Recommendations & Conclusions
11 items
2
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Local government and the…
Accepted
Local authorities will be particularly important in ensuring a just transition to net zero, since no layer of government is closer to people or better able to tailor climate action to meet the needs of local communities. Only by harnessing local government can central government deliver a just transition that …
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Local authorities will be particularly important in ensuring a just transition to net zero, since no layer of government is closer to people or better able to tailor climate action to meet the needs of local communities. Only by harnessing local government can central government deliver a just transition that benefits all communities. Without that just transition, the Government will struggle to persuade the public to make the necessary changes.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the importance of local authorities for a just net zero transition and commits to establishing a Local Net Zero Forum, chaired by BEIS, to clarify delivery roles for local government and provide a coordinated engagement route into central government.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
3
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Local government and the…
Accepted
We welcome the ambitious targets set by many local authorities, and we are pleased the Government has now committed in its Net Zero Strategy to clarifying the relationship between central and local government in the delivery of net zero and to improving co-ordination between different layers of government. It remains …
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We welcome the ambitious targets set by many local authorities, and we are pleased the Government has now committed in its Net Zero Strategy to clarifying the relationship between central and local government in the delivery of net zero and to improving co-ordination between different layers of government. It remains to be seen, however, if this will amount to the comprehensive delivery framework called for by the Climate Change Committee. We also recommend that any framework strike a careful balance between clarifying the expectations on local authorities and leaving them free to determine what climate action is most appropriate in their areas.
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to establishing a Local Net Zero Forum, chaired by BEIS, to clarify central and local government roles, support the delivery of a just transition, and discuss additional powers local authorities may need to meet climate targets.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
6
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Local government and the…
Accepted
In line with the recommendation from the Climate Change Committee, and seemingly in line with its own commitment in the Net Zero Strategy, we urge the Government to immediately begin consulting local government on the contents of a draft net zero delivery framework setting out the relative roles and responsibilities …
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In line with the recommendation from the Climate Change Committee, and seemingly in line with its own commitment in the Net Zero Strategy, we urge the Government to immediately begin consulting local government on the contents of a draft net zero delivery framework setting out the relative roles and responsibilities of local and central government. The framework should also clarify the critical role local government must play in delivering a just transition that benefits all communities. The Government should also consult local government on what additional powers it might need to meet its climate targets.
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to establishing a Local Net Zero Forum, chaired by BEIS, to clarify central and local government roles, support the delivery of a just transition, and discuss additional powers local authorities may need to meet climate targets.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
7
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Local government and the…
Accepted
Either in that framework, or elsewhere, the Government should also clarify what role, if any, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will play in supporting local authority climate action, given that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is now responsible for co-ordinating with local government in …
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Either in that framework, or elsewhere, the Government should also clarify what role, if any, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will play in supporting local authority climate action, given that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is now responsible for co-ordinating with local government in this area. (Paragraph 31) Local government and the path to net zero 53
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Government response AI summary
The government clarifies that BEIS is responsible for overall net zero coordination with local authorities, while DLUHC acts as a steward for the local government finance and planning systems, advising BEIS on local engagement and policy design.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
10
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Local government and the…
Accepted
The Government anticipates that only 200,000 heat pumps a year will be fitted into new homes by 2028. As the Government’s target is to build 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s, it should explain where the additional heat pumps and other low- carbon heating systems will come from to …
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The Government anticipates that only 200,000 heat pumps a year will be fitted into new homes by 2028. As the Government’s target is to build 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s, it should explain where the additional heat pumps and other low- carbon heating systems will come from to meet the demand of all 300,000 new homes.
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Government response AI summary
The government explains that supply chain analysis projects heat pump installations could reach over 320,000 annually by 2025, supported by significant growth in domestic manufacturing. It details targeted funding for training and tax relief to foster a thriving UK supply chain, citing examples of manufacturers …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
11
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Local government and the…
Accepted
The public need to have confidence that homes stated to be net zero are as promised. Therefore, the Government should review the metrics used to measure energy efficiency in homes. This should include considering how energy performance certificates are calculated, how embedded carbon could be better incorporated into the calculations …
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The public need to have confidence that homes stated to be net zero are as promised. Therefore, the Government should review the metrics used to measure energy efficiency in homes. This should include considering how energy performance certificates are calculated, how embedded carbon could be better incorporated into the calculations of the carbon emissions of properties, and how the in-use performance of properties can be accurately measured. The Government should introduce measures to close the performance gap, including post-occupancy evaluations, which assess whether the actual energy output of new properties meet the standards promised by the developers once they are being lived in. This is particularly important as evidence indicates that new homes can lose 50% more heat than expected.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation by detailing an existing 35-action plan to improve EPC accuracy, with 11 actions completed and further work underway including SAP methodology reviews. It also commits to consider the performance gap as part of a forthcoming Statement of Intent.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
17
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Local government and the…
Accepted
The Climate Assembly UK emphasised the importance of giving the public choice over how retrofitting takes place, including over which technologies are installed. Choice is important in securing public support for retrofitting. Local authorities can play an important role in supporting retrofitting in their local area, by assisting with organisation, …
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The Climate Assembly UK emphasised the importance of giving the public choice over how retrofitting takes place, including over which technologies are installed. Choice is important in securing public support for retrofitting. Local authorities can play an important role in supporting retrofitting in their local area, by assisting with organisation, advice, promotion and consultation with communities. The Government must ensure there is as much choice for the public in deciding how their homes are retrofitted as is technologically possible. There is therefore a need for progress on developing alternatives to heat pumps, including hydrogen heating. Local authorities should be given the necessary support and resources to fulfil their important role in retrofitting.
