SSN Research: approach & my impressions

Approach 64 individuals interviewed (some in group sessions)

39 individuals from 28 local authorities 8 SSN Steering Group 9 from Scottish Government 8 SENCE members

33 Survey Monkey responses structured conversations individuals perspective Survey Monkey and forced rankings

My impressions overwhelmingly positive – SSN works willingness to give time mature attitudes common themes and minority views confirmation of what we already knew – or thought we did!

SSN Research: strengths & weaknesses

Strengths, Weaknesses/ Challenges• welcome focus on local authorities

– community planning & diluting the focus?• relevant programme priorities

– climate change dominant for now – tension climate change & sustainable

development? • balance policy & practice about right

– networking & practice is “bread & butter”– too policy focused?

• SSN services good quality & useful– Pick’n’Mix– improvements welcome– value of conference?– time for networking?– difficulties with events?– spread too thin?

• help get the message across to others– speaking to the converted

• group hug!• core team are critical to success

Ideas & Issues• what type of organisation should

SSN be in the future?• is the annual conference the best

use of SSN resources?• how much time should be given

to improving remote access to events?

• does it matter that SSN members don’t talk about the Steering Group?

SSN Research: future provision Priorities and Challenges climate change is the top priority carbon management focus will be on statutory duties and outcomes with a push to more joined up working but leadership and decision making? but behaviour change, communication & community engagement?

Members would like SSN to provide: climate change “what” and “how to” guides case studies and study visits – part of quarterlies networking the networks provision for elected members – but survey monkey? capacity building - tailored introductory provision benchmarking and accreditation – but lots of reporting mechanisms? horizon scanning and scenarios – part of quarterlies? – but survey monkey? “No” to SSN Awards Scheme

SSN Research: future provision funded projects, ideas & issues

Funded Projects Ideas include:

behaviour change, community engagement, effective communication

low carbon economy and alternatives to GDP

sustainable consumption (and food) fully rounded impact appraisal

(economic, social & environmental/ carbon)

emissions trading models and public sector incentives

The characteristics of these ideas were: strong policy drivers imperfect knowledge of how to do potential for funding cross boundary and organisations combining policy approaches scale up local good practice

Ideas & Issues• Are there any critical gaps between the plan

for 2010/11 and this research? Does it suggest areas for more/less focus?

• Where can we make the most difference to mainstreaming? What is “good enough” SSN delivery?

• How smart can we be in achieving multiple wins from our work?

• Are there others better placed to deliver some activities?

SSN Research: improving service delivery

Communication & Engagement SSN brand is strong with the conference hugely helpful SSN has relationships with the right organisations but

some require harder work than others need to engage senior management and elected

membersMembership & Funding how does membership work – two way traffic? widening the membership whilst maintaining trust

community planning partners corporate membership – potential benefits membership fees

yes, no, maybe and reasonable fees Survey Monkey much more negative

other sources of funding Scottish Government should be the main funder “pragmatic” event sponsorship EU, secondments, private sector contributions (utilities)

and SSN as a consultancy don’t chase the money

Ideas & Issues• How do we secure a

more active contribution from more members?

• What should be done to clarify/change the terms of membership?

• What further sources of funding should be explored?

SSN Research: external insights

Scottish Government Themes• making real progress with climate change

– crowded organisational landscape– Arbuthnott Review and joint working

• sustainable development is still important– Leading by Example– sustainable consumption– resource scarcity & natural capital

• improving decision making– systems thinking & mediation– elected members

• volunteering, third sector & social enterprises

– community development– new cross boundary models

• low carbon economy and economic strategy

Potential SSN Contribution• public sector duty consultation and

consistent approach to delivery?• making progress on climate

change through collaboration, networking and capacity building

• SSN help to share good practice in behaviour change across ALL sectors?

• sharing good practice on carbon appraisal and improved reporting

• the international agenda and the low carbon economy – links to key groups

SENCE Group• value SSN as an effective local authority network• common drivers around climate change, sustainable development and SOA • make full use of tools such as LFP and LCLIPs

SSN Research : recommendations & next stepsRecommendations• SSN is working well with an appetite for more• rolling programme, resources and realism• doing things differently rather than doing different thingsDelivery in 2010/11• “Its climate change stupid!”

– Starting with policy and moving quickly to practice• engage & influence senior decision makers

– capacity building, membership & key networks• multiple wins from the same input

– making the best use of past, present and future work– smart planning and design

• more active engagement from more members– Networking and good practice– Terms of membership

Exploration in 2010/11• new sources of funding and resources• systems thinking & mediation• more geographically specific and cross sector approaches• tools & best practice for behaviour change, community

engagement & communication

Next Steps• further review after the

APM• finalise reports • follow-up work on specific

topics– desk research– work packages for

development

SSN Research: discussion papers

• APM focused on 3 topics

– How to secure senior level engagement

– Smart ways of working – how to make use of existing assets and score multiple wins

– “Ask not what SSN can do for you, but what you can do for SSN

• 3 discussion papers developed and discussed at SSN Steering Group 26 April

– Future SSN Funding

– Enhanced SSN Membership

– Conference Design & Funding

• Context

– Climate change and sustainable development

– Economic climate (spending review timetable)

