08 February 2010
Source: LocalGov.co.uk ()

Councils fear cost of national policy statement role


Nick Appleyard

The energy and climate change committee has heard councils’ fears they will be under funded by proposals for national policy statements (NPS) on energy.

Cllr Richard Kemp, deputy chair of the Local Government Association, told the MPs local authorities were supportive of the new system but had reservations and were concerned about the financing of their role.

Drakelow power station
Councils will need technical expertise when evlautating the local impacts of schemes
(Pic: flickr/steve p 2008)
‘Some of these operations cost a billion pounds [each]. Whether it is a small council or a big council we will still be quite hamstrung unless we find additional sources to deal with it.

‘It’s not clear what the role is of local government both in its own area and with partners trying to build a policy upwards from the bottom and where the conflict might come from a bottom up strategy and a top down strategy.’

In the same witness session, Sir Michael Pitt, chair of the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), said it will look to local authorities to weigh up and represent the interests of the local communities by preparing local impact reports and working with applicants on the nature of the consultation exercise needed on a local level.

He emphasised the importance of such a role, which commissioners will take ‘a great deal of notice’ of.

‘Essentially, it is right to say the new regime places special responsibilities on local authorities,’ Sir Michael said. ‘A number of planning authorities are relatively small district councils and their contribution will be valued highly. [So] they will need professional and technical expertise to come to their own conclusion about what is in the interest of the local community.

‘And they need to have the resources to do that effectively, which is a matter for the CLG and ministers to resolve.’



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