Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Accepted
Conduct a mapping exercise to target technical support for local authorities most in need.
Recommendation
We welcome the ongoing work to provide technical support and advice to local authorities, including through the Local Net Zero Hubs, UKIB, Net Zero Go, and the Local Net Zero Forum. We also welcome the Government’s intention to work with the Green Finance Institute to provide assistance to local authorities to develop commercially attractive net zero investments. We suggest that the Government conduct a mapping exercise to ensure that local authorities most in need of technical support receive it. (Paragraph 164) 64 The financial sector and the UK’s net ero transition
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges variable capacity among local authorities but states existing support already considers technical assistance needs and Local Net Zero Hubs apportion resources based on regional priorities. They assert local authorities are best placed to assess their own needs, implying a rejection of a new mapping exercise.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Government understands that there is variable capacity and capability to deliver net zero across different local authorities. The support we provide already takes into account the information that Local Authorities give us about the technical assistance they are requesting. The Boards for the Local Net Zero Hubs identify how best to apportion resources for technical support against regional priorities. Where local authorities are delivering net zero programmes such as Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme or the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Scheme, there is often an element for technical support based on local authorities’ assessments of what is needed to deliver the programmes. Local authorities are best placed to assess their own needs and assign resources to programmes to achieve this.