– UK & Scottish parliamentary elections

– Building for current strengths to meet members future needs

– SSN working well and no pressing financial issues

SSN Research: discussion papers

• Future SSN Funding

– Current position

• core team small & fully utilised

• annual conference can generate some income

• significant in-kind contributions and goodwill

– Issues

• security

• efficiency effectiveness & long-term thinking

• sources of funding

• fall back position

• in-kind contributions

• outcomes & SOA

SSN Research: discussion papers (Funding)

Option Pros Cons Recommendation

Programme priorities Obvious and sensible approach

Exploit synergies to secure win wins

Risk could result in 4 different funding streams

Multiple funders

Promote a single, combined bid to Scottish Government

Funded development projects

Lots of possibilities

Source of new SSN services

No obvious front-runners Strategically opportunistic – develop individual projects as suitable opportunities arise

Capacity building Key issue for members and others

Attract new members

Require development funds

CPD/Accreditation issues?

Explore the market and develop an outline proposal

Early discussion in principle with potential fundersa

Consultancy secondments & work placements

Safety net for core team

Additional resource to deliver activities

Transition issues with consultancy role

Often short-term and requires more management input

Strategically opportunistic for now

Develop further if funding risks increase

SSN research: discussion papers (Funding)

Option Pros Cons Recommendation

Annual conference Build on success

Maximise income from investment

Reduce risk

Dilution of SSN brand

Risk of reduced focus on SSN issues

Agree preferred approach and develop a proposal

Secure short term sponsorship 2010

Membership fees Stable, long-term income stream

Further demonstrates members commitment

Collection from 32 members

Time to test and design approach

Timing?

Test with senior members and their colleagues

EU programmes Some large sums of money available

SSN well networked

Time consuming to bid and to monitor if successful

Many funds provide partial coverage of Scotland

Explore with a LA funding officer and Scotland Europa

Philanthropy Growing opportunity

Scotland does well in accessing monies

KSB charitable status

Climate change is poorly covered

Public sector focus disadvantageous?

Research the top 20 grant-makers and the scale and nature of the opportunity

SSN Research: discussion paper (Membership)Proposition Pros Cons Recommendation

Explicit membership process

Transparency;

Membership is valued

Benefits of membership are clear – two way

Increased administrative requirement

Develop a simple model for approval and implement – in the light of any other planned developments for SSN membership

Widening the membership Supports cross sector working & CPP

Richer pool of experience material (and funding?)

Strengthens relationships

LA members less willing to share

How define eligibility (increased complexity)?

Reduced focus on LA – SSN USP

Genuine conundrum – revisit and extend when/if maturity allows

Corporate LA membership Secure more senior commitment & influence

Support closer relationships with key senior groups

Increased administrative effort (but 32 LA)

Potential to lose some LA

Risk that core practitioner members feel more distant from SSN

Draft an approach for consideration – maximise pros and minimise cons

Membership fees Stable, long-term income

Demonstrates the value of SSN to members

Enhances members sense of ownership

Administrative burden

Timing – current context

Potential to lose some LA

Include as part of corporate membership approach to reduce cons

SSN Research: discusssion paper (Conference)

• 3 ideas for the design & funding of the annual SSN conference• Sponsorship

– Secure sponsorship from the private/public sector– Take care not to dilute the quality or content of the conference

• Strategic alliance– Annual flagship conferences to inspire progress– Active engagement and support of existing key groups– Demonstrate leadership across sectors– Encourage new and deeper collaboration, networking & capacity building– Focus on win wins and outcome delivery

• Senior decision makers– Key way to secure necessary scale and pace of change– Actively tailor the marketing, content & structure of the event – two-stage conference?– Delivered in partnership with COSLA and SOLACE?

SSN Research: discussion papers

(Conference)

Strengths

Bringing together speakers, experts & delegates from a mix of sectors to share inspiration, progress, challenges & future plans

Increased alignment between sectors, groups & events

Building on the success and track record of the SSN conference to deliver a flagship Scottish event

Building on the relationships SSN has with many of these key groups

Weaknesses

Losing relevance by trying to be all things to all people – a concern for all groups including SSN

Managing demand and keeping to a manageable scale

Managing a more complex organisational process, maintaining quality and flexibility – a challenge for SSN

Opportunities

Demonstrating real cross-sectoral leadership to tackle sustainable development climate change in Scotland

Identifying potential for new or deeper collaboration, networking and capacity building – win wins

Threats

Securing 3 years funding and resources

Absence of a common language, mutual respect and genuine shared priorities & outcomes between sectors

Diluting the SSN brand

Tensions with groups own events

SSN Research: discussion papers

• Take on board comments from Steering Group and today

• Progress explicit membership process

• Progress sponsorship for SSN Conference 2010

• Detailed discussions with KSB Funding Development Officer – invite to attend future Steering Group meeting

• Maintain development of the ideas outlined in the discussion papers

– Realistic

– Flexible

– Strategically opportunistic