadership (3) WELL CONNECTED with good transport services and communication linking people to jobs, schools, health and other services (4) WELL SERVED with public, private, community and voluntary services that are appropriate to peoples needs and accessible to all (5) ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE providing places for people to live that are considerate of the environment (6) THRIVING with a flourishing, diverse and innovative local economy (7) WELL DESIGNED AND BUILT featuring quality built and natural environment (8) FAIR FOR EVERYONE including those in other communities, now and in the future See Annex 1 for full descriptions of eight agreed characteristics

In this respect, the Sustainable Communities approach builds on previous EU initiatives, such as the Aalborg Charter, Agenda 21 and Commission communication towards thematic strategy on the urban environment (COM2004(60)).

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Title of chapter or section

THE BRISTOL ACCORD, DECEMBER 2005

Part II: Agreement to compile Good Practice Case Studies Case study requirements Case Studies should demonstrate: i) The social, economic, demographic, and environmental challenges and opportunities faced by the place. ii) An integrated approach to territorial development, sustainable communities ingredients and integration processes. iii) Efforts to integrate urban, rural, and regional dimensions into development strategies. iv) The role of local leadership and services in promoting the sustainable communities. v) Skills and investment actions (where appropriate). vi) The successful outcomes and achievements studying each location. vii) The positive roles that national, regional and local levels of government, and the EU have played. All case studies should be prepared according to the agreed EUKN template. The eight case studies presented by the UK Presidency are listed at Annex 1 and will be made available on the EUKN web site.

GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES 16. Ministers recognised that good governance was a pre-requisite for the creation of more sustainable communities. They recalled that at the Warsaw Summit in May 2005 the Heads of State and Government in their Declaration were convinced that effective democracy and good governance at all levels are essential for creating sustainable communities where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They also noted the conclusions of the High Level Meeting on Governance and the EU, held at London (2122 November 2005), where a number of elements and principles of effective democracy and good governance were agreed see Annex 3. Those Ministers present in Bristol endorsed these elements and principles.

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UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

(2)

INVESTMENT IN SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK (EIB) Ministers noted the current draft of the European Commissions Community Strategic Guidelines for 20072013, which states: Cohesion policy can help to create sustainable communities, by ensuring that economic and social and environmental issues are tackled through integrated strategies for renewal, regeneration and development in both urban and rural areas. Ministers noted the important added value provided by Structural and Cohesion Funds (SCF) in creating sustainable communities and agreed that this could be enhanced by improved lending for suitable projects and programmes of territorial improvement. One source of such lending was the EIB. Ministers discussed the current and potential role of EIB in creating genuinely sustainable communities across Europe. Ministers recognised the geographical and technical scope of projects for which EIB currently provided loans, and the role it performed as co-financier. Ministers noted the importance of technical assistance support in providing investment-ready projects for funding by European Commission, EIB and International Finance Institutions (IFIs). Ministers also noted the importance of commercial project finance skills in increasing the generation and delivery of high quality interventions that could attract EIB investment and lending. The importance of planning effective, long-term investment strategies for places was also noted. Ministers agreed to the UK Presidencys proposition to constitute an Expert Working Group of Member States, EIB and the European Commission. The European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions would have observer status on the group. Ministers agreed that the group should seek to identify ways to maximise the quality of EIB-supported actions. The groups terms of reference were agreed: i) Analyse EIB experience in financing and lending to urban projects for the development of sustainable communities, including the relationship between grants and loans;

17.

18.

19.

20.

ii) Assess the opportunities for greater promotion of effective practices within and between Member States based experience; iii) Develop the role of EIB in this area. 21. As part of its work, the group would aim to share knowledge about accessing EIB loan finance for sustainable communities projects and to coordinate Member States views concerning new and emerging EIB initiatives. This would include assessing complementarity with SCF grants where possible and the impact of EIB loans on territorial cohesion. UK and Germany will work together with the Commission and Council Presidencies to lead and coordinate meetings of the group over a 16 month period from the end of the UK Presidency. The groups findings would be reported to the same group of Ministers at the proposed German Ministerial Informal Meeting in May 2007.

22.

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Conclusions of Bristol Ministerial Informal Meeting on Sustainable Communities in Europe

(3)

SKILLS FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: REALISING THE SKILLS DIVIDEND Member States recognised the importance of investing in generic place-making (technical, administrative governance and other) skills such as territorial leadership, community engagement, partnership working, project management, community governance and cross-occupational working in order to build and maintain better cities, towns and regions for their citizens. European cities will benefit from improved joint learning and good practice. Member States agreed that despite different and distinctive approaches in each country the base of skills required to deliver attractive places and sustainable communities was common to all. It was also a new and increasing demand. Member States agreed that there are compelling advantages to working together in order to foster these place-making skills both to improve local outcomes and to build capacity across Europe. Ministers offered their support for a European Sustainable Communities Skills Symposium. The Symposium would be hosted, organised and run by the UKs Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC) in partnership with the EUKN and held in November 2006 in Leeds, UK. Ministers considered that the Symposium should be the first step in a process of longer term co-operative activity on skills development. Ministers noted that URBACT was prepared to take forward work on this theme, including help with the preparation and subsequent review of the Symposium. In case of successful outcomes, actions for promoting skills could be continued in any future or successor URBACT programme under the third objective of Cohesion Policy 20072013. It was important that the Symposium should complement other planned events, such at the Urban Futures 2.0 Conference in Stockholm in May 2006. All information concerning the Symposium would be made available through the EUKN and ASC web sites. Ministers agreed that the Symposium should be supported by a bursary scheme designed to support the attendance of experts and practitioners from new Member States and candidate countries. Ministers from 12 Member States agreed to make a contribution of h10,000 in support of the Symposium and an associated bursary scheme, principally for new Member States and candidate countries. Ministers agreed that further co-operative activity and decisions to hold future Symposia would be reviewed after the Symposium. It was agreed that this review and a similar one of the EUKN pilot would inform future work on skills and knowledge that could be combined under future co-operation programmes.

