Councils ‘don’t have resources’ to force developers to build roads and schools, says NAO report
Councils do not have the resources to make sure developers of new homes are paying enough towards local services, a damning report claims. Housebuilders can be required to pay money towards infrastructure such as new roads, schools and doctors’ surgeries as a condition of their planning permission, reports This is Money. However, public spending watchdog […]
Net zero subsidy scheme for electric vehicle chargers triggers fraud increase
A taxpayer-funded subsidy scheme for electric vehicle chargers has been hit by a wave of fraud. The Department for Transport (DfT) paid out tens of thousands of pounds to fraudsters who pretended to have installed chargers outside their homes, a report has revealed. Part of the Government’s net zero drive, the electric vehicle homecharge scheme (EVHS) allowed members of […]
Road maintenance backlog hinders councils from undertaking preventative work, says NAO report
The increasing backlog in road maintenance work is hindering local authorities in undertaking preventative work that could deliver better value for money, according to a National Audit Office report. The report, The condition and maintenance of local roads in England*, said that: “Despite their importance, the condition of local roads is declining and the backlog to […]
Coalition welcomes NAO report that says government must work with local authorities to achieve net zero
A coalition of local government, environmental and research organisations has welcomed National Audit Office (NAO) support for increased resourcing to empower local authorities to scale up and coordinate their actions. The NAO report Local government and net zero in England recognises the critical importance of local authorities in achieving net zero and their need for […]
