Extracts from the March-April 2003 edition of Renew
These extracts only represent about 25% of it

8. Local Energy Planning

In response to a Parliamentary Question on 26 Sept 2002 on what powers the DETR had to impose Agenda 21, community renewable energy, and alternative energy strategies on local authorities and on what penalties may be exacted from local authorities which fail to produce such strategies, Michael Meacher commented ‘the Local Government Act 2000 placed a duty on English local authorities to prepare a community strategy. The delivery of improved long term economic, social and environmental quality of life, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in the UK, lies at the heart of community strategies; indeed community strategies are required, by law, to promote sustainable development. The Government believes community strategies will promote the mainstreaming of sustainable development across local authorities' functions. Where they have effective and holistic Local Agenda 21 strategies, there may be good reasons for local authorities to continue to implement LA21. However, the Government feels that, in the long term, LA21 strategies will effectively be subsumed by community strategies. Whilst there are no requirements placed on local authorities to produce specific community renewable energy or alternative energy strategies, energy use, as an important element of sustainable development, can be considered as part of the community strategy process.’

Planning issues have been coming to the fore in Scotland in particular, following the emergence of opposition to the offshore wind farm planned for Solway Firth (see earlier). On Oct 10th last year, Nora Radcliffe asked the First Minister what guidance the Scottish Executive issued to planning authorities in respect of the consideration of proposals for wind farms, and was told that there was the national planning policy guideline 6, which is on renewable energy developments, and planning advice note 45, which is on renewable energy technologies, both of which had been revised and reissued recently. However the Minister added ‘ultimately it is for local planning authorities to take decisions relating to individual sites.’

Meanwhile a Private Bill is to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament relating to proposals for changes in navigation and fishing in the Solway Firth.

* Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, has produced a new draft version of his Energy strategy for London, entitled ‘Green Light to Clean Energy’. It suggests that London should try to meet 14% of its electricity needs from renewables, including imports. The deadline for comments to the GLA is in April. More in Renew 143.

Meanwhile, see: www.london. gov.uk.