23.

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION DRAFT STAFF WORKING PAPER: COHESION POLICY AND CITIES: THE URBAN CONTRIBUTION TO GROWTH AND JOBS IN THE REGIONS 28. Ministers welcomed the presentation by Commissioner Danuta Hbner of a draft staff working paper responding to the questions raised by the Rotterdam conclusions (paragraph 3.22) and the European Parliaments Regional Policy
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UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

Committee report on the Urban Dimension at a European level. They noted the Commissions intention that the conclusions of the paper might be reflected in its final proposal for Community Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion so that sustainable urban development can be fully taken into account in the programmes for 20072013. 29. They agreed that cities and urban areas had a central role in delivering territorial dimension to cohesion policy and welcomed the opportunity to give initial reactions to the draft paper. They also noted the linkages between the contents of the draft paper and the aim of the UK Presidencys sustainable communities approach as exemplified in the Bristol Accord. They agreed to submit detailed comments in writing by 17 February 2006, noting that the Guidelines had to be adopted by the Council and the European Parliament, and would therefore be discussed in the Councils Structural Actions Working Group and the General Affairs and External Relations Council in due course.

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY 30. The Implementation Strategy that Ministers agreed to develop at Rotterdam had been updated to reflect new and continuing workstreams for the current and forthcoming three presidencies. This included all initiatives under URBACT.

RESEARCH PAPERS 31. Ministers welcomed the research commissioned by the UK Presidency. Ministers agreed that the papers on Sustainable Communities in Europe (source document) and Skills for Sustainable Communities had provided valuable material to inform discussion at both the Director Generals meeting in London in October, and in Bristol in December 2005.

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Conclusions of Bristol Ministerial Informal Meeting on Sustainable Communities in Europe

Annex 1 Eight Characteristics of a Sustainable Community

(1) ACTIVE, INCLUSIVE AND SAFE FAIR, TOLERANT AND COHESIVE WITH A STRONG LOCAL CULTURE AND OTHER SHARED COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Sustainable communities offer:

a sense of community and cultural identity, and belonging tolerance, respect and engagement with people from different cultures,
background and beliefs

friendly, co-operative and helpful behaviour in neighbourhoods opportunities for cultural, leisure, community, sport and other activities,
including for children and young people

low levels of crime, drugs and antisocial behaviour with visible, effective and
community-friendly policing

social inclusion, equality of opportunity and good life chances for all.
(2) WELL RUN WITH EFFECTIVE AND INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION, REPRESENTATION AND LEADERSHIP Sustainable communities enjoy:

representative, accountable governance systems which both facilitate

strategic, visionary leadership and enable inclusive, active and effective participation by individuals and organisations

effective engagement with the community at neighbourhood level,

including capacity building to develop the communitys skills, knowledge and confidence

strong, informed and effective partnerships that lead by example (e.g.

government, business, community)

strong, inclusive, community and voluntary sector sense of civic values, responsibility and pride.

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UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

(3)

WELL CONNECTED WITH GOOD TRANSPORT SERVICES AND COMMUNICATION LINKING PEOPLE TO JOBS, SCHOOLS, HEALTH AND OTHER SERVICES Sustainable communities offer:

transport facilities, including public transport, that help people travel within
and between communities and reduce dependence on cars

facilities to encourage safe local walking and cycling an appropriate level of local parking facilities in line with local plans to
manage road traffic demand

widely available and effective telecommunications and Internet access good access to regional, national and international communications
networks.

(4)

WELL SERVED WITH PUBLIC, PRIVATE, COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY SERVICES THAT ARE APPROPRIATE TO PEOPLES NEEDS AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL Sustainable communities have:

well-performing local schools, further and higher education institutions, and

other opportunities for lifelong learning

high quality local health care and social services, integrated where possible
with other services

high quality services for families and children (including early years child
care)

good range of affordable public, community, voluntary and private services

(e.g. retail, fresh food, commercial, utilities, information and advice) which are accessible to the whole community

service providers who think and act long-term and beyond their own

immediate geographical and interest boundaries, and who involve users and local residents in shaping their policy and practice.

