Transcript The headline commitment to taking action

Climate Local
An initiative to drive and support council-led action on climate change
Abigail Burridge
Senior Advisor, LGA
Phone: 020 7664 3245
[email protected]
Jess David, Advisor, LGA
Phone: 020 7664 3175
[email protected]
Journey so far
• Consultation with councils on the development
of the Nottingham Declaration on Climate
Change
• Development work for ‘Climate Local’ with
partnership support from the EA – Jan-June 2012
- new web pages
- an information pack for councils
- research on indicators and resources
• Launch of Climate Local
28th June 2012, mentioned in Ed Davey’s speech
at the LGA Conference
• Establish Climate Local Steering Group composed of council representatives and
partners
Climate Local – wider context
NPPF
LGA
restructure
Spending
Cuts
Localism
GROWTH
No new
statutory
duties
MEDIA
“one in
one out”
LGA - funding outlook for councils
LGA exists to support, promote and improve local government. Local
government is facing the most radical changes, as well as the most significant
opportunities, in a decade. We will fight local government’s corner and support
councils through challenging times, focusing our efforts where we can have real
impact.
LGA Priorities
Priorities agreed in September 2012:
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Growth - with campaigns to assert the council role in driving growth through
housing supply, including affordable housing
Climate Local – ‘a platform for local government to champion its leadership
in helping communities to live within their environmental means’
•
Waste – championing local innovation
•
Sustainability and Climate Change – ensuring councils have resources to
invest in green energy, fuel poverty and resilience
•
Flooding - ensuring flood defences are properly planned and funded, and
that flood damage is funded and insured against.
Climate Local is …
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Locally led - an umbrella
initiative to bring together and
share local action
Sector led – with a steering
group of council reps
Flexible – for councils to set
their own actions and priorities
within a broad framework
Voluntary – no requirement for
councils to sign
A Platform - for councils to use,
shape, drive and make useful
A way for councils to help
each other be ambitious on
climate change – rather than
being told by Government
Climate Local isn't ...
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Prescriptive – it allows for locally
determined priorities
A bureaucratic process – it’s
designed to be light touch
A central audit tool – the
emphasis is on local accountability
Exclusive – all councils will be
able to access tools and resources
A Spreadsheet you have to fill in
All about signing a piece of paper
– it’s the commitments that are
important and sharing of
information
Steps for signing up
LGA has provided a
template for annual
progress and will look to
develop LGA Inform tool
Sign up to the
commitment individually or
as a partnership
(refresh and review in Y2)
Councils encouraged to
engage and share via
Knowledge Hub and their
own websites
LGA will provide a menu
of actions and
commitments, but LAs
can also set their own
Headline Commitment
•
A headline commitment to address the risks and
opportunities presented by a changing climate, in
line with local priorities
•
4 key elements:
1) Setting locally-owned and determined
commitments and actions;
2) Publishing commitments, actions and progress;
3) Sharing learning from experiences and
achievements with other councils;
4) Regularly refreshing commitments and actions to
ensure they are current and continue to reflect local
priorities.
•
Underpinned by locally agreed commitments and
actions
Commitment: We will implement the adaptation actions contained in our revised Climate Change Strategy
Justification: The Council is committed to: managing the risks to its staff, property and functions from climate change;
supporting businesses and residents to manage climate change risks; and working in partnership to address the effects
of climate change
Specific action(s)
Measure
Timescale
We will consult on the inclusion of a specific policy
on climate change adaptation measures in the
developing Local Plan
Consultation on a climate change
adaptation policy completed
April 2013
We will contribute to the county-wide planning
advice on minimising flood risk and incorporate this
into planning policy for the council
County-wide planning advice
produced and incorporated into local
planning policy
Spring 2014
We will explore opportunities to install sustainable
drainage measures in council-owned properties
and open spaces and private developments
Opportunities explored for the
installation of sustainable drainage
Measures
2016
We will explore how to protect the existing level of
tree cover in the councils area and ways to
increase stock in areas and land uses where
canopy levels are low
Opportunities explored for direct
actions (e.g. planting programmes)
and indirect actions (e.g. guidance,
use of planning obligations and
support for the voluntary sector)
2016
We will consider the impact of climate change on
native wildlife and develop plans to manage this
Existing Nature Conservation
Strategy reviewed and management
plans for Local Nature Reserves and
other green spaces adjusted
2016
Climate Local signatories
Shire counties
Lower tier and unitaries
The LGA’s offer
• Provide support, resources and signposting service for councils
– Over 2012-13 LGA will produce some dedicated materials for
Cllr portfolio holders and ward councillors
• Champion good practice through a range of different media, such
as events, showcase reports, website features, and e-bulletins etc.
– Spring 2013 LGA will launch a report to highlight council work
under Climate Local including measures to save money, promote
growth etc
• Developing the Climate Local network as a forum to share
learning amongst councils – open to all councils
– Conference event in Spring 2013
How will it help Councils?
Sir Merrick Cockell, Chairman of the LGA:
“The aim of Climate Local will be to drive and champion council-led action
on climate change in a way which will ensure local authorities can get the
best results and value for money with the resources they have available.”
Cllr Paul Carter, Leader of Kent County Council:
“Climate Local is great opportunity for us to show leadership and practical
action to cut energy bills for hard-pressed local families and businesses.
We'll set local targets to address real priorities."
Cllr Alan Clark, Nottingham City Council:
“We are really proud to be signing this agreement and to build on
Nottingham’s heritage and achievements in tackling climate change. We will
continue to improve our own energy use, create affordable energy for the
city and encourage the growth of ‘green’ jobs. Climate Local will work with
local people to set local action plans to tackle climate change.”
The LGA’s Success Factors
• LGA continue to resource and promote CL
• Government recognises local authority action
• Government supports local authority action; does not impose it
• Councils feel CL is their resource and helps them improve and
develop their local actions
Session 3: materials and support
Questions for discussion groups
• What do you think of the Climate Local resources developed so far?
What is missing?
• What other support will councils need to develop local commitments
and actions? What role could Climate SW play?
• What would you like to see covered via knowledge hub – and what
could you share?