Transcript LGA conference presentation

Campaigning for a
step-change
in local action
to tackle climate
change
GET
SERIOUS
ABOUT
CO2
Birmingham
Councils from all
Brighton and Hove
political parties
have signed up toBristol
Durham County
emissions cuts
in their area of Haringay
at least
Harrogate
Harrow
Islington
Leeds
Manchester
andPlymouth
have agreed to draw up a
Suffolk
Climate
Change Action Plan
York
40%
by 2020
Local carbon budgets
Local carbon budgets will drive
ambitious emissions cuts
by helping local authorities to lead
effective carbon reduction strategies
across their local areas.
Councils’ ‘offer’ to Government
“I want to ask
you to put forward
an ‘offer’,
outlining how
local and central
government
can work together
to meet our national
climate change
targets.”
Local carbon budgets
legislation
in ‘the last Parliament’
Council income: 2008/2009
Council spending: 2008/2009
Council spending: 2008/2009
Council spending: 2008/2009
“There’s no money”
So how can councils pay
for carbon reduction?
Context 1
Cuts
“Worse than
Thatcher”
25%... 40%...
More?
“extremely
challenging”
IFS
Context 2
“Localism,
localism, localism”
“A radical devolution of power… and a
review of local government finance”
Implications
More freedom +
Less cash =
• Difficult choices
• Get creative about how to pay for things
• Seek new ways to bring money in
• Make every £ work harder
• National Government has to help
Area based approaches:
Meeting national carbon targets
will need local coordination and
leadership – so Government can’t
hang councils out to dry
1.
Save money
Insulation
Improve processes
Training (eco-driving?)
“Wasting energy means that
money that could be spent on
local services is also being
wasted” - Chris Huhne
1.
Save money
Council’s own premises
• Haringey: £5m investment to
save £38m
Residents and businesses
• Islington’s fuel poverty work
• Kirklees Warm Zone
programme
• Councils delivering Green Deal
– ie Stroud pilot
1.
Save money
Where to get the £ ?
• Allocate existing budgets
• Zero-interest loans
• Borrowing
• “prudential” – private
• Government / EU funds
 Package up
programmes of work
2.
New income streams
Feed-in tariffs (FITs)
Renewable Heat
Incentive (RHI)
• Birmingham Energy Savers
Guaranteed
income to support
borrowing or use
for other council
activities
2.
New income streams
• Nottingham – Workplace Parking Levy
• Congestion charging / road pricing (London)
• Electric car points?
• Richmond – vary
parking charges
3.
Join things up
Better transport: tackle obesity,
social exclusion, air quality
Investment in renewables: generate local jobs,
regenerate local economies
Insulation: fuel poverty, save people money
 Embed carbon into all activities
4. National Govt help
Access to central funds:
• don’t slash grants (too much!)
• access to borrowing
• ensure national programmes
are locally focused
• Green Deal
• CERT?
• Green Investment Bank
4. National Govt help
More freedom to raise money
locally – for example
• More power over tax and rates
to incentivise green investment
• More flexibility over using
revenue money as capital
Guaranteed support
for climate staffing
4. National Govt help
 Back up local carbon budgets by
ensuring councils can access the
money they need