(5)

ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE PROVIDING PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE THAT ARE CONSIDERATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT Sustainable communities:

provide places for people to live that respect the environment and use
resources efficiently

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Conclusions of Bristol Ministerial Informal Meeting on Sustainable Communities in Europe

actively seek to minimise climate change, including through energy

efficiency and the use of renewables

protect the environment, by minimising pollution on land, in water and in

the air

minimise waste and dispose of it in accordance with current good practice make efficient use of natural resources, encouraging sustainable production
and consumption

protect and improve bio-diversity (e.g. wildlife habitats) enable a lifestyle that minimises negative environmental impact and
enhances positive impacts (e.g. by creating opportunities for walking and cycling, and reducing noise pollution and dependence on cars)

create cleaner, safer and greener neighbourhoods (e.g. by reducing litter

and graffiti, and maintaining pleasant public spaces).

(6)

THRIVING WITH A FLOURISHING, DIVERSE AND INNOVATIVE LOCAL ECONOMY Sustainable communities feature:

a wide range of good quality jobs and training opportunities sufficient suitable land and buildings to support economic prosperity and
change

dynamic job and business creation, with benefits for the local community a strong business community with links into the wider economy economically viable and attractive town centres.

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(7)

WELL DESIGNED AND BUILT FEATURING QUALITY BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Sustainable communities offer:

sense of place a place with a positive feeling for people and local distinctiveness user-friendly public and green spaces with facilities for everyone including
children and older people

sufficient range, diversity, affordability and accessibility of housing within a

balanced housing market

appropriate size, scale, density, design and layout, including mixed-use

development, that complement the distinctive local character of the community

high quality, mixed-use, durable, flexible and adaptable buildings, using

materials which minimise negative environmental impacts

buildings and public spaces which promote health and are designed to
reduce crime and make people feel safe

buildings, facilities and services that mean they are well prepared against
disasters both natural and man-made

accessibility of jobs, key services and facilities by public transport, walking

and cycling.

(8)

FAIR FOR EVERYONE INCLUDING THOSE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE Sustainable communities:

recognise individuals rights and responsibilities respect the rights and aspirations of others (both neighbouring
communities, and across the wider world) also to be sustainable

have due regard for the needs of future generations in current decisions
and actions.

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Conclusions of Bristol Ministerial Informal Meeting on Sustainable Communities in Europe

EIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY

CASE STUDIES PRESENTED BY UK PRESIDENCY IN BRISTOL, DECEMBER 2005 1. Elblag, Poland 2. Hannover mtropole, Germany 3. Helsinki, Finland 4. Northern Way, UK 5. Rotterdam, Hoogvliet, Netherlands 6. Thames Gateway, UK 7. Valencia, Spain 8. Vienna Bratislava Budapest corridor, Austria, Slovenia and Hungary

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UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

Annex 2 Urban Acquis (Rotterdam, 2004)

The experiences of different European countries of urban policy over the past decade have generated a set of common principles that underpin successful policies. EU Ministers endorsed this Urban Acquis at the Rotterdam Informal as providing the basis for developing a more coherent approach to urban policy. The Urban Acquis embodies certain key principles which fall into 5 categories: Priorities a. Economic competitiveness, social cohesion and environmental quality must be balanced; b. Cities must be liveable, places of choice and places of cultural identity; Mechanisms for Successful Urban Policy c. National, regional and local sectoral policies should be better integrated; d. In common with specific urban programmes the mainstream government resources which deliver the services affecting cities, should take into account the specific situation of cities; e. Policies for cities must be long term; f. Leadership from the top must be balanced with empowerment of communities below;

g. Agreements, partnerships and trust between different levels of government are needed, not rigid controls; Engaging Stakeholders h. Public, private and community partners in cities should engage in constructive working relationships; i. Partnerships must be balanced with democratic accountability of elected local government; Citizens participation should be based on a dialogue with experts to stimulate citizens ownership of the urban living environment;

j.

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Conclusions of Bristol Ministerial Informal Meeting on Sustainable Communities in Europe

Achieving the right Spatial Balance k. Policies should be concentrated long term upon particular areas of need or opportunity in cities; l. Social challenges in deprived areas must be linked to economic opportunities in the wider region.

m. Institutional collaboration between cities and regions should be encouraged; n. Balanced urban networks of, and functional co-operation between small, medium, and large-sized cities should be encouraged; Encouraging Good Practice, Policy Learning and Capacity o. Good practice and successes should be promoted widely; p. Policies should be subject to evaluation to determine success; q. The regeneration skills of professional, community partners, local government should be increased.

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Annex 3 Governance and Sustainable Communities

1. Key elements of the effective democratic governance of places are: i) effective citizen participation (involving society, social partners, and all levels of government) through both representative and appropriate forms of participatory democracy, designed to give communities power and influence over the decisions that affect them;

ii) decisions and actions to be taken at the right level be it the neighbourhood, local, regional, national or European level the principle of subsidiarity is the guide here; iii) effective leadership of place; to create a vision of the place, gain the communitys acceptance of that vision, and working with partners to secure its successful delivery; and iv) high standards of conduct, skills and communications, in particular communication between different types of professionals. 2. Governance means the rules, processes and behaviour that affect the way in which powers are exercised. In any context good governance is characterised by the five principles of openness, participation, accountability, effectiveness, and coherence. Effective democracy and good governance at the European, national, regional, and local level are built on the six pillars of pluralist democracy, the rule of law and constitutionality, Human Rights, a fair and accurate media, an effective and active civil society, and a fair and open market-based economy. Sustainable communities also means safeguarding the interests of future generations. European values, standards and norms on Human Rights, democracy and the rule of law are expressed in the acquis of the Council of Europe, in particular in the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the European Charter of Local Self-Government. There is great diversity of governance arrangements across Europes cities, towns and regions; governance arrangements, whilst meeting European values, need to reflect the traditions, culture, and circumstances of the place. The Principles of Metropolitan Governance adopted and published by the OECD in 2001 in Cities for Citizens Improving Metropolitan Governance can be seen as a bench mark for the governance of metropolitan areas and as a pointer to what may be good governance in other areas.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

