23/05/2014
Headlines Labour to stick with NPPF Labour will retain the National Planning Policy Framework as it says the country needs certainty, although it may change around the edges; this is a significant change as they had previously said they would get rid of it. It has also said, despite being ‘very strongly committed to the green belt’, that it could not promise to intervene to save green belt from development as this was a decision for local communities to take.
Water Act 2014 received royal asset on 14 May The Act includes provisions on water abstraction, environmental permitting and reducing the bureaucracy relating to the governance of Internal Drainage Boards.
Farming 95% of ASDA’s fresh produce supply chain will feel the impacts of climate change ASDA is working with suppliers to introduce better water management practices that will make the supply chain more robust, but says there is still more to do to invest in sustainable solutions and practices.
Nitrogen on the Table: a special report from the European Nitrogen Assessment This fascinating report looks at the effect of food choices on nitrogen emissions: 1. Despite the relatively high nitrogen use efficiency of European agriculture, it is responsible for around 80% of reactive nitrogen emissions in the EU; 79-88% of these emissions are from livestock production 2. Livestock products have much higher nitrogen losses (3.5 - 25 times) than plant products, such as cereals 3. The average nitrogen footprint of European diets differs by a factor of 2 – 4 times between EU countries. Countries, such as Bulgaria and Slovakia, have a low intake of animal products compared with others which have a high intake, such as Denmark 4. If diets were altered to a lower protein intake (and average protein intake in the EU is about 70% higher than required by World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations), nitrogen losses from agriculture would be reduced 5. Reducing livestock product consumption by 50% would cut EU nitrogen emissions by around 40%, ammonia emissions by 29-43%, nitrous oxide by 24-30% and nitrate emissions by 28-26%, and the EU’s reliance on imported soybeans, as animal feed, would fall by 75% 6. Such a change would have public health benefits and lead to major changes in agriculture, with large socio-economic consequences.
Managing waste on land: guidance for land managers This Environment Agency guide covers moving and using different types of waste, and has detailed information about legal responsibilities, documentation and exemptions from environmental permitting.
Downward pressure expected on feed grain prices The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) first forecasts of cereals and oilseeds supply and demand for the year to end-June 2015 indicate the potential for the highest-ever global maize and soybean crops in the season ahead, mainly due to record crops in the US, which could mean downward pressure on grain and oilseed prices.
Property Issues Letting agents to be compelled to publish fees The Government is proposing that letting agents publish details of all fees (not just compulsory fees as at present) they charge to prevent rogue agents making hidden charges.
Environment Agency chairman floats idea of floating houses Lord Smith suggested building floating houses as it would be “impractical” to impose a ban on building on flood plains.
Promoting economic growth locally - Public Accounts Committee report, May 2014 The PAC has accused the programme that the Government set up following the abolition of Regional Development Agencies, which includes Local Enterprise Partnerships, the Regional Growth Fund, Enterprise Zones, the Growing Places Fund and City Deals, of lacking clarity and progress in creating jobs. Most of the money allocated to the programme has not been fully spent. Next year, the Local Growth Fund will replace much of the above. 1