Environmental Protection
The Structure of Environmental Protection in Scotland
Government plans for Scotland are set to obstruct local accountability and control in
environmental decision making.
1995 has seen the beginnings of local government re-organisation in Scotland with the
shadow elections in April presenting far reaching consequences for the environment. The
new authorities will be officially launched at the same time as the proposed Scottish
Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) in April 1996. FoE Scotland is pressing for
improvements to the new structures in light of concerns expressed by environmental
organisations and those in existing local authorities.
FoE Scotland has campaigned effectively in local government in recent years encouraging
and assisting the creation of environment charters and action plans. FoE's annual
conference last November saw wide representation from councils across Scotland gather to
discuss the threats and challenges to the environment from re-organisation. The
oversubscribed conference was an invaluable opportunity to share views and experiences.
With growing expertise and adopting a strategic approach, local authorities in Scotland
have greatly improved their environmental credentials. However, re-organisation puts these
advancements at risk. Representatives shared common ground on many issues. Among the fears
were loss of:
- Momentum with charters and audits
- Monitoring capability
- Expertise and economies of scale
- Accountability
- Key authorities, e.g. Strathclyde, Lothian and Central.
Issues are complicated further by the introduction of the Scottish Environmental
Protection Agency. SEPA will assume the responsibilities of the Industrial Pollution
Inspectorate, the River Purification Boards, the Hazardous Waste Inspectorate and the
waste regulation and air pollution controls of local authorities. FoE Scotland have been
involved in producing a response to the SEPA Bill which is currently going through
Parliament and the new agency has come under intense and widespread criticism. In the
legislation there is no mention of local authority representation in SEPA, which is
profoundly disturbing.
Friends of the Earth Scotland calls for significant amendments to be made to the
Environment Agencies Bill, Without these, we argue that SEPA will be left without vital
powers and an overcentralised and undemocratic structure. Local Agenda 21, flowing from
the Earth Summit in Rio, promotes devolved power to local people and councils. SEPA and
re-organisation currently promote moves away from this process.
Friends of the Earth Scotland is calling for:
- A firmer commitment to Sustainable Development to be enshrined in the
legislation.
- At least one third of the Board to be appointed by Local Authorities, with
fair representation also from environmental organisations, community groups, trade unions
and businesses.
- SEPA should be a decentralised body, enabling initiatives based on local
conditions to flourish.
- SEPA should adopt a pro-active approach to pollution control, rather than
seeking self-regulation by industry. SEPA's stance is at present unclear.
- The Agency must adopt Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) for river
basins and be given powers over flood defence and coastal work, land drainage, freshwater
fisheries policy, river flow and water abstraction.
- The emphasis of a national waste management strategy should be on
reduction and recycling as well as disposal.
What you can do
You can help by writing to Councillors, MP's and the Scottish Office:
- Seeking reassurances that the resources and structures will be put in place to
maintain and develop good environmental practice, beyond re-organisation.
- Calling for SEPA to have a clearly independent structure and for local
accountability to be reflected by local authority representation on it's boards.
Mail George Baxter <
foescotland@gn.apc.org> at Foe Scotland.
