Campaigning for a step-change

in local actionto tackle climate

change

GETSERIOUSABOUTCO2

40%by 2020

Councils from all political parties have signed up to emissions cutsin their area ofat least

and have agreed to draw up a Climate Change Action Plan

BirminghamBrighton and Hove

BristolDurham County

HaringayHarrogate

HarrowIslington

LeedsManchesterPlymouth

SuffolkYork

Local carbon budgets

Local carbon budgets will driveambitious emissions cuts

by helping local authorities to leadeffective carbon reduction strategies

across their local areas.

Councils’ ‘offer’ to Government

“I want to askyou to put forward

an ‘offer’,outlining how

local and central government

can work togetherto 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”“There’s no money”

So how can councils pay for carbon reduction?

Context 1Cuts

“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

InsulationImprove 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

Guaranteedincome to supportborrowing or usefor other council activities

2. New income streams

• Nottingham – Workplace Parking Levy• Congestion charging / road pricing (London) • Electric car points? • Richmond – vary parking charges

Better transport: tackle obesity, social exclusion, air quality

Investment in renewables: generate local jobs, regenerate local economies

Insulation: fuel poverty, save people money

Better transport: tackle obesity, social exclusion, air quality

Investment in renewables: generate local jobs, regenerate local economies

Insulation: fuel poverty, save people money

3. Join things up

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 usingrevenue money as capital

Guaranteed supportfor climate staffing

4. National Govt help

Back up local carbon budgets by ensuring councils can access the money they need