Speeches by Reader.

“If the changes do not happen, will the Government hit their target?”

“It is not in this term of Parliament.”

“Yes, it would need primary legislation, so we are not talking about an overnight thing. It may take a couple of years.”

“You say there must be change in the law. Is that a quick process or is that something that must go through a lengthy process?”

“I can speak for an area that has gone through reorganisation. It took two or three years for the council to re-establish after it was bankrupted in 2021. Could that cause a bit of a delay in certain areas where we have reorganisation?”

“Is that a lengthy process?”

“Would a new unitary have to create a local area energy plan?”

“Just help me here. Let’s say an area is on the pilot scheme for devolution. Hampshire is one, isn’t it? Hampshire and the Solent, or whatever it is called. I sat on the devolution Bill, and you would not believe how long we discussed whether the area is Hampshire and the Solent or Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. They …”

“I am just going to jump in. Robbie, you mentioned local plans there. I want to focus specifically on the layering of plans here in planning. We have local government reorganisation, which will happen in the next few years, which I understand means that local plans will have to be redone within the new unitary council b…”

“I am just trying to understand. Do you have any projects that will be generating in your plan?”

“Eleanor, did you say your project is not currently generating? When did you start working on the project? It says here that you started working with communities in 2020. Is that the project you are talking about?”

“A quick question because I am over time. The Reform Party now runs my council. It has banned the use of net zero. It has banned council focus on stuff like clean energy. Is that a significant risk to the Government’s plan if we see more councils go to a political party that does not believe in community energy?”

“I am conscious of the time for my slot. Do any of you have any recommendation as to how that skills gap could be closed, particularly given there is a definite target from the Government on clean power by 2030, so we need it now. Emily, do you have any recommendations on how we can close that skills gap?”

“Eleanor, you are part of a national team with the Carbon Co-op doing this sort of thing. What do you think are the biggest challenges that people face in terms of the planning process to deliver community energy projects?”

“Do you do anything like that at a local level in North London?”

“We have heard that there are many groups looking to do community energy and it is a big part of Clean Power 2030. Does that network of knowledge sharing already exist? Given that we are only a few years away from needing to meet the clean power target, why do you think that people are still scrambling around to underst…”

“Can you give us an example of how the new NPPF does that?”

“Tanuja, we have heard evidence that community energy projects certainly do give benefits back to the community, but equally we have heard that commercial developments can do the same. Is it not a level playing field already, or do you think Emily is right that it is not fair for community energy projects within the pla…”

“Good afternoon, all three of you. I am going to ask questions around planning. We have already had some evidence sessions and have heard that there are some challenges in the process. I would like your views on the NPPF, and whether it hinders or facilitates the planning application process. I am going to start with yo…”

“If the changes do not happen, will the Government hit their target?”