Democracy under threat: Elections Bill’s risk to people with additional needs
Dr Mark Brookes discusses why measures to introduce voter ID could affect voter participation for those with learning disabilities.
How key is procurement for reaching climate targets in local government?
02/08/2021 After hosting a first-of-its-kind event, Net Zero Week, Gavin Rimmington shares insight into why procurement is key for enabling the public sector to reach climate targets. |
Putting sustainability at the heart of local authority decisions
02/08/2021 Andy Wales outlines how BT can help public sector organisations achieve their green goals. |
MPs launch inquiry into local government and net zero
26/07/2021 A new inquiry examining the role local authorities should play in reaching net zero has been launched by MPs today. |
Councils in north east band together to plant 500 hectares of trees
21/07/2021 Six local authorities in the north east have joined forces with environmental organisations to plant a new forest. |
Public call on councils to do more to protect the natural environment
19/07/2021 Only a third of the UK public think local government is doing enough to protect and enhance the natural environment, a report has revealed today. |
Leaders call for new powers to tackle climate change
13/07/2021 A cross-party group of 32 mayors and local leaders have called for greater powers and resources to deliver net zero. |
Procurement and the challenges of decarbonising local government fleets
12/07/2021 Gavin Rimmington offers insight into the important role of procurement to decarbonising local government fleets, and the most efficient ways to enable large-scale transitioning. |
First shortlist unveiled for £120m zero emission buses funding
07/07/2021 The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced its first shortlist from the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme, providing £120m to support the roll-out of zero emission buses across England. |
Net zero could generate £330bn investment into UK, commission finds
02/07/2021 Meeting net zero in London and the UK’s Core Cities could bring up to £330bn of investment into the UK, new analysis has revealed. |
Glasgow first city to sign Circular Cities Declaration
02/07/2021 Glasgow has become the first city in the UK to sign the Circular Cities Declaration. |
Labour warns UK needs more than 127,000 chargepoints by 2025
29/06/2021 The UK has only 15% of the electric vehicle charging points it needs to meet net zero, according to new analysis. |
We must seize the opportunity to accelerate a circular economy
25/06/2021 Victoria Lawson argues that moving to a circular economy could tackle the climate crisis, shorten supply chains, support new green jobs and encourage more connected and resilient communities. |
Helping councils create greener construction sites
23/06/2021 Dave Luscombe explains how local authorities can help to deliver a cleaner construction environment, with ECV (Emissions Compliance Verification) for construction machinery. |
Burnham's Clean Air zone accused of having 'blind' spot towards air pollution
22/06/2021 Greater Manchester (GM) mayor Andy Burnham has ‘put local taxi drivers first’ by adding them to a list of vehicle operators who will initially be exempt from the region’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ), despite claims that it will ‘kick-start the city region's green revolution’. |
Local authorities competing for clean air
17/06/2021 Gavin Bailey argues the current Clean Air Zone mechanism is asking local authorities to fix a problem they simply cannot fix. |
Oxford-Cambridge Arc: environment actions not rhetoric
04/06/2021 Cllr Bridget Smith outlines the five Principles that will turn the Ox-Cam region into a ‘Green Arc.’ |
Charges for Birmingham's Clean Air Zone delayed for two weeks
02/06/2021 Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) finally went live on Monday, but with a two-week ‘soft launch period’ where no charges will be levied. |
It’s time for councils to step on the gas
01/06/2021 Chris Hampton explains how councils can decarbonise transport hubs with hydrogen and provides a quick guide on how to get started. |
Children call on local leaders to tackle air pollution
01/06/2021 Nearly half of British children believe local leaders should be helping to tackle air pollution, according to the results of a new survey. |
Tackling the red tape in green energy
25/05/2021 How do we make net zero more accessible for public sector bodies? Ranjit Singh reports. |
Local leaders calls for 'further and faster' action on climate change
25/05/2021 Local leaders have called for more funding and powers to help achieve climate change targets. |
Ofgem announces £300m investment in charging infrastructure
24/05/2021 Ofgem today announced that it is investing £300m in new infrastructure to support the roll out of 1,800 ultra-rapid charging points at motorway service areas. |
Nearly 60 councils commit to ambitious net zero targets
21/05/2021 Nearly 60 council leaders have now pledged to meet net zero five years earlier than the Government. |
Highways England steps in to improve toxic air in Dorset village
12/05/2021 Highways England is to impose a permanent 30mph speed limit in a village suffering high air pollution after a trial achieved an improvement. |
Queen's speech: PM's 'live local and prosper' promise
