Permanent Secretaries visited Dorset on 29 January for a joint session with Local Authority Chief Executives and other public servants to discuss how to make sure sustainability issues don’t get forgotten in the current economic downturn.
The event which was hosted by Dorset County Council, and attended by Council Chief Executives from right across the UK, gave Permanent Secretaries an opportunity to see the challenges of delivery and develop an understanding of the issues that matter to people at a local-level.
As part of the visit they were able to see for themselves examples of successful regeneration projects that could be used as models in other parts of the country, particularly as a means of driving recovery and promoting sustainability. They heard about work to develop an Olympic legacy in Weymouth and Portland and the work of the Dorset Coast Partnership in developing the World Heritage Coast as a driver for economic development.
Dame Helen Ghosh of Defra chaired a panel discussion on the importance of sustainability and Sir Gus O’Donnell spoke about the importance of sustainable development as a real driver for recovery. He also outlined why it is vital for the Civil Service to work with others to respond to the economic situation. With many people worried about their jobs and financial security, Gus emphasised how important it was for government departments to connect with people’s real concerns and to build strong partnerships with the wider public sector and business and to listen to what they need.
The panel looked at sustainability as an important driver for recovery and how our collective response to the current pressures will shape our future position. They discussed how investing in new technologies and sustainable ways of working now will allow us to maximise our limited resources and enable our businesses to capture a share of a growing ‘green’ market.
Speaking after the event, Gus said: “At the present time it is vitally important that the Civil Service works with the wider public services and particularly those at a local level if we are going to be effective.
“Developing and maintaining links with local authorities is key and our meeting in Dorset last week was all about making that happen– events like these are essential to help the Civil Service understand the local issues that matter”.
