News UK

< News UK February 2008, Current events

March 2008

 * Attenborough launches project to stem butterfly decline. March 13 Conservation initiative aimed at reversing 'silent natural disaster' topic


 * "Local Strategic Partnerships or Local Service Boards are not sufficiently local or connected to the community to allow effective community involvement." Community empowerment in practice: lessons from Communities First by Dave Adamson and Richard Bromiley of the University of Glamorgan is published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. March 11


 * Aspiration for non-domestic buildings such as offices and shops to be zero carbon from 2019. The details and timeline will be subject to consultation later this year. The chancellor has also announced his ambition for all public service buildings to be zero carbon from 2018. March 12 topic


 * £4 million to help local authorities fight climate change, March 11 From April, councils’ success in cutting carbon dioxide emissions will be measured as part of a new performance framework. They will also be assessed on their efforts to adapt to the effects of climate change, and to tackle fuel poverty. Many councils are expected to set specific targets to lead the drive to cut back on carbon emissions in their areas. topic


 * Survey suggests the public oppose the Government’s policy of building 3 million new homes by 2020 (53%), and think the biggest winners of Government house building plans are property developers and landowners (50%), March 7 topic


 * White Paper launch document 'Unlocking the Talent of our Communities' published, March 5 topic


 * New duty to cooperate comes into legal effect from today, March 4. According to Communities and Local Government, under the new duty to cooperate, all key government service providers will have a responsibility to work together to identify regional priorities and shape and change services at a local level. topic


 * Walls built with hemp for sustainable education centre at CAT, March 3


 * Rural Advocate reports on realities of rural England. Nearly a million rural households living below the official government poverty threshold, March 3 topic