Briefings and responses

The LGA responded to consultation from government on new powers for councils to issue fixed penalty notices to householders for failing to meet their duties in disposing of waste. This could provide a useful alternative to prosecution for “duty of care” offences.

It is helpful to see Defra’s thinking on the scope of long-term environmental targets. As a next step, Defra needs to set out clear implementation plans with interim targets.

We support the principle of biodiversity net gain and the broader ambitions of the 25 Year Environment Plan to be the first generation to leave our natural environment in a better state than we found it.

Investment in flooding and coastal erosion relies heavily on public sector contributions. Councils are keen to play a part in securing wider contributions, but complex and time consuming processes make this difficult to achieve in practice.

There is no hard evidence to support the argument that removing the flexibility for councils to charge will reduce the amount of fly-tipped waste.

Proposals to increase the threshold for defining small society lotteries would mean local authorities having to regulate a larger number of operators.  

The LGA welcomes the publication of Dame Judith Hackitt’s final report, and supports many of the recommendations in it

The LGA welcomes the opportunity to continue to contribute to the consultations on resources and waste reforms, first set out in the Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy.

General points:

We have followed the consultation in referring to sprinklers. However guidance and standards need to allow for the development of other automatic fire suppression system technologies.