Decision details

The Council voted (6 voting in favour, 16 voting against, 2 abstaining from voting) on an amendment submitted by Councillor Heather Williams, which was defeated.

Councillors In Favour: Dr Shrobona Bhattacharya, Tom Bygott, Sue Ellington, Daniel Lentell, Dr Richard Williams, Heather Williams

Councillors Against: John Batchelor, Paul Bearpark, Anna Bradnam, Dr Martin Cahn, Stephen Drew, Peter Fane, Sunita Hansraj, Helene Leeming, Brian Milnes, Dr Lisa Redrup, Judith Rippeth, James Rixon, Peter Sandford, Dr Susan van de Ven, Natalie Warren-Green, John Williams

Councillors Abstaining: Ariel Cahn, Libby Earle

The Council (unanimously, with 2 abstaining from voting) agreed the following motion:

“Council notes:

-          This council declared an Ecological Emergency in July 2019 and further declared a Climate Emergency in November 2019.

-          This Council has previously committed to a target of halving emissions across the district by 2030 (compared to a 2018 baseline) and to achieving net-zero by 2050, including delivering a reduction in our own carbon footprint of at least 45% by 2025, and at least 75% by 2030.

Council believes:

-          Whilst this Council rightfully has a role to play in combating the climate and ecological emergency, it is the responsibility of Government to establish more rigorous support and frameworks to help transition communities towards a zero-carbon future.

-          The current framework to ensure the United Kingdom fulfils its obligations under the Paris Climate Accords is not robust enough and will result in the UK failing to meet its objectives if not strengthened.

Council further notes:

-          There have been various attempts at passing a ‘Climate and Nature’ private member’s bill through parliament since 2020. This bill would amongst other things:

o   require the government to develop and carry out a strategy to achieve various climate and nature targets for the United Kingdom (in line with the UK’s obligations under the Paris Agreement with the goal of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5°C and of reversing the decline in nature); and

o   establish a climate and nature citizens assembly to advise the government on the creation of that strategy.

-          The most successful of these bills, as introduced by the Lib Dem peer, Lord Redesdale, passed all stages in the House of Lords but failed to complete its second reading in the House of Commons.

-          These bills have received cross-party support within Parliament but have failed to pass into law due to a lack of parliamentary time being allocated to them.

-          Liberal Democrat MP, Dr Ros Savage, has re-introduced the Climate and Nature Bill into the House of Commons following the General Election. The bill received its first reading on the 16th October 2024 and is scheduled to receive its second reading on the 24th January 2025.

Council resolves to:

-          Endorse the Climate and Nature Bill, encouraging the Council to communicate this resolution to residents, media and others, as well as to inform the Zero Hour Campaign of our support.

-          Direct the Leader of the Council to write to the three MP’s covering the district, expressing our support for their stated position in favour of the bill and to further encourage them to push for this bill to be passed.

-          Direct the Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the House of Commons and the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, as well as other party leaders as she sees fit, asking them to publicly commit their parties to supporting this bill should they not already do so, highlighting the existing cross-party support for this bill and encouraging them to do that which they can in order to ensure this bill receives adequate parliamentary time within this parliamentary session.”