10th May 2011, London
18th March 2011, Barnsley
8th February 2011, Bristol

Organised in partnership with The Centre for Sustainable Energy and hosted by the Greater London Authority, Barnsley MBC and Bristol City Council. 

Enthusiastic locally elected councillors gathered together at these events to look at how they can drive the low carbon agendas forward in their communities and boroughs. 

 Above) Cllrs learn about renewable technologies in urban and rural environments using CSE's 4 metre model.

Through measures set out in the Localism Bill, communities should have much more opportunity to be proactive in setting low carbon planning and sustainability targets.  Currently however, as the Bill stands, the duty to consider climate change only applies to the preparation of Local Development Frameworks and NOT to neighbourhood planning.  There is also a need for the exiting duty on planning and climate change to be strengthened and an increased obligation for local authorities to ensure a direct join up between planning provisions and the Climate Change Act.   The Planning and Climate Change Coalition (led by the Town and Country Planning Association and Friends of the Earth) have put forth potential amendments to try and address these omissions.  If they’re not changed and the Bill goes though as is then the pressure on our elected representatives to do the right and ‘green’ thing under the General Power of competence will be greater than ever.

Above) Low Carbon Cllrs visit one of Barnsley's biomass boilers in their council buildings.

KEY PRESENTATIONS FROM THE EVENTS

1.  bristol city council Presentation - Alex Minsall
2.  Bristol Green Doors -  Dan Weisselberg
3.  Centre for Sustainable Energy & UF London Presentation
4.  Department of Energy & climate change -  Patrick Allcorn

WHAT THE EVENTS WERE ABOUT

Local authority councillors were invited to this FREE one-day event designed to give elected members a firm understanding of the opportunities that exist to shape a low carbon future for their area that brings both economic and social rewards. Attendees should have gained:

• a better understanding of the importance of bold leadership, inspiration, innovation, leadership, skills and knowledge in tackling climate change.
• increased awareness of the importance of creating green investment opportunities in the face of public spending cuts.
• improved understanding of how to integrate low carbon measures into existing local buildings, businesses and lifestyles.
• more confidence to take ownership of and drive forward projects centred on local ownership and management of low carbon assets in their area.

The days consisted of several sessions, including inspirational examples of work led by other local authorities and individuals, covering:

• Keynote presentations from the authorities, introducing the work they are doing in delivering a low energy future across homes, businesses, communities, and transport.
• Presentations from representatives from the voluntary sector who are carrying out low-energy refurbishments, retrofits and are looking at domestic renewable energy.
• Panel Q&A sessions with speakers.
• Supporting communities to engage in planning for a low carbon future - using a large scale, four-metre-long model of a town with surrounding rural hinterland as a teaching aid for planning and renewable energy technology. These sessions also dealt with issues around community-led planning, SPD (supplementary planning documents) and the importance for elected members of increasing their own knowledge in order to encourage policies within LDF (Local Development Frameworks) which support renewable energy.
• Getting your community on board: planning and running community events (looking at planning events, renewables, the planning system, project management and finance) - using an interactive DVD resource pack developed by CSE with funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government.
• How it can be done - lessons from engaging communities and large scale retrofit programmes.

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