Cash-strapped councils struggling to go green, warns report

A lack of funding is preventing local authorities, which have already declared climate emergencies, from going green, according to a new report.

The report by the Green Alliance claims that three quarters of councils in England have declared climate emergencies and want to follow through with ambitious plans.

But it adds councils are being held back by a lack of resources and support from Whitehall.

In fact, the report claims unless the government works collaboratively with local authorities on this agenda, it will find it hard to meet its 2050 net zero carbon goal.

This is because local authorities have jurisdiction over elements of housing and transport, two highly emitting sectors.

The report adds that last month’s Spending Review provided some relief for local authorities but will not reverse years of funding cuts that have left the environment functions in local authorities severely depleted.

Due to their lower capacity and knowledge of the system, less well-resourced local authorities also struggle to win funding bids relevant to climate action.

The report highlights that even very basic support that central government could be providing to local authorities is absent, including assistance with mapping the emissions within local authorities’ control, providing points of contact with central government and a national strategy to improve local capacity and skills relevant to the low carbon agenda.

The report calls for more collaboration between central government and local authorities, and for this to be linked to the forthcoming devolution white paper.

This climate action framework should include sufficient funding, a strategic approach to skills development and more policy support from central government. The report also argues for more flexibility for local authorities to use their powers within the planning system to accelerate decarbonisation.

‘The government is missing a trick when it comes to working with local authorities on climate-related issues,’ said the Green Alliance’s policy adviser, Philippa Borrowman.

‘Councils are close to the people, businesses and environments which they serve, and our interviews have revealed just how passionate they are to address the climate emergency and do the best for their communities. They will be pivotal in supporting the roll-out of low carbon housing and transport policies and ensuring they work for everyone, in every community.’

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s lead for the green city-region portfolio, Cllr Andrew Western, added: ‘There’s no doubt that we are facing a climate emergency that requires urgent, joined-up action across all areas of local and central government.

‘However, the combined effects of the pandemic and long-running budgetary pressures mean councils are struggling for capacity and funds to take many of the practical, achievable steps needed to decarbonise our economy. We’ve also seen how the government’s proposals in areas like planning guidelines could potentially curb the ambition of local authorities to go faster and further in cutting emissions.’

Photo Credit – Free-Photos (Pixabay)