Memorandum by Local Government Association
(LGA)
1. CONTEXT
1.1 Local authorities closely follow EU
legislative and policy developments. Over half of all legislation
impacting on councils has its origins in Europe. Whilst there
are demonstrable benefits from having EU-wide actions in certain
policy areas by virtue of the scale of the issue or its cross-border
nature, EU legislation has the potential to impose significant
financial and administrative burdens on local authorities. For
example, it is estimated that the cost to UK local authorities
of implementing the WEEE Directive in the last two years is in
the order of £140 million; extrapolating that across all
EU legislation indicates the potential burden on council resources.
1.2 It is for this reason that we have welcomed
EU initiatives towards better lawmaking, and to try to ensure
that local government is recognised as an integral part of European
governance with full consultative rights. Councils have an interest
in EU law and policy in their roles as community leaders, exemplars
of good practice, educators, employers, regulators, and major
purchasers of goods and services.
1.3 The Local Government Association seeks
to represent the interests of our member authorities on European
and international matters, including through our representatives
in the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR) and in collaboration
with our partner national associations of local government across
the EU and through the Council of European Municipalities and
Regions (CEMR).
1.4 In this context, the Local Government
Association welcomes this opportunity to submit evidence to the
Committee. In the areas identified below as our priorities, we
would be happy and indeed keen to discuss in more detail.
2. EUROPEAN UNION
PRIORITIES OF
THE LGA
2.1 This submission highlights the key priorities
for Local Government from the European Commission 2007 work programme.
They are a mixture of priorities from the 2007 work programme,
and uncompleted work from earlier work programmes.
2.2 In 2006 the LGA published "closer
to people and places" (enc.), setting out our vision for
the communities we represent. In developing this vision three
objectives drive our thinking:
— to secure more fundamental improvements
in public services, and make better use of public money;
— to improve the quality of life and
the economic performance of cities, towns and villages; and
— and to give people greater power
and influence over their lives, and the future of the places where
they live.
2.3 Establishing our EU priorities entails
taking two fundamental questions into account:
— can the domestic objectives of Local
Government be affected, positively or negatively, by new EU initiatives?
— are there initiatives in the EU work
programme that could impact on local authorities as employers,
service providers, purchasers or community leaders, which although
not part of the LGA's current priorities, could because of their
potential impact become priorities when they are transposed into
UK law in the future?
2.4 Our priorities are presented here in
the context of the ambitions that the LGA and local government
have to deliver for the people and places we represent.
3. "A THRIVING
AND SUSTAINABLE
LOCAL ECONOMY"
3.1 EU regional policy and the Lisbon strategy
are important factors in galvanising national, regional and local
action to develop urban, rural and coastal communities. Strong,
locally managed public services are essential to the delivery
of these objectives.
Priorities carried over from 2006
3.2 Implementation in the UK of the EU Services
Directive. LGA view:
— The LGA is pleased to have been successful
in our campaign to ensure that certain sectors, such as social
services, be excluded from the Directive. We will be carefully
scrutinising how the Directive is implemented in the UK to ensure
that no unintended burdens are passed on to local councils.
3.3 EU review procedures in the award of
public contracts. LGA view:
— The LGA will be lobbying hard to
ensure that the new rules will not unduly limit the procurement
activities of councils in the UK.
New priorities for 2007
3.4 Implementation of EU regional, social
and rural funding programmes and setting the agenda for future
EU regional policy and funding programmes (4th report on economic
and social cohesion); assessment on how regional policy programmes
support the jobs and growth strategy. LGA view:
— It is important that the full range
of economic, social, and environmental thematic priorities are
available to local authorities to allow the diverse development
needs of different areas to be tackled effectively.
— UK central government has recently
assigned this responsibility to Regional Development Agencies
(RDAs). The LGA (and European Commission) believe that there should
be better involvement of local authorities in the design, management
and delivery of operational actions.
3.5 Review and completion of the Single
Market strategy. LGA view:
— Local authorities are affected by
the Single Market, both positively in terms of achieving lower
prices and promoting certain safeguards, but potentially negatively
if it leads to greater red tape.
3.6 Creating legal certainty in the award
of public concessions. LGA view:
— Local councils are heavily involved
in the award of concessions and more clarity from the EU is welcome
on this issue.
— The opportunity should not be missed
to ensure that the new rules affecting Public Private Partnerships
(PPPs) enhance rather than hinder local authorities' PPP activities.
— EU policies in this field should
allow for local flexibility.
3.7 Green Paper consultation on employment
law and Communication on flexicurity. LGA view:
— Local authorities are major employers
and could potentially be affected by changes to labour law arising
from this debate.
— We want to see a greater role for
councils in promoting economic development. A vital part of this
is greater local ability to take decisions that will promote skills
and tackle worklessness.
— The sub-regional level is the best
level for labour market intervention. So new rules must reflect
a desire to devolve decisions to local partnerships led by councils.
— The flexicurity Communication will
cover wider issues which local authorities are key to delivering
at a local level, such as the implications of labour market law
on economic development and social inclusion.
3.8 Other items in the 2007 EU work programme
with potential importance to local government:
— revised laws concerning regional
and state aids;
— revised law on compliance in the
CAP direct support schemes;
— Green paper on urban transport;
— actions towards a comprehensive EU
maritime strategy;
— a new higher education programme;
and
— development of the European Research
Area.
4. "CLEAN,
GREEN NEIGHBOURHOODS"
4.1 How will new EU policy and law on sustainable
development, environment, waste, climate change and energy policy
contribute to this goal and what obligations will they place on
local authorities?
Priorities carried over from 2006
4.2 Green Paper on adaptation to climate
change. LGA view:
— Local authorities are already having
to adapt to climate change, but their role in doing so is rarely
recognised or adequately funded.
