DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (204/07) issued by
The Government News Network on 5 July 2007
Environment
Secretary Hilary Benn today stressed the central role Local
Authorities have in fighting climate change as he launched the new
Defra - Local Government Joint Environmental Prospectus
This practical checklist sets out how local authorities can:
* Tackle climate change;
* Protect the natural environment
and resources, and break the link between waste and the economy;
and
* Improve the local environment.
Speaking before the Local Government Association's annual
conference, Mr Benn said:
"Nothing is of greater importance to all of us today than
the environment and the future of our planet. As councils and
national governments we need to work together with citizens and
businesses to provide a clean and green local environment and make
sure that we are all tackling climate change and making best use
of the world's limited resources.
"It's a task for all of us - G8 leader and council
leader alike - and citizens too.
"This is the new politics. Personal responsibility. Not
leaving it to others. I am my planet's keeper."
At the conference, Mr Benn also announced the publication for
comment of Defra's proposed indicators for the new Local
Government Performance Framework. Several of the 13 indicators are
new, and reflect the Government's priorities for local
government, including climate change.
Defra is keen to listen to on the ground experience to help
ensure their proposals are the right ones.
The proposed indicators and how to comment on them can be found
at: http://defraweb/environment/localgovindicators/index.htm
More details about the Joint Environmental Prospectus can be
found at: http://defraweb/corporate/delivery/landscape/local/index.htm
Notes to editors
The Joint Environmental Prospectus provides
an overview of the local and national governments' top
environmental priorities.
It sets out 10 key questions which local leaders and chief
executives can use to challenge their Councils to ensure that the
environment is integrated throughout its concerns.
The Local Government White Paper (published in October 2006) set
out a new performance framework for local government. The backbone
of the new framework will be around 200 indicators covering all
the Government's priorities for local delivery. Local
Government will be required to report their performance against
these indicators from April 2008.
For each of Defra's proposed indicators a rationale is set
out along with information about collection arrangements. In each
case responses are sought to questions, and replies are invited
via the web-site.
The indicators cover a range of Defra's activities. As well
as climate change, they include biodiversity, waste, air quality,
local environmental quality and fuel poverty.
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on
our website
http://www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development
To subscribe or unsubscribe to Defra's mailing list go to:
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/
Once on the GNN website see Sign up
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Website
http://www.defra.gov.uk