Climate Change Strategy

SRBC Notice of motion July 2019

(The Notice of Motion is an exert from the Agenda and Minutes of Council meeting, 24th July 2019 - all full copy of the agenda and minutes is available at https://southribble.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=134&MId=1471&Ver=4 )

Notice of Motion

Notice of the following motion has been submitted in accordance with standing order number 10(2). The motion is proposed by Councillor Ken Jones and seconded by Councillor Matthew Trafford.

"This Council declares that the effect of climate change within the borough poses an immediate danger to the health and well-being of our residents and therefore proclaims a Climate Emergency with immediate effect.

To combat this threat, the borough sets a goal of rendering the borough carbon neutral by the year 2030. For avoidance of doubt, this goal means the borough shall produce no net carbon emissions by this date, taking into account of actions that have the effect of removing carbon from the environment.

In order to implement this decision, the borough shall create a Standing Working Group on the Climate Emergency. The Group shall be made up of the following:

• Cabinet Member responsible for the Environment (in the Chair);
• Chairs of each Neighbourhood Forum;
• Representatives of each political group represented on the council (2 Labour Members (including Air Quality Lead), 1 Liberal Democrat Member. 2 Conservative Members);
• Air Quality Lead;
• Such other Members, including co-opted members, as the working group shall consider appropriate.

The Standing Working Group on the Climate Emergency shall:

• Incorporate the Council's existing Air Quality Action Plan into its wider plans;
• Devise and propose further measures in pursuit of its goals;
• Monitor progress towards its goals;
• Report back to full Council at least four times per year on its progress in achieving its goals.

The standing Working Group on Climate Emergency shall be resourced through the Council's annual budgets going forward."

Minutes

The motion was moved by Councillor Ken Jones, seconded by Councillor Matthew Trafford. Councillor Jones delivered a presentation on the effect that climate change was having on the world.

The Motion stated:

"Climate Emergency

This Council declares that the effect of climate change within the borough poses an immediate danger to the health and well-being of our residents and therefore proclaims a Climate Emergency with immediate effect.

To combat this threat, the borough sets a goal of rendering the borough carbon neutral by the year 2030. For avoidance of doubt, this goal means the borough shall produce no net carbon emissions by this date, taking into account of actions that have the effect of removing carbon from the environment.

In order to implement this decision, the borough shall create a Standing Working Group on the Climate Emergency.

In order to implement this decision, the borough shall create a Standing Working Group on the Climate Emergency. The Group shall be made up of the following:

• Cabinet Member responsible for the Environment (in the Chair);
• Chairs of each Neighbourhood Forum;
• Representatives of each political group represented on the council (2 Labour Members (including Air Quality Lead), 1 Liberal Democrat Member. 2 Conservative Members);
• Air Quality Lead;
• Such other Members, including co-opted members, as the working group shall consider appropriate.

The Standing Working Group on the Climate Emergency shall:

• Incorporate the Council's existing Air Quality Action Plan into its wider plans;
• Devise and propose further measures in pursuit of its goals;
• Monitor progress towards its goals;
• Report back to full Council at least four times per year on its progress in achieving its goals.

The standing Working Group on Climate Emergency shall be resourced through the Council's annual budgets going forward."

The motion was debated across the Chamber, with Councillors, David Howarth, Keith Martin, Paul Foster, Mick Titherington, Matthew Tomlinson and Matthew Trafford speaking in favour.

Although an ambitious target, Members felt that they owed it to the residents to look into this issue as a matter of urgency and held a strong belief that they could bring about change.

An amendment to the motion was proposed by Councillor Caroline Moon, and seconded by Councillor Michael Green. Along with some minor changes to wording and a reduction in the membership of the Standing Working Group, the amendment sought to extend the goal of rending the bough carbon neutral to 2050 in line with central government targets.

Whilst being in support of the motion and the Council's ambition to take a lead, Councillor Alan Ogilvie spoke in support of the amendment, as he felt the 2030 target was to ambitious and over promised on what could realistically be achieved by this authority. Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was LOST (Yes: 16, Abstention: 1, No: 26) The vote on the substantive motion was then taken and was subsequently RESOLVED (Yes: 30, Abstention: 13, No: 0).

The motion was CARRIED.