09/05/2021 Levelling up, boosting the economy and backing the NHS are set to be the priorities for Tuesday’s Queen’s speech. |
Pollution fears rise as traffic surges in Scottish cities
06/05/2021 New data shows that traffic levels in Edinburgh and Glasgow have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, adding to fears about air quality following delays to Scotland’s planned Low Emission Zones (LEZs). |
Calls to declare a climate and ecological emergency
06/05/2021 A climate and ecological emergency should be declared to avoid a health and mental health 'catastrophe', the Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned today. |
Building a public EV charging network
05/05/2021 Cecilia Routledge looks at the seven key things that local authorities need to consider when installing EV chargepoints. |
Councils' efforts to tackle climate change hindered by 'broken' system, warns report
04/05/2021 Local authorities are leading to way in tackling climate change but are being held back by a ‘broken’ national system, a new report has found. |
How local councils can help stop unnecessary plastic ending up in landfill
28/04/2021 Paul Empson outlines three simple ways councils can help raise awareness of the impact plastic food delivery trays have on the environment. |
Westminster first UK council to install 1,000 EV charge points
28/04/2021 Westminster City Council is the first local authority in the UK to install more than 1,000 electric vehicle charge points. |
Glasgow first to sign circular economy commitment
22/04/2021 Glasgow City Council has become the first in the UK to sign a commitment to raise awareness of the full benefits of the circular economy. |
Councils at 'forefront' of climate change action
22/04/2021 To mark Earth Day, the Local Government Association (LGA) has highlighted the work being done by councils to help tackle climate change and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. |
The importance of sustainable waste management strategies for the UK's local authorities
26/03/2021 Peter Vernon sustainable waste management strategies in the context of wheelie-bin procurement and improved recycling rates. |
Coventry gets go-ahead for all-electric buses
24/03/2021 Coventry is set to become the UK’s first All Electric Bus City after the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) backed the project. |
Government unveils hydrogen transport hub ‘masterplan’
17/03/2021 The Government has unveiled the official ‘masterplan’ for the UK’s first-ever hydrogen transport hub. |
County council approves Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone pilot
17/03/2021 Oxford’s proposed Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) pilot has been formally approved by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet for launch in August. |
MPs to examine the role of local government in meeting 'net zero' by 2050
16/03/2021 The role local government can play in helping the UK achieve net zero by 2050 will be examined by MPs. |
Bath's Clean Air Zone goes live
15/03/2021 The UK’s first charging clean air zone (CAZ) outside of London has been launched in Bath today. |
Councils urged to set whole-area climate change targets
11/03/2021 Only half of local plans aim to reach net-zero across the entire local area, new analysis has shown. |
Councils share £5m in Air Quality Grants
10/03/2021 A further £5m has been awarded to local authorities across England to deliver projects that tackle air pollution. |
Schools Streets cutting air pollution, study reveals
09/03/2021 Closing roads around schools at pick-up and drop-off times has reduced air pollution by 23% in London, a new study published by mayor Sadiq Khan has revealed. |
UK has broken air pollution law for a decade, top court warns
05/03/2021 The UK has 'systematically and persistently' broken legal limits on dangerous air pollution since 2010, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled. |
Pandemic could lead to rise in road traffic levels, data warns
04/03/2021 Traffic levels in some of the UK’s largest cities have nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, new data has revealed. |
Campaigners call for £10.6bn investment in ‘green apprenticeships’
02/03/2021 Environmental campaigners have called for the creation of 250,000 ‘green apprenticeships’ in areas such as renewable energy as part of the effort to address the twin crises of youth unemployment and climate change. |
BT Partners with scale-ups on breakthrough green tech
23/02/2021 Tech scale-ups collaborate with BT to develop new services aimed at helping public sector customers transition to Net Zero. |
Why green will be the next tick box for procurement
23/02/2021 Richard Lilwall explains how AI can be used to help councils develop their green fleet strategies. |
Council pension funds invest nearly £10bn in fossil fuels
23/02/2021 Nearly £10bn of local government pension funds are still invested in fossil fuels, new research has uncovered. |
Social housing sector calls for guidance to meet sustainability targets
16/02/2021 Nine in 10 social housing construction professionals believe the sector is in urgent need of new Government guidelines if it is going to meet sustainability targets, a new survey has revealed. |
UK set for first hydrogen homes
16/02/2021 The UK’s first homes with appliances fuelled entirely by hydrogen will be built in Gateshead this April. |