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Conclusions of Bristol Ministerial Informal Meeting on Sustainable Communities in Europe

APPENDIX 1 OECD PRINCIPLES OF METROPOLITAN GOVERNANCE, 2001 from Cities for Citizens Improving Metropolitan Governance (OECD, 2001) There is no one model of metropolitan governance. It is clear that (in addition to the broad principles which underlie any adequate system of democratic government transparency, accountability, accessibility, representation, constitutionality, and protection of fundamental freedoms) a number of principles can also be applied in order to define the adequacy of systems of governance for metropolitan regions in the 21st century: Cities for Citizens: Cities should be developed, not only to meet the needs of the economy, but also to help fulfil the aspirations of people for a higher quality of life through measures that can also maintain and enhance the attractiveness and liveability of cities. Coherence in Policy: The objectives and institutional frameworks of metropolitan governance should be adapted to and focussed on key local problems such as economic development, affordable housing, congestion, sprawl, safety, environmental quality, and the regeneration of older areas, which should be tackled simultaneously, taking into account linkages and trade-offs. Co-ordination: Metropolitan governance must reflect the potential and needs of the entire urban region. The roles and responsibilities of each level of government in respect of metropolitan areas should be clearly defined in order to facilitate policy coherence and cross-sectoral integration. Given the administrative fragmentation of metropolitan regions, co-ordination is also necessary among local authorities across jurisdictions, and between elected authorities and various regional boards or agencies with functional or sectoral responsibilities. Endogenous Development: Rather than basing economic development mostly on attracting investment through financial and fiscal incentives, emphasis should be put on investment in infrastructures and human development to take best advantage of local resources. Metropolitan governance can help to set priorities, taking a coherent approach to development based on the strengths and opportunities of a region. Efficient Financial Management: Metropolitan governance should allow for the costs of measures to be reflective of benefit received and assure complete transparency, accountability and monitoring. It should also guarantee that all parts of the urban region are considered in assessments of the appropriate level for and of the costs and benefits of public services. Flexibility: In order to adapt as necessary to economic and social trends, technological innovation, and spatial development, institutions have to be open to changes. A forward-looking, prospective approach is also indispensable to allow for flexibility as well as sound strategic planning.

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UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

Participation: Given the growing diversity and size of metropolitan regions, governance must allow for the participation of civil society, social partners and all levels of government involved in the metropolitan area. New technologies and methods of communication can encourage and support more interactive policy environments, bringing government closer to people. Particularity: Except where the case for standardisation is justified, policies and institutions of government must be crafted to fit the unique circumstances of various parts of the country and to achieve the best cost efficiency measures. Social Cohesion: Metropolitan governance should promote a mix of populations, non-segregated areas, accessibility and safety, and the development of opportunity, and facilitate the integration of distressed urban areas. Subsidiarity: Services must be delivered by the most local level unless it has not sufficient scale to reasonably deliver them, or spill-overs to other regions are important. Sustainability: Economic, social and environmental objectives must be fully integrated and reconciled in the development policies of urban areas, as reflected in the concepts of the healthy city and the ecological city; in the context of the wider bio-region, this implies greater co-operation between urban and rural areas.

Bristol Cathedral seen from Bristol Science Museum

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EIB and Investment in Sustainable Communities in Europe: Proposal for an Expert Working Group

PAPER 2

EIB and Investment in Sustainable Communities in Europe: Proposal for an Expert Working Group
Summary
PROPOSAL FOR AN EXPERT WORKING GROUP ON EIB AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES In London (2021 October) Director Generals discussed the importance of loan-based investment from the European Investment Bank (EIB) in fostering sustainable communities and urban development across Europe, including as a complement to EU programmes and funds. In Bristol, Ministers will be invited to comment on EIBs approach to providing loan-based finance to support these goals. In addition, the UK Presidency invites Ministers to support the establishment of a small, short-term Expert Working Group (Paper IIA) alongside EIB, European Commission, [and European Parliament] to foster an enhanced role for the EIB in lending and investing to encourage sustainable communities across Europe. The group will: i. Analyse EIB experience in lending to urban projects for the development of Sustainable Communities.

ii. Assess the opportunities for greater promotion of effective practices within and between Member States (MS) based on EIB experience. iii. Develop the role of EIB, especially in Urban Development and Housing. The EIB paper Sustainable Cities Financing Sustainable Urban Development: the EIB Group approach can be found on their website: http://www.eib.org/Attachments/general/events/ eu_ministerial_20051207_report_en.pdf

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UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

QUESTIONS CONSIDERED BY MINISTERS 1. Do you have any comments on the EIBs Paper? 2. What is your view of the UK Presidencys proposition for an Expert Working Group with EIB, European Commission and the European Parliament (EP)? 3. Are you interested in nominating a representative to join the Expert Working Group?

