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Reported by David Shannon in London

I was present by invitation at the launch on 4 June 2008 in the House of Commons of a report of the Westminster Sustainability Business Forum under the joint Chairmanship of David Kidney MP and Barbara Morton, Director, Action Sustainability.

The result of their inquiry’s work is contained in a 40-page report “Costing the Future: Securing Value for Money through Sustainable Procurement”. This is available from www.policyconnect.org.uk/sustainability.

The report lists 31 recommendations. These are grouped under the headings:

• Defining sustainable procurement


• Whole-life budgeting


• Whole-life costing


• Leadership and guidance


• Measuring success


• Best procurement practice

Notable examples of recommendations:

3. Governments must ensure that all aspects of sustainability – economic, social and environmental – are promoted through public sector procurement.

12. The Treasury must revise the shadow price of carbon and ensure that it is included in whole-life cost calculations in public sector procurement.

24. The Government should expand the Sustainable Operations on the Government estate targets to include all aspects of sustainability. Furthermore, the targets should cover all departments and non-departmental public bodies.

Speakers at the event who all gave examples of good practice included:

• Peter Ainsworth MP, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment who spoke about the macro-context and political environment.
• William Jordan, Deputy Chief Executive, Office of Government Commerce talked about the changing role of OGC and their concern with sustainability.
• Tim Byles, Chief Executive, Partnership for Schools discussed financing issues regarding sustainability in the schools building programme.
• Amanda McIntyre, Board Member, New Local Government Network, and Strategy and Public Policy Adviser, Tomorrow’s People who emphasised the significance of the public sector estate.

The Westminster Sustainable Business Forum (WSBF), part of Policy Connect Sustainability, is a not-for-profit organisation, which seeks to provide effective dialogue between business and the government on important sustainability issues. The Forum brings together businesses who share a belief in the need to operate in an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable way and who understand that these concerns need to be incorporated into core business practices in order for companies to prosper in the long-term. Through its policy projects and events, the Forum seeks to inform the government’s sustainability agenda and overcome challenges faced by UK business in adapting more sustainable ways of operating. More at http://www.policyconnect.org.uk/content/sustainability/wsbf/aboutus.

David Shannon International Correspondent – UKBased in London David Shannon is an International Correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today in the United Kingdom (UK).  Mr. Shannon is also Managing Director of Oxford Project Management Ltd., a UK-based project management advisory and consulting firm.  David has a Natural Sciences degree and MA degree from Oxford University (Oriel College), and a Diploma in Accountancy and Finance from the Association of Certified Accountants in the UK.  He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultancy, Honorary Fellow of the Association for Project Management (APM),  and a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institute of Directors, and British Quality Foundation.  He is a lifetime member of the Oxford Business Alumni.  David has over 40 years of experience on programmes and projects thoughout the UK, Africa and the Middle East.  He was an internal management consultant for the World Bank during 1985-1987.  David has been Branch Chairman, Director, Deputy Chairman, Head of Professional Board, SIG Coordinator and Interim Chief Executive of APM, and was intimately involved in developing APM’s Guidance on Project Management Governance.  David Shannon is based in London and can be contacted at David.Shannon@opmg.co.uk.