Local Authority Environmental Legislation Register

The environment is an issue that is increasingly hitting the headlines, and local authorities are increasingly looking at how their own impact affects their reputation and standing in the community as a responsible neighbour.

Legislation relating to environmental performance is also increasing at an alarming rate, and local authorities with their diverse activities are subject to a broad range of law not only to enforce, but to comply with.

Kirklees Council and Groundwork Pennine Lancashire, with funding from DEFRA, have produced a web based environmental legal register. Kirklees Council has had an environmental legal register for a number of years, this has been adapted and combined with Groundwork's business environmental legal register to produce the website.

The information on the register is split into 13 sections, which includes a section on Government strategies. It also includes a section on Regional and Local Strategies that could be applicable to Local Authorities. For each piece of legislation there is general purpose and summary section and a section which details the relevance to Local Authorities. The information has also been split into typical Local Authority Departments where a list of relevant legislation has been produced.

See a presentation of how the website works:

  Local Authorities Environmental Legislation Update Service.ppt (974 KB)

As environmental legislation is constantly being amended, updated and developed, Kirklees Council and Groundwork Pennine Lancashire will update the website every 6 months.

The register was initially produced in CD format, and was financially supported by DEFRA. The update service for this website is however not funded by DEFRA.

Local Authorities can receive access to the website at a cost of £350 + VAT per annum.

For more information or to register contact: Jamie Bearman, Groundwork Pennine Lancashire, jbearman@groundwork.org.uk