Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
The Energy Systems Catapult highlighted the importance of expanding local authority competence and resources to...
Conclusion
The Energy Systems Catapult highlighted the importance of expanding local authority competence and resources to ensure the capacity and capability to conduct project appraisal and to access funding to help deliver net zero.59 The Department explained that local net zero hubs exist to help local authorities secure funding, and that, for example, the public sector decarbonisation scheme is accompanied by the low-carbon skills fund to ensure local authorities have the capability to put together a bid of the required standard.60 In addition, the Department indicated that in future the UK Infrastructure Bank will provide support to local authorities to develop business cases for funding over £5 million.61 The Department expects the Local Net Zero Forum to provide the opportunity for central and local government to raise issues such as funding, to share information on funding available, and provide information on support mechanisms to facilitate those who wish to access it.62 Skills in the private sector and civil service
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2022 4.2 In the Net Zero Strategy, the government has already set out how it will work with local government on the issues the Committee have raised. 4.3 The department will do this by creating a Local Net Zero Forum where the department will discuss local net zero issues with local government as it is critical that local government are involved in discussions about their role in net zero. 4.4 The department is in the process of setting the Local Net Zero Forum up and it will have its first meeting by summer 2022. 4.5 The commitment in the Net Zero Strategy is that the government will explore simplifying and consolidating funds which target net zero initiatives at the local level, where this is the most effective approach to making progress on net zero. This is one of the issues the government will discuss in the Forum.