Redefining the shape of local government
With the new authorities of East Suffolk and West Suffolk launching from next month, what final hurdles do the councils face in coming together? Neil Merrick reports.
Councils declare a ‘climate emergency’
26/02/2019 A climate emergency declaration has been made by 27 councils across the country following a campaign by the Green Party. |
Leeds aims for zero carbon energy economy
17/12/2018 Leeds City Region could become one of the world’s first zero carbon energy economies thanks to a new energy strategy. |
Council pension funds at financial risk from climate change, report warns
09/11/2018 Local Government Pension Funds (LGPFs) are failing to protect themselves from the financial risk posed by climate change, a new report has warned today. |
Councils must ‘act now’ to tackle carbon emissions
09/10/2018 Councils must ensure all plans have carbon-reduction targets, charity says after report warns global warming will lead to ‘unprecedented changes' in society. |
Councils begin judicial review against Heathrow expansion
07/08/2018 Five London councils, Greenpeace and the mayor of London have started judicial review proceedings against the expansion of Heathrow airport. |
Guide launched to help councils cope with climate change through planning
16/05/2018 Planning experts have joined forces to offer councils practical advice on how to cope with climate change. |
London council approves £150m low-carbon pension investment
26/01/2018 Southwark Council has agreed to move £150m of its pension fund into a low-carbon investment. |
Council pension funds benefit from climate change investment policy framework
13/11/2017 The first climate change investment policy framework has been launched for local government pension funds. |
Councils investing £16bn of pensions into fossil fuels
09/11/2017 More than £16bn of council pension funds have been invested into fossil fuel companies, new research has revealed. |
Council launches ‘pioneering’ climate commission
07/09/2017 Leeds is launching today a ‘pioneering’ new Climate Commission to encourage investment in low-carbon, climate-resilient developments. |
Local authority pension funds ‘ratcheting up’ climate change engagement
06/06/2017 Local authority pension funds are going to ‘ratchet up’ their efforts to encourage companies to be more aware of climate change and how it will impact the value of their stocks. |
Creating resilient cities
20/12/2016 Giles K Bailey and Stefano Mainero explore the challenges for UK cities in considering resiliency planning. |
Campaigners call for increased protection for Green Belt
12/12/2016 Campaigners have called on the government to prioritise investment in the Green Belt in the forthcoming 25-year plan for the environment. |
Scottish pension fund rated a world leader in tackling global warming
11/05/2016 A council pension fund in Scotland has been rated one of the best in the world for addressing climate change. |
Public sector failing to prepare for climate change
11/02/2016 The UK is 'largely unprepared' for the effects of climate change, according to the Carbon Trust. |
Heathrow third runway recommended, yet council fears remain over noise
01/07/2015 Recommendations that a third runway be built at Heathrow on the condition of stricter noise and environmental demands have failed to assuage concerns in local government. |
Lancashire rejects fracking application
29/06/2015 Lancashire County Council has rejected a planning application to frack at Preston New Road, in an unexpected move following months of deliberation. |
Legal warning over fracking issued to Lancashire councillors
26/06/2015 Lancashire councillors have been warned the town hall risks being fined if it blocks local fracking as the move could be considered ‘unreasonable’. |
Landmark Lancashire fracking decision postponed
25/06/2015 Councillors in Lancashire have postponed a decision on giving the go ahead to a controversial plan for fracking. |
Hundreds of planned wind farms likely to be scrapped, admits government
23/06/2015 Around 250 planned wind farms are now unlikely to be built because of the early termination of subsidies, the Government has said. |
Protest grows as Lancashire ponders key fracking decision
23/06/2015 Protesters have been gathering in Preston ahead of a decision by Lancashire County Council on controversial plans for fracking. |
Council stalls again on key fracking decision
24/04/2015 A landmark council decision on whether to allow fracking in Lancashire has been delayed until after the General Election. |
England's climate disadvantage 'hot spots' mapped for first time
04/02/2015 An online map charting the effect of climate change and social disadvantage in England has been launched to support local decision makers. |
MPs call for halt on UK fracking
26/01/2015 An influential committee of MPs has called for a moratorium on fracking because it could hamper climate change efforts and pose significant health risks. |
£97m weather supercomputer will make regions ‘more resilient’ to flooding
28/10/2014 Local areas could become more resilient to flooding and snowfall under Government plans for a new £97m Met Office supercomputer. |
Climate change goals wil be missed, warns charity
22/10/2014 The Government will fail to meet climate change targets unless it ramps up efforts to create warm, affordable low-carbon homes, campaigners have warned. |
Low carbon vehicles projects get £6m funding
17/09/2014 Two projects to help develop low carbon vehicles technologies have been awarded £6m funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). |
Low-carbon economy could increase UK GDP says report
17/09/2014 Reducing emissions from road transport, in line with the carbon budgets set by the Committee on Climate Change, could reduce healthcare spending by £96m by 2030, according to a new report. |
MPs ‘red card’ green policies
16/09/2014 The Government’s green polices have been handed a ‘red card’ by the Environmental Audit Committee, who is calling for an overarching Environmental Strategy be implemented. |
Invasion of the bees: 120,000 descend on Glasgow
28/08/2014 Glasgow City Council has told people not to be alarmed by the 120,000 bees currently 'invading' the City Chambers. |
Government inaction puts thousands at risk from flooding, Labour warns
11/08/2014 Some 330,000 more properties will be at serious risk of flooding in 2035 thanks to Government inaction over climate change, Labour will warn. |
The December issue of Local Government News looks at the consequences a council may face if it is unable to provide statutory services, the launch of Liverpool’s housing company and how councils can best manage roles in local authority companies.
It also has a special section on green building and energy efficiency including what funding is available to enable councils to deliver heat networks and how councils can pay for ‘smart buildings’.