INTRODUCTION Following the discussion at the Director Generals meeting in London (2021 October) of a policy paper and presentation from the European Investment Bank (EIB) presentation on its role in fostering Sustainable Communities across Europe, Member States (MS) agreed to work together, and in collaboration with the EIB and European Commission, [and the European Parliament (EP)]. The purpose is to foster an enhanced role for the EIB in lending and investing to encourage sustainable communities across Europe. At the Ministerial Informal meeting in Bristol, Ministers will be asked to agree to a proposal by the UK for a small expert working group. The group will draw lessons from the work on Economic Zones of Opportunity and use the networks and resources of the European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN) as appropriate. This work will support the goals of the Sustainable Communities approach as set out in the Bristol Accord by examining loan-based investment in cities and other communities.

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR EXPERT WORKING GROUP The primary effort will be a time-limited (16 months) working group of 6-10 MS working with representatives of the EIB and the European Commission [and EP]. The aim will be to integrate a variety of disparate initiatives into a single co-ordinated programme of developmental work, in which MS Ministries with responsibility for Sustainable Communities and Sustainable Urban Development can participate. The purpose of the group will be to: iv. Analyse EIB experience in lending to urban projects for the development of Sustainable Communities. Review and understand the factors that have contributed to distinctive patterns of EIB lending across Europe. Undertake practical reviews of the key ingredients that have enabled MS to attract EIB lending for specific purposes that support a sustainable communities agenda.

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EIB and Investment in Sustainable Communities in Europe: Proposal for an Expert Working Group

v. Assess the opportunities for greater promotion of effective practices within and between MS based on EIB experience. Review and disseminate case studies of relevant EIB lending (through EUKN). Assess whether any action might be taken to ensure that the roles and the value added of EIB is better understood by MS and sub-national partners. Assess whether it would be beneficial for EIB to develop enhanced mechanisms for reviewing the longer-term outcomes of its lending in particular places and communities. Define what these might be, and how MS could help to develop and implement them. Consider how any such factors might be better considered by EIB and MS in the appraisal, follow up and ex-post evaluation processes that support and accompany lending proposals and decisions. vi. Develop the role of EIB. Consider initiatives that might be established or expanded to enhance the EIB role.

Consider how the JASPERS initiative could be developed, or

replicated, so as to support the investment readiness of sustainable communities programmes.

Assess what scope there may be to enhance the Sustainable Urban

Development dimension of EIB lending to foster sustainable communities in EU cities. Consider how existing mechanisms might be better utilised to finance urban development so that it supports the sustainable communities agenda, and whether new instruments and facilities might be needed to support it. Assess the possible role of collaboration between EIB and other financial institutions and investment programmes (including EU Structural Funds) in this regard.

Assess the scope and make recommendations as appropriate for

enhanced lending to support the provision of social and affordable housing across Europe, based on the principles of sustainable communities. The focus would be on the needs and opportunities in new MS that have restructured their housing markets, but it will also look at particular situations in other MS.

Others, to be agreed.
3 TIMING The Working Group would meet on up to six occasions and would undertake practical work in between. Where possible, meetings would occur in concert with other events that support the general themes of the work (e.g. the Austrian Presidencys meeting
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UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

in Graz, March 2006; Swedens Urban Futures 2.0 conference in Stockholm, May 2006; UKs Symposium for Sustainable Communities Skills in Leeds, November 2006). The Working Group would offer a final report and recommendations under the German Presidency. The final report would be submitted for discussion at the German Ministerial Informal meeting in May 2007.

ASSUMPTIONS The underlying assumptions of the programme of work will be:

An ongoing and sustained programme of EU investment through cohesion

policies and structural funds.

A complementary focus on enhancing the impact of EIB lending on the

development of sustainable communities.

Integrating the MS contribution to EIB and Commission workstreams on

urban issues. With the aim to:

Improve the quality of propositions on urban investment drawn up within

MS.

Increase the leverage of EU funds in the development of sustainable

communities with a more adequate blending of subsidies provided by Structural and Cohesion Funds and loans from EIB.

The work would be funded by MS through shared financial contributions which are to be determined, with appropriate support from EIB, [EP] and European Commission.

MEMBERSHIP At the Bristol Informal Meeting in December 2005, MS will be asked to nominate themselves for membership of the Expert Working Group. A number of MS have already agreed to participate. The UK will work in partnership with Germany to furnish leadership and coordination of the Expert Working Group into the German Informal meeting in May 2007.

