Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Paragraph: 30
In line with the recommendation from the Climate Change Committee, and seemingly in line with...
Recommendation
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.
Paragraph Reference:
30
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Local Climate Action Chapter of the Net Zero Strategy sets out our commitments to enable local areas to deliver net zero. This includes setting clearer expectations on how central and local government interact in the delivery of net zero. We will do this by building on existing engagement with local actors to establish a Local Net Zero Forum. Chaired by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Forum will be cross departmental and bring together senior officials from national and local government on a regular basis to discuss policy and delivery options on net zero. It will support the establishment of clearer delivery roles for local government and provide a single engagement route into HM Government in a coordinated and coherent way. We are currently engaging with stakeholders to scope out the best approach for the Forum. The Government also understands the importance of ensuring that the transition to a green economy is inclusive, benefitting people across the UK, supporting workers as industries transform, ensuring costs as well as benefits are shared fairly, and protecting consumers, communities, workers, and businesses. We expect local authorities to support these aims and the Net Zero Strategy recognises that join up between local bodies, employers and local communities will be key to ensuring an effective transition. The Local Net Zero Forum will provide the medium for establishing the role of local authorities in delivering a just transition. In addition, the upcoming Levelling Up White Paper will build on the actions Government is already taking to both deliver net zero and to level up across the country. This will include those set out in the Net Zero Strategy and new interventions to improve livelihoods and drive economic growth in all parts of the UK. On powers, local authorities already have a combination of powers across housing, planning and transport which gives them significant autonomy to take action on net zero. We will have discussions on any additional powers local authorities think they may need to play their part in meeting national net zero targets, and the evidence for this, as part of the Local Net Zero Forum.