Council to trial hydrotreated vegetable oil-fuelled waste collections
11/02/2021 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s waste collections could soon be run on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) following an agreement with Crown Oil to trial this environmentally friendly fuel in two of its refuse vehicles. |
Living in a climate emergency
11/02/2021 Cllr Scott Patient outlines how Calderdale MBC is working with partners and communities to both reduce flood risk and cut the impacts of climate change – but help is needed, and the council is calling on the Government to unlock resources. |
MPs call for tougher targets to lower air pollution
11/02/2021 MPs have urged the Government to set tougher targets to lower air pollution in and give councils extra funding to improve local air quality. |
Defra announces £10m fund to drive private sector investment in nature
10/02/2021 The Government has announced a multi-million-pound fund which aims to help local authorities attract private investment into projects focused on tackling climate change. |
Over half a million face clean air zone charges this year
08/02/2021 Half a million drivers in London and Birmingham could be 'priced off the road' under Clean Air Zone charges this year, according to motoring group The AA. |
Government's EV charging plans 'won't be enough', report argues
02/02/2021 The UK needs to install public electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints five times faster than the current rate at an estimated cost of between £5bn and £10bn by 2030, a think tank has said. |
Councils urged to bid for extended electric vehicle chargepoints funding
02/02/2021 Local authorities are being urged to apply for a share of £20m funding to help increase the number of on-street electric vehicle chargepoints. |
Scottish council launches world’s first hydrogen double-decker buses
29/01/2021 Aberdeen has claimed a world first after a fleet of double-decker hydrogen buses officially launched into service. |
Oxford first council to approve city-wide air pollution target
21/01/2021 Oxford City Council has become the first local authority in the UK to approve a city-wide air pollution reduction target. |
Councils plan to install 35 on-street EV chargers each by 2025
20/01/2021 Councils are planning on installing just 35 on-street electric vehicle chargers each by 2025 on average, an investigation has revealed. |
New homes will need to reduce emissions by at least 75% by 2025
20/01/2021 All new buildings will have to meet tough new energy efficiency standards under plans published by the Government. |
Campaigners call on councils to help reduce car use
19/01/2021 Environmental campaigners have called on local authorities to cancel spending on road building and to redirect funds to boost public transport and active travel. |
Local authorities can lead green agenda by taking advantage of government incentives
11/01/2021 With the right support, UK local authorities can lead the charge on introducing new energy efficiency measures – but tapping into government funding is key, explains Dr Tanja Groth. |
Towards Net Zero
07/01/2021 Join us on 26 January to discover break-through technology supporting the UK’s green recovery |
Coventry and Oxford prepare to run UK’s first all-electric bus services
07/01/2021 Coventry and Oxford are set to receive up to £50m to help them become the first parts of the UK to run all-electric bus services, the transport secretary has announced. |
How schools can combat waste
22/12/2020 Michael Taylor, general manager at Skip Hire UK, looks at how schools can combat waste. |
Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2020
16/12/2020 Although the dispute over council pay caused the most stir in the local government sector this year, the impact of dealing with the pandemic obviously dominated the headlines as well. |
Coventry named best for EV infrastructure for mainland UK
16/12/2020 Coventry City Council provides the most electric car chargers in mainland Britain, according to new research. |
Local authorities need greater clarity and commitment from government to make our homes greener
16/12/2020 Mike Thornton argues local authorities cannot be successful in reducing carbon emissions in their areas without the backing of a clear national policy framework. |
Eight in ten councils hit by climate-related incidents
14/12/2020 Eight in ten councils have suffered climate-related incidents in the last five years, new research has revealed. |
Councils warned to push ahead with clean air zones
10/12/2020 Air pollution exceeds pre-pandemic levels in 80% of places despite continued lockdown restrictions, new research has uncovered today. |
Scope 3 emissions - what are they and why are they so important?
09/12/2020 George Beechener explains how Scope 3 emissions work and why they’re so important. |
Whitehall failing to harness councils’ enthusiasm on climate action
04/12/2020 The Government will fail to meet its 2050 net zero carbon target without working in partnership with local authorities, a new report has warned. |
Regions urged to apply to host UK's prototype fusion power plant
02/12/2020 Local communities and regions are being invited to put forward proposals to host the UK’s prototype fusion energy power plant. |
Big Issue eBikes: Biking for good!
