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Agenda item

Notice of Motion - Declaring a Climate Change Emergency

Councillor Cody will propose and Councillor Softley will second:

 

Humans have already caused devastating climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels.  Atmospheric C02 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm).  This far exceeds the 350ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;

 

In order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as species reduce our C02eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible;

 

Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own.  Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm;

 

Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;

 

Tewkesbury Borough Council has already addressed the problem of single use plastics and has shown a strong commitment to recycling and sustainable transport but more needs to be done.

 

In Gloucestershire the consequences of no action include:

 

·         Increased risk of flash flooding and the resulting damage to buildings, crops, farmland and infrastructure as a result of more extreme rainfall events.

·         Health problems due to increased heat stress particularly for vulnerable adults and children.

·         Increased costs associated with changes to crops and biodiversity.

·         Higher energy costs.

·         Crop failures associated with extreme heat, such as was experienced in 2018.

The County Council has already recognised more needs to be done and has created an additional cabinet role with responsibility for overseeing the authority’s approach to prevention of, mitigation of, and adaptation of climate change.

 

The government believes that a shift to a very low carbon energy future represents the best course for the country’s economic development while lowering the risk of fuel poverty and reducing air pollution.

 

In view of the above the Council is asked to:

 

·         declare a “Climate Emergency”.

·         commit to doing all in its power to make Tewkesbury Borough Council carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions.

·         set up a Working Group consisting of seven Members of the Council (to be nominated at this evening’s meeting) to prepare a long-term plan to achieve this, together with any initial budgetary requirements, to be reported back to the Executive Committee in October.

·         call upon central government to provide additional powers and resources to support local and national action towards the 2030 target.

·         commit to working with partners in Gloucestershire to achieve Countywide carbon neutrality aims.

Minutes:

31.1           The Worshipful the Mayor referred to the Notice of Motion set out on the Agenda and indicated that, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, it was necessary for the Council firstly to decide whether it wished to debate and determine the Motion at this evening’s meeting, or whether it wished to refer the Motion, without debate, to a Committee for consideration with authority either to make a decision on the matter or to bring a recommendation back to Council. Upon being put to the vote it was agreed that the Motion would be deferred.

31.2           A Member suggested that the motion be discussed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. He explained that climate change was at the forefront of everyone’s minds so it was appropriate to discuss it properly at Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider where the Council was and where it wanted to be. The Council was committed to a sustainable existence with garden communities being the epitome of sustainable living which he felt demonstrated that commitment. During the discussion which ensued, a number of Members suggested that, if the motion was deferred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, a special meeting should be called as a matter of urgency given the topic of motion and its importance. There was disappointment expressed by some that the decision was being put off to another meeting when it could easily have been considered at the current meeting. Tewkesbury Borough Council was already the last district in the County to have signed up to the motion and now it was still not confirming the importance of tackling climate change; it was felt that residents wanted to see action rather than more words. The Borough Solicitor confirmed that a special meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee could be called to consider the motion and that the Council would need to agree whether the Overview and Scrutiny Committee could decide upon he matter or whether it should make a recommendation back to Council.

31.3           A Member suggested that the motion should have input from the relevant Lead Members and deferring it to a Committee would offer that opportunity. The Council had a long tradition of working cooperatively and he would like that to continue. The proposer of the motion was disappointed that the Council had decided not to consider the motion at the current meeting. She was of the view that the country was in the middle of a climate change emergency and she was unsure why Members could not see that putting the decision off was not appropriate. Tewkesbury Borough was the only Council in the county not to have considered this motion which aimed to try and ensure a decent future for all; Stroud District Council was already carbon neutral and she felt Tewkesbury Borough should be following that lead. With 168 Councils already taking action it was no longer time to think but instead time to act and she was ashamed that Tewkesbury Borough was not being part of that movement. Other Members agreed with this view and felt the Council ought to be taking action as a matter of urgency rather than putting the matter off to an unspecified time.

31.4           A Member questioned whether the proposer of the motion could attend the Overview and Scrutiny Committee which considered it and, in response, the Borough Solicitor confirmed that, in accordance with the Council’s rules, she could attend and speak but would not be able to vote. It was proposed and seconded that the motion be deferred to Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration at the earliest opportunity - preferably within two weeks - and that a recommendation be made back to Council.

31.5           Upon being put to the vote, it was

                  RESOLVED          That, at the earliest opportunity, the motion be REFERRED TO                         OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE for consideration                                and recommendation back to Council.