Local Government
Natural England is working with local government and their local partnerships to ensure the natural environment is at the heart of place making.
What is Local Government and why is it important to the natural environment?
Recent legislation including the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, 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. The decision and actions that local authorities and their partners make can have significant benefits as well as impacts on the natural environment.
What is Natural England’s role in Local Government?
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.
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.
Select a region
Related articles
Natural Leaders
Natural Leaders – Action for local environmental leadership - launched on 8th July 2010. Find out more about the lead role councils can play in promoting their natural environment using partnerships, long term vision, community engagement and investment in natural capital.