Local authorities can be green ambassadors

Whether on energy, climate response or the circular economy, councils have an important leadership role, writes Adele Gritten, chief executive of Local Partnerships.

The January 2023 Environment Audit Committee report echoed what we all know: that the UK is (still) reliant on fossil fuels for 78% of its energy needs – heating homes, fuelling vehicles and generating over a third of our electricity.

The weaponisation of gas supplies through the Ukraine war has rightly catalysed political action to accelerate decarbonisation.

Commitment to achieving ambitious targets for the rollout of low carbon electricity generation from solar, offshore wind and nuclear is now certain. To do this, the public and private sectors must work together to minimise future energy crises and deliver synergies.

Local authorities can lead the energy, climate response and circular economy agenda. From separate food waste collection to consistency of collection, deposit return schemes to scrutiny of extended producer responsibility, through to waste disposal enforcement and innovation, local authorities can lead from the front and assume the role of green ambassador for their communities.

With leadership comes the need to understand evolving policy changes and act swiftly. In a complex landscape, local authorities may require help ranging from due diligence support through to procurement and contract management or renewal advice. This may include PFI scrutiny or support with transitional arrangements

In the clean and green arena, we have helped clients develop programmes covering expiry through to new service commencement

In the clean and green arena, we have helped clients develop programmes covering expiry through to new service commencement. We have led workshops to determine appropriate recruitment parameters, developed advisor specifications and evaluation frameworks and provided training and guidance on the assessment process and development of contract documentation.

Providing commercial, technical and legal support and knowledge in this fast-moving policy space is a key part of how we help local authorities achieve success.

We have also provided more data-led consultancy including food waste collection and treatment studies. Recently, for example, we developed a medium-long term waste profile for 12 unitary authorities as part of evaluating options for the implementation of separate collection and treatment of household food waste. This included reviewing current market capacity versus future likely capacity to create specifications for future treatment facilities.

Together, we can move the dial forward to deliver on our climate response pledge.

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