APPENDIX 21
Letter to the Chairman
of the Committee from Mr Richard Caborn MP, Department of the
Environment, Transport and the Regions
This letter is my Department's response to the request
by your Committee for an account of its role with regard to the
local dimension of the Millennium Celebrations in England. The
issue of transport access to the Millennium Dome is being covered
separately by the Government Office for London.
The Department for Culture Media and Sport takes
the lead in coordinating the Government's plans for celebrating
the Millennium. Their Memorandum sets out those plans, and the
arrangements for ensuring coordination between Government Departments
and the other agencies involved. The Department of Environment,
Transport and the Regions (DETR) is playing a full part, although
its role is mainly a supporting one—the Department has few
direct responsibilities for delivering the local dimension of
the Millennium celebrations.
The Department is a member of the Government's Millennium
Coordinating Group, and two of its Sub-groups: the Local Communities
Sub-group and the Churches and Other Faiths Group. Officials from
the Department also maintain close contact with the DCMS Millennium
Unit and with the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC). These
arrangements ensure that the Department is fully involved in the
development of the plans. They can also ensure that DCMS and NMEC
are aware of the Department's policies and, conversely, that the
Department is aware of the opportunities which the Millennium
offers. The Department has also been able to establish or facilitate
links between NMEC and a number of the bodies which it sponsors.
Although DETR does not have a direct role in the
planning or organising of local events, the Department has encouraged
potential players—such as its sponsored bodies—to
get involved in the Millennium Celebrations where they can. The
pivotal role in local celebrations is likely to be played by local
authorities, whose interests in England are coordinated through
the Local Government Association and the Local Communities Sub-group.
The Deputy Prime Minister has, for example, discussed with the
London Borough of Wandsworth their plans to restore Battersea
Park with the benefit of the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund
and to organise a series of events during 2000. This would link
into the Thames 2000 initiative to create new river services to
connect the Dome to other destinations in London.
The aim of the Department is to improve the quality
of life by promoting sustainable development at home and abroad,
fostering economic prosperity and supporting local democracy.
The Department's key objectives include enhancing economic development
and social cohesion, protecting and improving the environment
and enhancing opportunity in rural areas. These are potentially
very relevant to both the Challenge and the Festival, and their
aims of making a difference and leaving a lasting social legacy.
The Department has discussed both initiatives with NMEC, and NMEC
have also consulted a number of NDPBs including the Environment
Agency and Groundwork.
Many of the projects being financed by the Millennium
Commission are also relevant to the Department's policy objectives.
Indeed, some are drawing funding from Departmental programmes
such as the Single Regeneration Budget—for example, the
project "Access No Barrier" by the South Tyneside Economic
Partnership to improve facilities for those with a physical handicap.
Some of the Department's sponsored bodies are working in partnership
with the Millennium Commission to deliver projects which have
a local dimension. One notable example is the Countryside Commission,
which is running the Millennium Greens Scheme to create at least
250 areas of open space to be enjoyed permanently by local communities.
Another is Groundwork which is reclaiming wasteland in 21 areas
to enhance the local environment.
NMEC are in contact with the Government Offices in
the Regions through their newly established regional network.
The Government Offices also participated in the series of regional
"Celebrating the Millennium" conferences aimed mainly
at local authorities to raise awareness of potential Millennium
activities and provide guidance to organisers of local events.
We will of course be very happy to provide any more
detailed information about our involvement in Millennium Activities
that the Committee would like to have.
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