Natural England - Local Government

Local Government

What is Local Government and why is it important to the natural environment?

Recent legislation including the 2007 Local Government & Public Involvement in Health Act, and the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 gave greater discretion and a more strategic role to Councils to govern and lead their communities and partners in achieving local priorities. These Acts also introduced a new settlement between central and local government.

This has significant implications for how the natural environment is considered as part of the way places are shaped at the local level as well changing the relationship between Natural England and local government. The decision and actions that local authorities and their partners make can have significant benefits as well as impacts on the natural environment. Natural England has a duty to co-operate with local partnerships and to involve local people in its work, whilst local authorities also have the right to scrutinise Natural England’s work in their area.

What is Natural England’s role in Local Government?

Although it is a national body, Natural England delivers a lot of outcomes through local partnerships. We also consult extensively with other regional, district and local organisations including Local Authority Leader Boards.

Natural England is working with Local Strategic Partnerships - led by local authorities - to develop Sustainable Community Strategies, which set out the long-term vision for an area and identifies the priorities for action.

As a result, Natural England is a partner with over one quarter of local authorities delivering environmental improvements through Local Area Agreements (a three year agreement between a local authority, on behalf of local partners, and central government). Our contribution to the Local Area Agreements and progress on improvements to the locality is measured through a set of indicators by which joint action on issues such as climate change and improving biodiversity is assessed.

In future months Natural England aims to work closely with local authorities to help develop their capacity for environmental leadership and to ensure that the natural environment is embedded into local strategies and decision making. Natural England will do this through providing evidence and expertise on environmental assets of local places and the value that they bring to local communities.

Natural England has agreed with Defra, our Departmental sponsor a series of schedules of activity for our engagement with regional planning and associated matters.

Natural England, along with the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission, is working to improve the evidence base for the natural environment in the regions. This will help to ensure that the decisions being made through the new Regional Strategies are based on a solid understanding of the importance of the natural environment.

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