— Climate change impacts on many services
that local authorities provide, including transport, highways
and many areas of service provision and policies will have to
be "climate proofed".
— EU policy has focused too much on
mitigation of climate change, with little effort to assess the
impacts and adapt to them—the Green Paper must do this and
bring local government into the process.
4.3 Actions to promote energy efficiency.
LGA view:
— Local authorities are major users
of energy in municipal and public buildings and play a major role
in guiding the energy efficiency of a community through policies
such as planning and transport.
— The LGA welcomes the EU's focus on
energy efficiency, including the proposed energy savings target
of a 20 per cent reduction on 2005 levels by 2020. Local authorities
are supportive of clear targets, timetables and policy frameworks,
however a longer-term approach which is well-resourced at the
local level needs to be urgently adopted.
4.4 EU waste and recycling strategy and
the revision of the Waste Framework Directive. LGA view:
— Councils have waste collection, waste
disposal and waste planning responsibilities. They play a vital
role in the development of recycling capacity and in promoting
better management of natural resources and waste in the community
and economy.
— Waste must no longer be perceived
on its own but as part of wider resource management.
— Waste prevention must have a clear
emphasis at the top of the resource management hierarchy.
— Costs and burdens for waste management
should not fall disproportionately on local authorities. Producer
responsibility and the polluter pays principle must be firmly
incorporated in legislation.
New priorities for 2007
4.5 Implementation and enforcement of EC
environmental law. LGA view:
— EU environment law has a massive
impact on councils and the way in which it is interpreted and
enforced by the UK government is key.
— 2007 will see the implementation
of several crucial pieces of legislation, including the WEEE,
batteries and environmental liability directives. It is vital
that the implementation is carried out in consultation with local
government and that no additional financial burdens are imposed
on local authorities.
4.6 Other items in the 2007 EU work programme
with potential importance to local government:
— EU Action Plan on sustainable production
and consumption;
— national target setting for nation
green procurement;
— new laws on vehicle emissions.
5. "SAFE,
STRONG AND
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES"
5.1 This is also a pillar of the Lisbon
strategy. EU initiatives and new law in the field of social and
equalities policies impact on local authorities as service providers
and employers.
Priorities carried over from 2006
5.2 Implementing the Lisbon strategy for
jobs and growth: LGA view
— Local government is central to the
success of the Lisbon strategy because councils are so closely
involved in many of the areas it covers.
— Local authorities are major employers
and deliver economic and lifelong learning strategies, for example,
as well as social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
5.3 Items in the 2007 EU work programme
with potential importance to local government:
— consideration of future law in the
field of social services;
— new laws on labour migration;
— conditions of entry and residence
for highly skilled workers, sanctions against employers of illegally
resident migrants;
— evolution of the European Asylum
System;
— European e-inclusion strategy;
— "Social stocktaking" (report
on the social challenges facing people in Europe deriving from
globalisation, ageing population, multiculturalism, poverty and
exclusion, etc;) and mid-term review of the Social agenda;
— European Year of Equal Opportunities
for All 2007; and
— preparations for European Year of
Intercultural Dialogue 2008.
6. "SECURITY
AND INDEPENDENCE
FOR ALL
IN OLDER
AGE"
6.1 Local government has a role to play
in dealing with demographic change and it is vital that the EU
takes into account the position of local government in any future
debate and developments.
Priorities carried over from 2006
6.2 Debate on the demographic future of
Europe. LGA view:
— The LGA is pleased to have been successful
in our campaign to ensure that the Commission did not propose
any legislative initiatives in the recent demographic change communication.
— The LGA is co-ordinating a joint
project with the Dutch, Danish and German LGAs to provide councils
in the UK with best practice on how local authorities can rise
to the challenges presented by demographic change.
7. "BETTER
PUBLIC HEALTH"
7.1 EU policies and debate on public health
can help identify good practice in other countries.
New priorities for 2007
7.2 White Paper on public health. LGA view:
— Councils have a key role to play
in promoting healthier lifestyles and the general wellbeing of
their communities. Councils are the only agency that can really
join up all the services involved to improve health at the local
level.
— Local Government wants to see health
services redesigned to focus on preventative health measures and
reducing health inequalities. Councils are already leading the
way, championing innovative initiatives to promote wellbeing.
7.3 Other items in the 2007 EU work programme
with potential importance to local government:
— efforts to improve the efficiency,
effectiveness and accessibility of health services throughout
the EU;
— White Paper on nutrition; animal
health strategy 2007-13;
— revision and better enforcement of
laws on safety of toys; and
— revision of food labelling laws.
8. OTHER LOCAL
GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES
8.1 Ongoing work on governance, including
securing commitments to better consultation and reducing EU red
tape, and the promotion of the principle of local self-governance,
is also a continuing priority.
8.2 The LGA, through its new European and
International Unit, will also work to promote exchange of experience,
capacity-building and international partnerships with local authorities
within the EU, in non-EU European countries and globally. In this
context, it has an interest in the work proposed by the Commission
in relation to the European Neighbourhood Policy and in bilateral
relations with developing countries where the Unit has ongoing
project work.
LGA European and International Unit
The Local Government Association has a new European
and International Unit, which will be responsible for all the
work previously carried out by the Local Government International
Bureau (LGIB).
The integration will strengthen lobbying work,
bring international issues closer to local government and help
the LGA to operate more effectively in Westminster, Brussels and
worldwide.
The new European and International Unit will:
— lobby the EU and international institutions
to get the best deal for councils;
— keep councils informed about EU work
that affects them;
— develop international partnerships
and co-operation;
— support locally elected members in
European and international institutions; and
— promote the development of local
democracy around the world.
www.lga.gov.uk/international
5 January 2007
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