The Government's Strengthening Local Democracy consultation was published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) on 21 July 2009. This consultation follows the Government paper, Building Britain's Future (June 2009) and aims to address the issues of restoring public confidence in national and local government.
Chapter three of the consultation specifically addresses the capacity of local authorities to tackle climate change and asks whether they have the appropriate powers to do so. The consultation paper proposes a new role for local authorities in co-ordinating funding streams to support low carbon community activity and giving councils local carbon budgets to encourage them to cut emissions. It proposes support for local authorities who want to offer finance for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and ‘green mortgages’.
The Surrey Climate Change Partnership has submitted a response in conjunction with that of Surrey County Council. The Partnership has supported the proposal for an increased local authority role in tackling climate change but, it has also expressed concern over the current lack of central funding to reflect the new responsibilities. Overall the Partnership has welcomed the idea of local carbon budgets. However, its has stressed that this would require much more sophisticated monitoring of emissions within local authorities and an improved understanding of local control and influence.
Download the Partnership Response to CLG Consultation PDF file (13.5K)
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