Consultations
HEFCE: The Higher Education Funding Council for England has published a consultation on its next three-year strategy to drive sustainable development in the higher education (HE) sector. It identifies the HE sector as a potential beacon of progress, but acknowledges that the momentum for change needs to increase.
In this context, HEFCE aims to consolidate the facilitative approach it developed in its 2005 sustainable development strategy and is running a series of sustainable development seminars as part of the consultation process. This approach is built around four distinctive roles:
* engaging with stakeholders to bring about policy synergies on sustainable development
* building the capacity to achieve sustainable development
* sharing good practice, or supporting its development where none exists
* rewarding more sustainable behaviour.
Press release ~ Consultation ~ 2005 sustainable development strategy ~ Sustainable development seminars
Ofgem: Energy regulator Ofgem has published National Grid’s preliminary consultation on the availability of gas & electricity supplies for winter 2008-2009. National Grid produces the report to help major industrial users, suppliers and other large customers plan ahead for each coming winter.
Industry stakeholders are encouraged to respond to either National Grid or Ofgem with their views on the consultation. A seminar on the winter outlook will be staged on September 10 and the final report will be published in the last week of September.
Press release ~ Winter Outlook consultation ~ National Grid ~ Ofgem’s fact sheet on security of gas supplies ~ Trade and Industry Committee: Security of Gas Supply ~ Gas supplies to the UK – a review of the future ~ BERR: Understanding Gas Supply ~ BERR: Quality and Continuity Of UK Electricity Supply
Defra: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation (closes on 1 September 2008) on the European Commission's proposals for the ‘Health Check’ of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The Health Check is a scheduled review of the major CAP reforms of 2003, which could have potentially significant implications for farmers across the EU, for the environment and for cutting prices for consumers. As well as reviewing the 2003 reforms, the Health Check is intended to prepare the way for longer-term reform of the CAP following the EU budget review in 2009/10.
Press release ~ UK government response to EU CAP reform proposals ~
DCSF: New measures making the admissions system easier for parents to navigate have been published for consultation by Schools Minister Jim Knight, who said that he wanted to:
* make the admissions process clearer, particularly to primary schools
* give parents better quality information to get the most out of the system and
* give them more say over setting local admissions arrangements
The key proposal is that all parents' applications for primary or secondary schools will be coordinated by the local authority where they live - whenever they are made and whatever the age of the child. This will give them a single point of enquiry for all school applications.
A new revised School Admissions Code, School Admission Appeals Code and regulations have been published for a four-month consultation (closes on 2 October 2008), with three major regional conferences over the summer to discuss them with key stakeholders, including local authorities, headteachers and faith groups.
Press release ~ Documents for consultation ~ Children's Plan ~ Admission Forums ~ Local Authorities Factsheet ~ Office of the Schools Adjudicator - Admission arrangements ~ EHRC – Right to education ~ White Paper Higher Standards, Better Schools for All: More Choice for Parents and Pupils ~ Parents centre
Defra: Defra has launched a consultation (closes on 8 September 2008) on how to target criminals who profit from polluting the environment by illegally dumping waste. Removing the waste costs individuals and local authorities large sums of money and - depending on the type of waste - can be hazardous to clear up.
The proposals will give local authorities and the Environment Agency new powers to stop, search & instantly seize vehicles suspected of being involved in fly-tipping and other waste offences. Offenders who do not come forward risk their vehicles being crushed.
Press release ~ Consultation documents ~ National Fly-tipping prevention group ~ Local environmental quality: fly-tipping ~ Env. Agency – fly-tipping ~ Fly-tipping and the law ~ Fly-tipping - what you can do ~
BERR: An agreement has been reached between Government and industry which aims to remove aviation & radar barriers to the major expansion of wind energy. In addition, BERR and Ofgem have published the next consultation document on the new offshore electricity transmission regime. This is a further step forward in the expansion of renewable energy to offshore wind farms. The consultation seeks views on the detailed changes needed to license the offshore grid.
Press release ~ Memorandum of Understanding and related documents ~ Consultation on the new offshore electricity transmission regime ~ Civil Aviation Authority ~ NATS ~ British Wind Energy Association
BERR: Anne Glover's committee, announced as part of the Enterprise Strategy and Budget 2008, has invited small firms, public purchasers and industry groups to share their experiences of doing business across both central government and local authorities by 8 August 2008 – See ‘Business and other Briefings’ below for more information.
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