Efforts to clean up and protect the environment received a boost last month, during the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS)/CIEH Environmental Health Year Ahead conference, when LACORS launched its new environmental protection handbook for councillors. Caring for the environment has always been a fundamental part of a council's and councillors' role – promoting clean surroundings, clean air and clean water. And, combined with increased public awareness and expectations, the protection of our environment remains high on local, national and global agendas. Yet it does not always have a high political profile locally. The handbook, entitled Environmental protection services for sustainable communities, is a joint initiative by LACORS, the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to give councillors in England, and the public, a better understanding of how these services in district and unitaries make a difference for people. It focuses on contributions to key Local Area Agreement themes and councils' corporate priorities – healthier, safer and stronger communities, regeneration and economic vitality, and climate change and sustainability. The handbook also gives councillors some suggested actions to help ensure the service realises maximum benefit in all these areas. Case studies illustrate each theme, providing councillors with practical examples which have benefited local people. For instance, addressing contaminated land and air quality issues – as the London councils overseeing development for the 2012 Olympics are doing – contributes to healthier communities. Safer and stronger communities are supported by action on anti-social behaviour, including noise, such as the neighbourhood management approach of Kirklees MBC. Providing advice to planners and businesses, as all environmental protection services do, promotes regeneration while helping tackle pollution and climate change. The successful clean-up and development of the site of a Second World War explosives factory in Chorley, Lancashire, is just another example. LACORS' chairman, Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, who unveiled the handbook at the conference, said: ‘As local councillors, we all represent residents who experience problems related to anti-social behaviour. ‘It is vital we do this as best we can and maximise positive contributions in our community when addressing environmental challenges, for example, anti-social behaviour or poor air quality. This new handbook helps us do that.' Cllr Theobald is also encouraging councillors to become ‘member champions' for regulatory services – including environmental protection, private sector housing, health and safety, licensing and trading standards – to raise the political profile of these services locally and enhance their contribution to community wellbeing. The local government White Paper further empowers councillors and communities and presents both opportunities and challenges for councils, including regulatory services – something Wendy Martin discussed in ‘The wider role for regulation', (The MJ, 15 February). One of the specific proposals is to allow councils to create byelaws and use fixed-penalty notices (FPNs) without ‘sign-off' from the secretary of state. FPNs are relatively new in environmental health and new powers have been brought in under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act in England. The powers are also soon to be implemented in Wales. With the likelihood of more FPN powers on the horizon, LACORS is working with the LGA to support their effective use. w Severine Trouillet is environmental protection policy officer at LACORS. The electronic version of the environmental protection handbook can be found on LACORS website, www.lacors.gov.uk