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Skills for Sustainable Communities

PAPER 3

Skills for Sustainable Communities

Summary
PROPOSAL TO FOSTER SKILLS FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: A EUROPEAN SKILLS SYMPOSIUM A European approach to Sustainable Communities the Bristol Accord will help Member States (MS) to deliver their Lisbon commitments and their contributions to the Gothenburg and Warsaw goals. MS will need to ensure they have enough people with the right skills and knowledge to achieve European ambitions. This session will involve a short presentation on common challenges that MS face in building the skills capacity for creating genuinely sustainable communities. This session will draw on pan-European research on skills capacity commissioned by the UK Presidency. The session will close with MS being asked to endorse a Sustainable Communities Skills Symposium to share good practice and knowledge to better understand and quantify the skills challenges and to build capacity across Europe. This paper draws on the UK experience where there is evidence of a significant gap in the market for the supply of generic skills and seeks to advance discussions at the Urban Policy Director Generals meeting which determined similar skills problems in other Member States. Generic skills such as territorial leadership, partnership working, project management, community governance and cross-occupational working are increasingly needed for better place making, which is at the heart of the integrated Sustainable Communities approach. The UK Presidency would like to explore with MS the scale and characteristics of the skills challenges they face, including the idea of a European skills dividend achievable through structured collaboration and ongoing co-operation. To this end the UK Presidency proposes a Sustainable Communities Skills Symposium in partnership with the European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN) and coordinated with URBACT Programmes and related initiatives, notably Urban Futures 2.0. The outcomes of the Symposium will be evaluated with a view to developing a longer-term process for strategic European co-operation on skills development and knowledge exchange, which could be taken forward under future co-operation programmes.

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UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

If agreed, the proposed Sustainable Communities Skills Symposium will be held in November 2006 and hosted by the UKs Academy for Sustainable Communities in partnership with the EUKN. The aim of the Symposium will be to explore common skills challenges and the diversity of solutions across MS. The audience will be local and regional experts, practitioners and policy makers, although national institutions may have an interest. Attendance at the Symposium by those from new MS and candidate countries will be supported by a bursary scheme.

QUESTIONS CONSIDERED BY MINISTERS 1. Are you experiencing shortages in the generic skills as outlined in this paper? How similar is your experience to that in the UK? 2. Do you agree that investing in generic skills such as territorial leadership, community engagement, partnership working, institution building, project management and cross occupational working will help MS to improve their regions, cities, towns and neighbourhoods to realise the goals of the revitalised Lisbon agenda? 3. Do you support the proposal for a Sustainable Communities Skills Symposium in Leeds in 2006 to gather senior experts to share knowledge and exchange good practice on skills and capacity building? 4. Will you contribute l10,000 to the Symposium and the bursary scheme to support attendance from new MS and candidate countries? 5. Are there organisations in other MS that share an interest in developing generic and cross-occupational skills for creating world class sustainable communities?

BACKGROUND 1. Building on the Rotterdam Urban Acquis, the UK Presidency believes that the integrated Sustainable Communities approach (Bristol Accord) will help MS to achieve their common goals for economic prosperity, social progress and environmental sustainability. The UK Presidency has initiated a discussion with MS about how Europe can develop the right skills for building better places for its citizens. To support this debate, this paper defines the types of generic skills required for better placemaking and proposes that MS exchange knowledge and expertise to help bridge the gap between the current skill base and the skills and knowledge needed across Europe, both now and in the future. Creating and maintaining sustainable communities requires involvement and commitment across a broad range of occupations. This includes occupations with strong technical skills, such as in economic, social, environmental

2.

3.

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Skills for Sustainable Communities

planning, and community development as well as possessing a broader, more flexible set of generic and cross-occupational skills and knowledge. This means our architects, planners, engineers, surveyors need to combine their specialist technical abilities with improved generic skills and knowledge. And they need to work across occupations and sectors, including with proximity workers such as social workers, health and community workers.
Generic skills include: Cross-occupational working Leading and implementing a collective vision Partnership working Project management Negotiation and social mediation Organisational change management Effective community governance

4.

Generic skills should be present not only among professionals (e.g. architects, planners, surveyors) but also in civic leaders, local partners and community groups. Most importantly, the demand for individuals with strong generic skills is new and growing, and requires investment immediately in order to keep pace with developments in place-making. Place-making is about an integrated approach to territorial cohesion. This includes the ability to create places of high quality design that balance housing, planning, transport, environment, regeneration, and economic needs, while providing good local services, safe communities with effective democratic governance. This can be achieved only through continually improving skills and knowledge; promoting new skills; new ways of working and thinking; and through improving cross-sector and crossoccupational working.

THE UK EXPERIENCE: A SKILLS DEFICIT 5. The UK Presidency has undertaken research into its own skills requirements, including commissioning an independent review, which produced the report Skills for Sustainable Communities published in April 20041 also known as the Egan Review. The Egan Review outlined the market conditions to attract, train and retain the right people. It revealed that, for technical skills, the market responds to demand for more and better skills such as for designing high quality townscapes. In contrast, in spite of increasing demand, the market is slow to respond to demand for the generic skills summarised in paragraph 3. This gap in the provision of generic skills has real costs in terms of price, quality, speed and sustainability of outcome. In other words, communities are often less
1

6.

