Localism Act 2011

225 The London Environment Strategy

(1) Before section 352 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 insert—

“The Mayor’s Environment Strategy for London

351A The London Environment Strategy

(1) The Mayor shall prepare and publish a document to be known as the “London Environment Strategy” (“the Strategy”).

(2) The Strategy must contain a general assessment by the Mayor of the environment in Greater London, so far as relevant to the functions of the Authority or of the Mayor.

(3) The Strategy must contain provisions dealing with the Mayor’s policies and proposals in relation to each of the following matters in relation to Greater London—

(a) biodiversity;

(b) municipal waste management;

(c) climate change mitigation and energy;

(d) adaptation to climate change;

(e) air quality; and

(f) ambient noise.

(4) The provisions of the Strategy dealing with a matter specified in a paragraph of subsection (2) must also contain anything required to be included in them by any other provision of this Act.

(5) The Strategy may also include provisions dealing with the Mayor’s policies and proposals in relation to any other matter relating to the environment in Greater London.

(6) In preparing or revising the provisions of the Strategy dealing with a matter mentioned in subsection (3), the Mayor’s duty under section 42(1)(e) applies as if it were a duty to consult any person or body whom the Mayor considers it appropriate to consult in relation to those provisions (and section 42(2) applies accordingly).

(7) Where the Strategy is revised, the Mayor must publish it as revised.

(8) In this Act references to the London Environment Strategy include, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to the Strategy as revised.

351B Guidance

(1) The Secretary of State may give to the Mayor guidance—

(a) about the content of the London Environment Strategy;

(b) in relation to the preparation or revision of that Strategy.

(2) The guidance that may be given under subsection (1)(a) includes guidance as to matters which the Secretary of State considers the Mayor should, or should not, consider dealing with by formulating policies and proposals under section 351A(5).

(3) The guidance that may be given under subsection (1)(b) includes—

(a) guidance specifying or describing the bodies or persons whom the Secretary of State considers the Mayor should consult in preparing or revising the London Environment Strategy or, as the case may be, the provisions dealing with a matter specified in the guidance;

(b) guidance as to the evidence of environmental change or its consequences, or the predictions of environmental change or its consequences, to which the Secretary of State considers the Mayor should have regard in preparing or revising that Strategy or, as the case may be, the provisions dealing with a matter specified in the guidance.

(4) In preparing or revising the London Environment Strategy the Mayor must have regard to any relevant guidance given under this section.

351C Directions as to the content of the London Environment Strategy

(1) Where the Secretary of State considers that any of the conditions specified in subsection (2) is satisfied in relation to any provisions of the London Environment Strategy, the Secretary of State may give the Mayor a direction as to the content of those provisions.

(2) The conditions are—

(a) that the provisions are inconsistent with any policies announced by Her Majesty’s government with respect to the matters to which they relate and the inconsistency would have a detrimental effect on achieving any of the objectives of those policies;

(b) that the provisions or their implementation are likely to be detrimental to any area outside Greater London;

(c) that the provisions are inconsistent with any EU obligation of the United Kingdom.

(3) A direction under this section may require the Mayor to make specified revisions of the London Environmental Strategy.

(4) The power of the Secretary of State to give a direction under this section may only be exercised after consultation with the Mayor.

(5) Where the Secretary of State gives a direction under this section, the Mayor must comply with the direction.”

(2) Schedule 23 (which contains minor and consequential amendments to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 relating to the London Environment Strategy) has effect.