14-15 SB1009 Policy Tracker 18/9/09 11:49 am Page 14
INFORM
Policy Tracker
The latest reports and developments in environmental SB More Info Inside this Issue
policy, regulation, legislation and voluntary initiatives
C Current Consultations
FINANCE
WALKER REVIEW SUPPORTS WATER METERING ROLL-OUT
GREEN STIMULUS PACKAGES DO LITTLE FOR GREEN ENERGY Details: Defra has published an interim report from the
Details: The New Economics Foundation has published the ‘Independent review of Charging for Household
report, Green Stimulus or Simulus? It concludes that water and Sewerage Services’. The report concludes
despite government claims of 10% of the recent UK that metering is the fairest way of paying. The
stimulus package being devoted to environmental review was commissioned by the Government last
technologies, green stimulus was in fact only 0.6% year in its Future Water strategy to consider the
of the total stimulus package. environmental, social and economic aspects of
Download:
greenpeace.org.uk/files/pdfs/climate/ charging for domestic water and sewerage services.
green-stimulus.pdf It was asked to consider the fairness of current and
ACTION TO TACKLE VAT FRAUD IN CARBON MARKET alternative charging systems, whether the old rate-
Details: The UK government has introduced legislation to able value basis for setting water charges should be
remove VAT from emissions allowances traded within replaced, and how the issue of affordability for low-
the UK, in order to prevent the risk of VAT fraud. income households might be addressed.
The new law follows evidence that commodity trad- Information:
defra.gov.uk/environment/water/industry/
ing in emissions allowances is being used by fraud- pdf/walker-call-evidence.pdf
sters to steal VAT revenues from the UK, and that the RECAST OF EPB DIRECTIVE
UK may become a major target for this activity in the Details: DCLG has launched a consultation on the European
coming months. The change will have no effect on Commission’s recast of the Energy Performance of
legitimate trading but will prevent fraudsters from Buildings Directive. The proposed re-cast seeks to
charging and collecting VAT that they have no inten- clarify and simplify certain aspects, extend the
tion of paying to HMRC. scope of the Directive, strengthen certain provi-
Information:
hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_73_09.htm sions, and give the public sector a leading role in
promoting energy efficiency. The consultation
POLLUTION CONTROL
seeks views on the Government’s position regarding
REVIEW OF PROCESS GUIDANCE NOTE PG 6/7 AND PG 6/16 the proposals.
Details: The Environment Agency Local Authority Unit has Timeline:
C
The deadline for responses is 2 October 2009
launched Process Guidance Note PG 6/7 and Information:
communities.gov.uk/publications/
Process Guidance Note PG 6/16, which covers the planningandbuilding/recastepbdconsultation
printing and coating sector, and just the printing GREEN LEASE TOOLKIT
sector respectively. Defra proposed that there Details: The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) has
should be a review of published process guidance produced the ‘Green Lease Toolkit’, which aims to
notes within approximately six years of their date of enable owners and occupiers to work together to
publication. The review will specifically focus on BAT reduce the environmental impact of real estate. The
within the printing and coating sector. guidelines are designed to help owners and occu-
Information: For more information, email Tristan Stubbs at EIC at piers to agree carbon, energy, waste and water
tristan.stubbs@
eic-uk.co.uk reduction strategies which best fit with the circum-
stances of individual properties.
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Download:
lda.gov.uk/upload/pdf/BBP_green_lease_toolkit.pdf
STANDARD RULES CONSULTATION NO.4 ECO-TOWN LIST PUBLISHED
Details: The Environment Agency has launched a fourth Details: DCLG has announced the shortlist for the
consultation on ‘Standard Rules for the government’s eco-town programme.
Environmental Permitting Regulations’. The Download:
communities.gov.uk/documents/planningand
consultation is proposing revisions to some current building/pdf/ecotownslocationdesign.pdf
rules and some new ones, to prepare for the ALLOCATION FROM THE ECO-TOWNS FUND
planned extension of the EP Regulations to include Details: DCLG has launched a consultation, ‘Eco-Towns -
surface water discharge consenting, groundwater Allocations From the Eco-Towns Fund’. The
authorisations and radioactive substances regula- consultation paper sets out proposals for local
tion in April 2010. The consultation is inviting com- authorities and their delivery team partners on
ments on: ■ The keeping or use of Category 5 how the £60M announced to support locations
sealed radioactive sources (new rules set), and ■ the identified with the potential for an eco-town might
discharge to surface water of water from a cooling be allocated. It also includes guidance on the
circuit or heat exchanger (new rules set), among preparation of an Eco-town Programme of
other things. Development to support bids for funding.
Timeline:
C
The deadline for responses is 16 October 2009 Timeline: The deadline for responses was 25 September 2009
Information:
environment-agency.gov.uk Information:
communities.gov.uk
14 October 2009 ❘ Sustainable Business
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