In 2003 the UK Government asked Sir John Egan to undertake an independent Skills Review of those skills needed to deliver Sustainable Communities. Sir John Egan led a taskforce which reported its findings and recommendations in the report The Egan Review, Skills for Sustainable Communities (2004) which can be accessed through the website: www.odpm.gov.uk/eganreview 33

UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

sustainable than they might have been. For example, an absence of project management and economic planning skills can mean places (regions, cities, towns and neighbourhoods) find it difficult to attract, absorb and spend resources effectively. This can lead to wasteful repetition, constant and costly interventions, a drop in quality and, therefore, sub-optimal outcomes or communities that are not sustainable. 7. The Egan Review also established that sectoral barriers persist with occupations working in isolation coupled with supply shortages in some core occupations such as planners, civil and structural engineers. In order to deal with the rapid and rising demand for generic skills and to address specific supply shortages the response must be fast and future-oriented. The UK Government has taken proactive steps by establishing in April 2005 the Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC) to develop world-class skills sets amongst all those involved in planning, delivering and maintaining sustainable communities. The ASC aims to promote cross-occupational learning and stimulate the growth of generic skills, to integrate with technical skills. The UK Presidency believes there is a role for the ASC to collaborate with similar organisations to influence and stimulate the supply of generic skills in MS and at a European level.

8.

THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT: DELIVERING A SKILLS DIVIDEND FOR MEMBER STATES 9. Despite its diversity, Europe faces common challenges in building better places. Europe needs to create the conditions for innovation and inspiration in how we build our cities and regions. Developing better place-making skills and knowledge is central to our common ambitions. The Urban Policy Director Generals meeting in October confirmed MS do share some similar skills challenges and have a common interest in raising the capacity and calibre of individuals involved in creating sustainable communities, and in widening the pool of talent. The UK Presidency believes benefits can be gained through collaboration between MS. The increasingly integrated nature of European policy, common challenges in delivering Lisbon and a single labour market means that all MS stand to benefit from collaboration. By building skills and capacity at local and regional level, MS can ensure their communities develop more integrated, cohesive and sustainable approaches. In short, an investment in skills today is an investment in better, more sustainable regions, cities, towns and neighbourhoods for the future. The UK Presidencys focus on generic skills aims to prioritise an area that is common to most, if not all, MS and seeks to capitalise on sharing of knowledge and good practice to bridge the generic skills gap. In this way a skills dividend for Europe is both measureable and achievable. The UK Presidency has also commissioned research into the skills challenges at a European level and in several MS (see Skills for Sustainable Communities Evidence Review). This research found that, while there is an appreciation of

10.

11.

12.

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Skills for Sustainable Communities

the importance of skills development, there is a lack of common understanding about specific skills requirements, competencies and occupations required to deliver an integrated Sustainable Communities approach. The research concludes there is a case for a more structured pan-European approach to collaboration to promote good practice in the development of learning and skills infrastructure. The UK Presidency welcomes the case for collaboration and proposes the Skills Symposium as a proactive and structured mechanism to better quantify and address Europes skills challenges. 13. The UK Presidency wishes to acknowledge the positive and constructive contributions by MS, European Commission and the OECD at the Urban Policy Director Generals meeting. The meeting confirmed that the UKs experience of a skills deficit is comparable with those of other MS, although the scale and characteristics differ. The Symposium proposal recognises this variety. The Symposium proposal has also been advanced, in partnership with URBACT and EUKN, to ensure it will form part of a longer-term European co-operation process on skills development and knowledge exchange, that may be taken forward under future co-operation programmes. The Symposium proposal and framework is outlined in Annex I. Ministers views are sought on the proposals and how they could benefit most, if not all, MS. The UK Presidency is also interested to hear at the Ministerial Informal in Bristol how MS identify their skills deficiencies, their plans to stimulate investment and market interest in these types of skills and how Europe could co-operate more closely both now and in the future.

14.

THE UK PROPOSAL: A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES SKILLS SYMPOSIUM 15. The UK Presidency proposes a Sustainable Communities Skills Symposium to be held, November 2006, in Leeds (UK) over two days. The Symposium will be hosted by the ASC in partnership with EUKN and with support from the URBACT Programme. The Symposium will gather experts, practitioners and policy-makers from across Europe to exchange knowledge and good practice on improving and integrating generic and cross-occupational skills required to create Sustainable communities. The Symposium will cater for approximately 150 delegates allowing for five places per MS. The content of the Symposium will be developed through discussions with MS as part of an URBACT working group. The ASC will chair the working group, which will meet approximately six times over a 15 month period starting in January 2006. MS are invited to participate themselves or to nominate practitioners and experts from the local or regional level to participate. The working groups terms of reference will be to:

16.

17.

18.

Provide expert advice in the preparation of the Symposium. Acting

as an editorial board to advise on its programme, products and proper integration with related initiatives such as Urban Futures 2.0.

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UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

Develop a rigorous evaluation process. To assess if the Symposium

achieved its objectives and to evaluate the strategic and longer-term issues raised on skills development for Europe.

Prepare a report recommending future European co-operation on

skills development for sustainable communities for the period 2007-2013. The report will also recommend if future Skills Symposia are held, including passing to future Presidencies. The intention is to align this evaluation and reporting process with similar work on knowledge exchange led by the EUKN.

MEMBER STATE CONTRIBUTION TO SYMPOSIUM AND BURSARY SCHEME 19. The UK Presidency proposes a bursary scheme to support attendance at the Symposium by new MS and candidate countries. The bursary scheme is designed to encourage attendance and build networks with professionals and experts in these countries. The bursary scheme will be available to two delegates per country, covering travel and accommodation costs. MS are asked to contribute funding to cover the bursary scheme and the event costs for the Symposium. The UK Presidency proposes that [15] MS agree to make a minimum contribution of h10,000 each. The UK Presidency welcomes the financial contribution of h10,000 already pledged by the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Denmark, Ireland and Italy. The URBACT Monitoring Committee has agreed in principle to support a working group charged with the tasks set out in paragraph 18.

