Thread by @JennyC_Hill

New report from @NAOorguk out today on Local Authorities and #NetZero, with some interesting findings, particularly on funding streams. A thread 👇

First, a few stats. Fully 91% of 333 authorities have now set some form of #NetZero target.

And 20-21 saw grant funding levels jump to £1.2B from just £74m in 19-20 -- though fragmented across 21 separate grant schemes. (2/n)

Lack of coordination is a theme:
❌ no overall expectations from central govt on local authority role in meeting Net Zero
❌ no clear set of responsibilities or view of how govt will work together
❌ no clear central goverment lead

➡️ first 2 recommendations focus on this (3/n):

On funding 💷
❌ Neither MHCLG nor Treasury has assessed the totality that
central govt provides to local govt linked with net zero
❌ "The nature of grant funding can hinder value for money" due to short-termism & unequal distribution (as bigger LAs can bid more easily) (4/n)

And a key one to for officials to think about over the next few months as we go in to the Comprehensive Spending Review: (5/n)

Next up, #planning! 🏡🌇🛣
❗a critical opportunity in current planning reforms to make these #NetZero consistent (see @theCCCuk recommended Net Zero Test for how you might do this)
➡️ a recommendation (6/n)

Also, recognition where recognition due - along with the big increase in grant funds, there have been some signs of progress, including a new X-govt working group, dedicated support in some areas... (7/n)

And new directions in funding, which could really help:
✅ new lending from UK Infrastructure Bank of up to £4B from summer 2021
✅ encouragement to use levelling up and other economic growth funding to meet Net Zero (8/n)

Other recommendations to note on improving consistency of reporting to make it easier to track progress (yes please! 🙋🏼‍♀️) + joint work on skills + sharing best practice. (9/n)

At @theCCCuk we are doing work over the coming months on how government organises itself and makes decisions -- the delivery challenge and the role of loval delivery in this.

👩🏽‍💻 Do get in touch with what you'd like to see from us on this, thoughts and evidence. (10/n)

Full NAO report here: nao.org.uk/report/local-g… (11/11)