Agenda item

Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) believes the world is now in a climate emergency.  More concerted and urgent action is needed at local, national and international level to protect our planet for future generations.  As such, this Council commits to playing as full a role as possible – leading by example as well as by exhortation – in achieving a carbon neutral Wokingham Borough by 2030 and report within six months as to what actions are required.

The Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by John Halsall and seconded by Gregor Murray.

‘Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) believes the world is now in a climate emergency.  More concerted and urgent action is needed at local, national and international level to protect our planet for future generations.  As such, this Council commits to playing as full a role as possible – leading by example as well as by exhortation – in achieving a carbon neutral Wokingham Borough by 2030 and report within six months as to what actions are required.’

It was moved by Carl Doran and seconded by Clive Jones that the Motion be amended as follows:

‘Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) believes the world is now in a climate emergency.  More concerted and urgent action is needed at local, national and international level to protect our planet for future generations.  As such, this Council commits to playing as full a role as possible – leading by example as well as by exhortation – in achieving a carbon neutral Wokingham Borough by 2030, and report back within six months as to what actions are required.

The Executive Member for Climate Change will set up a cross-party working group on the climate crisis to investigate and propose further recommendations to help achieve a carbon neutral Borough, reporting back within six months.

The working group will invite, consult and involve as wide a participation from our local community as possible, in order to create a broad consensus of how we contribute to the fight against the climate crisis.’

Carl Doran commented that whilst he welcomed the commitment to declaring a climate emergency he had felt that the original Motion did not go far enough.  Actions that would be taken to address the climate emergency needed to be agreed and residents engaged in and supportive of this process.  He hoped that the Working Group would be able to make representations to Government to urge them to take on board recommendations and give the additional powers and funding to ensure that the Council was carbon neutral by 2030.

Clive Jones suggested that the Working Group also work on Wokingham Council’s ethical framework to ensure that all the Council’s suppliers were committed to a carbon neutral future.

The amendment to the Motion was accepted by the proposer of the original Motion and therefore became the substantive Motion

A number of Members emphasised the importance of the Council acting to address the climate emergency and to work in the interests of future generations.  Stephen Conway referred to initiatives in Twyford.  Angus Ross questioned whether consideration could be given to putting solar panels on the Shute End building and also asked that a Tree Strategy be developed.  Rachel Burgess commented that small actions were not unimportant but big action such as removing support for a third runway at Heathrow, was vital.  Paul Fishwick stated that whilst 2030 was ambitious to become carbon neutral, the Council could not sit around any longer.  Pauline Jorgensen asked that when the Council considered the carbon impact of things that it might do, that it also look at the pollution impact of some of the alternatives.  Sarah Kerr suggested that the Council offer free trial periods in vacant shop units to eco-friendly businesses.  She also suggested that all reports regarding policies make reference to the impact of these policies on the environment.

The Motion was put to the vote and was declared by the Mayor to be carried.

RESOLVED:  That Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) believes the world is now in a climate emergency.  More concerted and urgent action is needed at local, national and international level to protect our planet for future generations.  As such, this Council commits to playing as full a role as possible – leading by example as well as by exhortation – in achieving a carbon neutral Wokingham Borough by 2030.

The Executive Member for Climate Change will set up a cross-party working group on the climate crisis to investigate and propose further recommendations to help achieve a carbon neutral Borough, reporting back within six months.

The working group will invite, consult and involve as wide a participation from our local community as possible, in order to create a broad consensus of how we contribute to the fight against the climate crisis.