Issue - meetings

To consider the report and recommendations of the Place and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 14 September 2023, with regard to the motion seeking the Council’s support for the proposed Climate and Ecology Bill.

Cllr Rippon-Swaine introduced the report of the Place and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Panel of 14 September 2023, and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  In doing so, he highlighted that the Climate and Ecology Bill was yet to receive a second reading in parliament and the Panel sought further information on the financial implications of the Bill.  It was recommended that, at the appropriate time, a Task and Finish Group be established to monitor the Bill’s progress through parliament and to understand those wider implications.  Cllr Reid seconded the motion.

Cllr M Wade moved an amendment, to include the following addition to the proposed resolution:-

“That the Council write to MPs Sir Julian Lewis and Sir Desmond Swayne to inform them that the motion has been passed, urging them to sign up to support the Bill, or thanking them for already doing so; and

That the Council write to Zero Hour, the organisers of the cross-party campaign for the Bill, expressing its support.”

In moving the amendment, Cllr M Wade spoke of the importance of taking action in addition to declaring support in principle.  He highlighted the growing concern of extreme climate incidents in the UK and the need to act swiftly.  Cllr Clark, seconded the amendment.  He spoke of the delays to the Council declaring a Climate and Nature Emergency and the need to show leadership on the issue.

The Council debated the amendment.  Those speaking for highlighted the ease of writing to the local MPs on the issue at this stage and the need to show leadership on the content of the Bill.  Those speaking against highlighted the proposals from the Panel, wishing to take carefully into account the overall implications of the Bill, whilst supporting it in principle, and this did not take away from the Council’s ongoing response to the Climate and Nature Emergency through its Climate and Nature Action Plan.  Concerns were raised that climate initiatives needed to be very carefully considered, particularly those that might place additional financial burdens on the community.

Put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

The Council then voted on the substantive motion of the report, which was carried.

RESOLVED:

(a)   That the Council support the proposed Climate and Ecology Bill in principle; and

(b)   That a Task and Finish Group be created to monitor the progress of the Climate and Ecology Bill through Parliament and explore the detail of the Bill.