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to enhancing its Simple Energy Advice service for homeowners, publishing a UK Hydrogen Strategy in due course, and conducting a large-scale hydrogen trial in 2026. For local authority support, the response refers to further information in the response to recommendation 9.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
18
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Local government and the…
Accepted
We were told that local government needs additional resources to enforce minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector. Resources should be made available for this purpose. Enforcement would also be aided by the introduction of a register of landlords, as already undertaken in certain local authorities, and we …
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We were told that local government needs additional resources to enforce minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector. Resources should be made available for this purpose. Enforcement would also be aided by the introduction of a register of landlords, as already undertaken in certain local authorities, and we are pleased to hear the Government is considering this as an option. This register must be compulsory and local authorities must have enforcement powers to ensure registration. (Paragraph 79) The wider role of local government
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Government response AI summary
The government details over £6.4 million in funding already provided to local authorities for MEES enforcement, including pilot studies and an enforcement competition. It also committed in the Net Zero and Heat and Buildings Strategies to introduce a compliance and exemptions database to support local …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
20
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Local government and the…
Accepted
We welcome the ambition in the recent national bus strategy to increase bus usage and ensure cheaper and more reliable bus services across the country. In particular, we welcome its promise to give local authorities more control over bus services, either by agreeing Enhanced Partnerships with bus operators or by …
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We welcome the ambition in the recent national bus strategy to increase bus usage and ensure cheaper and more reliable bus services across the country. In particular, we welcome its promise to give local authorities more control over bus services, either by agreeing Enhanced Partnerships with bus operators or by seeking franchising powers like those enjoyed by Transport for London. It must be acknowledged, however, that franchising will be expensive. We also commend the Department for Transport’s proposals for encouraging demand-responsive services in rural areas and its provision of additional funding through the Rural Mobility Fund. We are concerned, however, that this will not be enough to achieve the Government’s aim of ensuring high-quality services everywhere. We note, too, that the Rural Mobility Fund was allocated through a process of competitive bidding. As we have already noted, it is difficult for local authorities to plan for the long term on the basis of funds allocated through competitive bidding. We also note that the transport decarbonisation plan barely mentions the role of light rail in the future of public transport.
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Government response AI summary
The government reiterates its National Bus Strategy, outlining how local authorities are developing Bus Service Improvement Plans and detailing existing funding streams for bus services. It also highlights significant investment for Light Rail schemes through the £5.7 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements fund.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
21
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Local government and the…
Accepted
We urge the Government to make good on the welcome promises set out in the national bus strategy, in particular to give local authorities more control over bus services, and to explain as soon as possible how it plans to make sure local authorities have the necessary funding to provide …
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We urge the Government to make good on the welcome promises set out in the national bus strategy, in particular to give local authorities more control over bus services, and to explain as soon as possible how it plans to make sure local authorities have the necessary funding to provide high-quality public transport services in rural areas. We also ask the Government to give greater consideration to the important role light rail can play in the public transport network.
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Government response AI summary
The government reiterates its National Bus Strategy, outlining how local authorities are developing Bus Service Improvement Plans. It details existing funding for bus services and highlights significant investment for Light Rail schemes through the £5.7 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements fund, demonstrating how it …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
23
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Local government and the…
Accepted
Local authorities are well placed to support the decarbonisation of energy generation and supply through the delivery of smart local energy systems, owing to their role as planning authority and knowledge of their local areas. It is also clear that many councils are taking advantage of their position to deliver …
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Local authorities are well placed to support the decarbonisation of energy generation and supply through the delivery of smart local energy systems, owing to their role as planning authority and knowledge of their local areas. It is also clear that many councils are taking advantage of their position to deliver exciting and innovative energy systems. We welcome the fact that much of this innovation is being part funded by central government, but we are concerned that some councils might lack the expertise and resources needed both to take advantage of this funding and to identify opportunities for low-carbon energy systems in their area. We are pleased, however, that the Government has recognised this lack of capacity in its Heat and Local government and the path to net zero 57 Buildings Strategy and promised to better support local authorities. We are also pleased it has now launched a consultation on proposals for heat network zoning and that this will consider the role of local authorities in their delivery.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the crucial role of local authorities and describes existing initiatives, such as the £100 million Prospering from the Energy Revolution programme and the Local Net Zero Programme, which aim to support local capability and access to funding for decarbonisation.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government