20.

21.

BACKGROUND: THE UKS ACADEMY FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES (ASC) 22. The ASC is a skills and learning organisation independent of Government, established in April 2005. The ASC was set up following the Egan Review2 which recommended to Government a new national centre for skills is needed for all those involved in planning, delivering and maintaining Sustainable communities. The ASCs aim is to ensure there are sufficient individuals across England with the right skills, working together effectively to create and maintain world-class sustainable communities by:

23.

Increasing skills and learning for generic skills and cross-occupational

learning

Improving research and analysis of the skills agenda

Sir John Egan, Skills for Sustainable Communities (2004)

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Skills for Sustainable Communities

Developing communications and networks to increase awareness of

skills agenda

Improving access and resources to innovation and good practice

knowledge

Supporting regional initiatives and cross cutting programmes

24. The ASC is distinct from other skills and learning agencies. The ASCs role is as an influencing and enabling organisation, focused on leading and inspiring a national change in skills amongst providers such as academic institutions and professional bodies. It is not a large-scale provider of learning and skills programmes, although it will provide some exemplar programmes. The ASC is interested in developing strong links and partnerships with similar organisations across Europe and, in this way, aims to foster a European skills dividend. The research commissioned by the UK Presidency (see Skills for Sustainable Communities Evidence Review) provides a starting point for the ASC to identify similar skills agencies and organisations across Europe to form part of a network; to be developed in the preparation, running and aftermath of the Symposium and managed with EUKN. The ASCs details can be found at www.ascskills.org.uk.

25.

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UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

Annex I Proposal for Skills for Sustainable Communities Symposium

The UK Presidency proposes a European Skills for Sustainable Communities Symposium to be held, November 2006, in Leeds (UK) over two days. The Symposium will be hosted by the UK Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC) in partnership with the European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN) established under the Dutch Presidency. The Symposium is the first step in a process of co-operative activity on skills development which might be supported by the URBACT Programme. The purpose of the Symposium is to gather experts and practitioners from across Europe to exchange knowledge and experience to improve and integrate world-class skills needed to create genuinely Sustainable communities now and in the future. Member States (MS) participation to improve the quality and diversity of contributions to the final programme and products is encouraged and will be managed through a European wide Working Group supported by URBACT. The Symposium aims to contribute towards implementation of the Lisbon and Gothenburg goals and the Urban Acquis by:

Exploring and defining the scale and characteristics of generic and

cross occupational skills gaps in MS and understanding the diversity of solutions which may be adopted across Europe to address this skills deficit

Building capacity, learning and knowledge across Europe by MS jointly

commissioning and presenting research and best practice case studies (based on a template)

Establishing a network of experts before and following the

Symposium, managed through EUKN to share knowledge and experience through exchanges, study tours, mentoring, learning laboratories and pilot projects

Inviting partners to affiliate with, and share in a Skills

Commitment developed by the ASC to build a consensus on skills and knowledge

Undertaking rigorous evaluation including a report recommending

future European co-operation on skills development for the period 20072013. This will be aligned with knowledge exchange, led by the EUKN

The target audience will be experts, researchers, and practitioners at local and regional levels who influence skills development in their country. It is not aimed at politicians although they will have an interest in the results.
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Skills for Sustainable Communities

International organisations that have cross border influence such as the EC, OECD and World Bank will be invited to participate. A bursary scheme will be offered to new Member States and candidate countries. The Symposium will also host an Exposition showcasing projects and programmes from across Member States and candidate countries; providing cities and regions with a forum to exhibit good practice and innovation. And a Fringe element attracting experimental and new ideas and talent.

THE SKILLS SYMPOSIUM FRAMEWORK The following is a draft framework (and content) to guide progress on the Symposium to ensure: the right questions are posed, relevant to Member States, particularly new entry states; the most relevant themes are adopted; and the process is inclusive, representative and rigorous.
QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED What are the drivers for success factors in supporting and maintaining sustainable communities, necessary for achieving Lisbon goals? What are the skills requirements, competencies and knowledge needed for sustainable communities in MS and at a European level? Where should MS and Europe prioritise their investment in skills to improve capacity and calibre of people delivering sustainable communities? How can European collaboration best offer added value in skills development?

THEMES TO BE DETERMINED Leadership skills, including governance skills as a means for supporting the vision and structures necessary for achieving sustainable communities Investment and partnership skills bringing together public and private sectors, notably PPP, to attract investment to maintain and renew sustainable communities Connecting professions, proximity workers and the public Skills Commitment for local and regional organisations including competencies and diagnostic tools skills

PROCESS TO INCLUDE European Working Group established to provide strategic and editorial oversight Technical Papers will be commissioned in advance based on agreed themes Case Studies demonstrating diversity of solutions will be commissioned in advance Co-ordination programme to align with related initiatives such as EUKN, Urban Futures; and mapping of related skills and knowledge organisations Networks matching people and places through exchanges and learning laboratories

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Phil Jackson: phill@philljacksonphotography.com

UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities: Policy Papers

Family Photo: EU Ministers at the Bristol Informal