George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, 21st March 2012
What a week. On the surface, it was sublime; the first sunny days of spring, the first Chiffchaffs singing, the first butterflies on the wing. But, look elsewhere and it was bleak. Various claims that it would be the most ‘important week for the environment in decades,’ were not without reason. Following the Autumn Statement and after much debate and conjecture, we are now a bit clearer on what David Cameron meant when he promised his would be “the greenest government ever”. Ha! Tory spin - whoever saw that coming?!
Wednesday’s Budget Announcement didn’t make easy reading. We wanted some responsible leadership on energy issues; a blueprint for how industry and environment might be able to coexist in challenging times. We wanted some reassurance that Osborne’s unforgiveable comments about “gold-plating” of environment regulations in November were merely the headline grabbing rhetoric of a jumped up toff fed on a diet of nothing. What did we get? Fossil fuels, tax breaks for oil companies, new exploratory drilling rigs off the coast of Shetland and more roads that I can’t fucking afford to even drive on. Oh and THAT airport in the South East issue. These are the policies of men who have been in a coma for 20 years. Outdated, short-sighted and unsustainable - haven’t we learned anything?! My Grandma’s pretty pissed off too.
As far as the environment goes, it was not a favourable budget. The Habitats Regulations Review that followed on Thursday however, did at least stem the tide of arrogance. The review, put forward in the Autumn Statement to assess whether the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives were putting an “unfair burden” on businesses concluded that in “the large majority of cases the implementation of the Directives is working well, allowing both development of key infrastructure and ensuring that a high level of environmental protection is maintained”. It points out that “Natural England receives around 26,500 land use consultations annually; of these, they ‘object’ to less than 0.5% of these on Habitats Regulations grounds. Most of these objections are successfully dealt with at the planning stage” (page 13). This is a significant step, those directives are a lifeline for so many species.
Preceding all this though were the Red Tape Challenge proposals, unveiled this week; that dressing up of planned cuts to those oh so burdensome environmental regulations as a popularity contest. Thankfully I think this is an area which also showed some traces of logic. The cutting of regulations is a worrying thought but in some cases I think the wording is misleading (Read Damian Carrington’s blog here). One of the key issues of concern arising from it regards changes to the Commons Act (the act which aims to protect ‘common land’ such as village greens etc). The RTC is in favour of “a range of further exemptions for works on common land”; introduced to “eliminate applications that are invariably approved” (is this good or bad?) Further regulations have been tabled for removal, which immediately has negative connotations. However, basis for this is given as being “improved protection and management of commons”. We have little choice but to accept their word on this.
Of the 255 such regulations affected, 132 are earmarked for improvement (“through simplifications and mergers”) 70 remain as they are and 53 are deemed obsolete. I suppose we should ask whether “simplifications and mergers” mean an improvement or just more admin? I guess we’ll find out. The RTC also succeeded in opening up the streamlining process to the public. And the public stepped up – apparently 97% of those responses were in favour of stronger protection or no change in the rules governing the environment. That sends a pretty clear message
The RTC was established to save money and promote development, two things which in their own right are positive. A few examples aside (eg waste management) by and large the RTC has served a purpose, the real test will be the National Planning Policy Framework announcement next week. As that quote at the top shows, these are worrying times. What comes out of it more than anything is that in the short term, NATURE NEEDS US. Decisions we make now will set the pattern for things to come. And In the long run, we need it more than it needs us.
According to the news this morning, for a fee, David Cameron and George Osborne are available for a private chat! What do you say we have a whip round? They clearly don’t check their emails.
NEXT WEEK: National Planning Policy Framework – stick around for more cheery ramblings!
No comments:
Post a Comment