§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have issued any advice to local authorities regarding annual "Spring clean" or "Tidy up" days. [HL2496]
§ Lord WhittyWhereas a single day or weekend campaign can be effective in raising awareness we are convinced that more sustained campaigns are more effective. The 100 days campaign by Manchester City Council has been a great success and has mobilised the community. The Government provide advice to local authorities on how they can best discharge their statutory duties with regard to the management of the local environment.
Defra funds ENCAMS (formerly the Tidy Britain Group) who work closely with local authorities on these issues. ENCAMS run a variety of training and best practice programmes, including their People and Places Programme, which is a unique partnership offering local authorities and other major land owners advice and support on effective action to be taken to solve many of the problems that blight our open spaces. In 2001, Defra allocated £1 million to local authorities through ENCAMS for the LEQ Pathfinder Programme, to find new and better ways of reaching the diverse needs of local people in a number of places through 10 key areas, one being active citizenship.
Following the Defra consultation, Living Places—Powers, Rights, Responsibilities, Defra launched a website through the Improvement and Development Agency (IdeA) which acts as a strategic document for local authorities to serve as a guide to current legislation, available guidance and good practice concerning the whole raft of local environmental issues.