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
CORPORATE STRATEGY
DEFRA SCRAPS WASTE EXEMPTION CHARGE PLAN
COMPANIES ACT COMES INTO FORCE Details: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Details: The final elements of the Companies Act 2006 have Affairs has dropped plans to charge £50 to register
come into force, meaning that government exemptions for environmental permitting for waste.
departments will now issue changes to business The decision was made in response to a 2008
regulations on two dates a year – 6 April and consultation on revisions to the exemptions regime.
1 October. This forms part of the Government’s The only exception will be sites treating waste
Better Regulation Agenda. Other measures include: electrical goods, which are already subject to a fee
■ creating separate Articles of Association for small to fund agency inspections.
companies; ■ enabling greater use of electronic Timeline: The final regulations will be published in November
communications with shareholders; and ■ making it and and the new regime will come into force in
an offence to carry on business in the UK under a April 2010
misleading name. Information:
defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/
Information:
berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/businesslaw/ waste-exemption-review/
co-act-2006/
index.html
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
FINANCE
CERT SAVINGS MET THROUGH LIGHTBULBS
BIS ANNOUNCES NEW BUSINESS REGULATIONS Details: Ofgem has revealed that almost 40% of the carbon
Details: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills savings claimed in the first year of the Carbon
has announced a package of new regulations for Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) came from low-
business, designed to take into account the difficult energy lightbulbs. Over the past year, suppliers
economic climate. The proposals form part of the have been accused of sending customers lightbulbs
Government’s Better Regulation Agenda. They rather than carrying out insulation work. The Ofgem
include: ■ deferring costs by stalling 26 planned report has confirmed this picture. Insulation provid-
regulations until April 2011; ■ publicising the ed 56% of the first year’s savings, but this included
Government’s programme of planned new regula- just 545,000 cavity wall insulations. The Government
tion over the next 18 months; ■ the creation of an had expected 950,000 cavity walls to be insulated
independent scrutiny body, the Regulatory Policy per year.
Committee, to undertake cost-benefit analyses of Timeline The Government announced in June that energy
Government proposals; and ■ a new target to companies will not be allowed to send out
remove £6.5B from the costs of regulation. unsolicited lightbulbs as part of CERT from January
Information:
hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_73_09.htm 2010
DECC ANNOUNCES £20M FOR CLEAN TECH Information:
ofgem.gov.uk
Details: Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and UKGBC CALLS FOR LOW-INTEREST LOANS TO FUND E.E.
Climate Change, has announced an extra £20M in Details: A study by the UK Green Building Council has
funding for clean-tech companies. The allocation concluded that the Government needs to
forms part of the £405M announced in the Budget underwrite loans for energy efficiency measures
for low carbon technology support. in homes to keep interest rates low enough to
Information:
decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn110/ lead to a net saving for householders. The study
pn110.aspx focuses on the Government’s ‘whole house’
approach to energy efficiency outlined in the Heat
WASTE
and Energy Saving Strategy (HESS) earlier in the
CONSULTATION ON H1 ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT year. UKGBC suggests a 25-year term for loans.
Details: The Environment Agency has launched a consulta- Information:
ukgbc.org
tion on H1 Environmental Risk Assessment. The EA FUTURE OF BUILDING CONTROL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
is revising the March 2008 version of the H1 Details: The Department of Communities and Local
guidance to include activities being brought in Government has published its Future of Building
under the Environmental Permitting Regulations in Control Implementation Plan. The plans aim to
2010. The existing H1 guidance brought together make it easier for builders to understand the
the methodology for waste operators and standards expected of them and to ensure
installations. The changes in this consultation reflect buildings comply with standards of safety and
proposals to widen the H1 environmental risk sustainability.The changes proposed are designed
assessment to include water discharge consents to raise compliance with the Regulations and to
and groundwater authorisations. create a more responsive system
Timeline
C
Deadline for responses is 23 December 2009 Download:
communities.gov.uk/documents/
Information:
environment-agency.gov.uk planningandbuilding/pdf/1320090
14 October 2009 ❘ Sustainable Business
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