MPA and BAA call for new community funds

Trade associations propose introduction of new funds to benefit local communities and biodiversity

THE Mineral Products Association has called for reintroduction of an Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) as a lower cost, more community and biodiversity-focused initiative.

While the aggregates and related sectors generally have high standards of operations and constructive relationships with local communities, the MPA thinks it reasonable that local communities should see some direct benefits locally from the taxation of industry businesses.

Although DEFRA has indicated that it will not support such a proposal, claiming that the costs of setting up and operating such a scheme would outweigh the potential benefits, the MPA has suggested that the benefits of an ALSF2 could be delivered without the administrative and operating costs which DEFRA assumes would be necessary and that discussions should continue.

The British Aggregates Association, which has welcomed the MPA’s support for locally administered community funds as an alternative to the Aggregates Levy, has itself proposed a base figure of 10p per tonne across the board which it says would provide an annual £20 million for an Aggregates Community Fund (ACF).