The role of local authorities in improving the environmental management of SMEs: some observations from partnership programmes in the west of England

The UK Government's ability to deliver sustainable development will depend to a large extent on the relationships which local authorities are able to forge with their local business communities. Although the statutory tools available locally for influencing aspects of business performance remain few, nonetheless changes in the articulation of local governance present new opportunities. The results of a cross-sectoral programme to improve the environmental performance of SMEs in four local authority areas in the West of England indicate that, while progress towards Local Agenda 21 is uneven, nonetheless local authorities, as long term representatives of the public interest, have a central role to play in partnership activities. However, an integrated framework of legislation and resources which can be delivered at the local level is needed if real progress is to be made towards sustainability. The substantial central government resources committed to SME development need to be re-targeted, and local government empowered to enter into partnerships with the SME community to capitalize on the shared knowledge for change which now exists.