01/12/2020 Lord John Bird explains why The Big Issue has launched 'Biking for Good' with ShareBike to boost employment in the UK. |
Flood funding for councils may not be enough, watchdog finds
27/11/2020 The Government is unable to prove councils have enough funding for flood defences, a spending watchdog has discovered. |
Council raises £1m for solar panels through ‘community investment’
19/11/2020 Warrington Borough Council’s first Community Municipal Investment (CMI) has reached its £1m target thanks to investments from over 500 people across the UK. |
Creating a greener local government
19/11/2020 Mark Doyle, a senior corporate account manager at Gazprom Energy, looks at how to create a greener local government. |
PM publishes ten point plan for 'green industrial revolution'
18/11/2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has published his ten point plan for creating a 'green industrial revolution' for 250,000 new jobs. |
Government announces ‘additional’ £40m of green funding
16/11/2020 The Government has announced that more areas are to be designated national parks and a second round of funding will be available to support the delivery of green jobs. |
Meeting Government green targets: How to stay ahead of the curve
16/11/2020 Jo Mills argues the UK’s green recovery must be at the forefront of the public sector’s agenda to ensure local authorities are on track to meet 2050 net-zero targets |
Councils play ‘critical role’ in fighting climate change but lack resources, watchdog says
12/11/2020 Local authorities play ‘critical role’ in improving air quality and the natural environment but they lack the necessary resources and expertise, watchdog says. |
Half of councils aim for zero-carbon 20 years ahead of schedule
12/11/2020 Over half of councils in the UK have set a goal of reaching net-zero carbon by 2030 or sooner, new data has shown. |
Labour calls for creation of 400,000 green jobs
10/11/2020 Labour has called on the Government to ‘build it in Britain’ and to support the creation of 400,000 new jobs with a green economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. |
Volunteers report rise in PPE pollution on beaches
06/11/2020 Discarded face masks and gloves have been found on 30% of Britain's beaches, according to the results of this year’s Great British Beach Clean. |
Copeland residents asked to consider new radioactive waste facility
05/11/2020 A Working Group has been formed to start local engagement on whether Copeland could be a suitable location for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for higher activity radioactive waste. |
London boroughs call for £115m to retrofit energy inefficient buildings
03/11/2020 Local authorities in London are calling on the Government to ‘secure London’s environmental and economic future’ by increasing funding for councils to retrofit energy inefficient buildings. |
Rethinking local regeneration
02/11/2020 If we to truly 'build back better', local authorities need a new approach to regeneration, argues Hannah Vickers. |
Coastal areas call for £1bn to decarbonise the maritime sector
09/10/2020 Local coastal leaders have called on the chancellor to invest £1bn to completely decarbonise the maritime sector. |
Birmingham to launch Clean Air Zone in June 2021
09/10/2020 Birmingham City Council has confirmed the government-mandated Clean Air Zone is now scheduled to launch on 1 June 2021. |
Air pollution round schools is impacting learning, research finds
08/10/2020 Reducing air pollution levels by 20% could improve a child’s ability to learn within one month, new research has found. |
Call for evidence on appointing Air Quality Partners
06/10/2020 The Government has launched a call for evidence on which public bodies should help local authorities to tackle air pollution. |
'Dramatic' fall in London's air pollution since 2016, data shows
05/10/2020 Despite dramatic improvements in London's air quality since 2016, air pollution is still a major public health challenge, new data has revealed. |
Teesside mayor announces UK’s first hydrogen transport centre
30/09/2020 Teesside is set to become the site of the UK’s first hydrogen transport centre, the Tees Valley mayor has announced. |
PM pledges to protect ‘additional 4%’ of UK’s land
28/09/2020 The Government has committed to protecting 30% of the UK’s land by 2030 as part of a global effort to protect nature and boost biodiversity. |
New benchmark reveals top five ‘green economies’ in UK
24/09/2020 The top five green economies per capita in 2018/19 were in south east England, Greater Manchester and the Leeds City Region, according to new research. |
Manchester councils secure funding for clean energy project
23/09/2020 Funding to develop a clean energy project has been awarded to five councils in Greater Manchester that have declared a climate emergency. |
Where do Clean Air Zones fit in the green recovery?
18/09/2020 Laura Thornton and Stuart Thomson, the legal director and head of public affairs respectively at BDB Pitmans, look at Clean Air Zones and the green recovery. |
Citizen's Climate Assembly calls for reductions in car and air travel
15/09/2020 The first citizens’ assembly on climate change has called for tough action including limiting the growth of car and plane travel. |
Council announces ‘innovative’ nitrate neutral development scheme
14/09/2020 Havant Borough Council has become the first local authority to enable nitrate neutral regeneration and redevelopment. |
This issue of Public Property examines how how flexible workspaces can lead the way in regeneration for local authorities, Why local authority intervention is key to successful urban regeneration schemes and if the Government’s challenge of embracing beauty is an opportunity for communities.
The March issue also takes a closer look at Blackburn with Darwen Council's first digital health hub to help people gain control over health and care services.
