Agenda item

To receive an update on the initial Climate Emergency Action Plan.

RECOMMENDATION:  That Council approves the Climate Emergency Action Plan. Endorsing the assessment of Wokingham Borough’s carbon footprint and the initial actions proposed for Wokingham Borough Council to play a full a role as possible in achieving a zero carbon Wokingham Borough by 2030. 

The Council considered a report, set out at Agenda pages 121 to 172, which gave details of the initial Climate Emergency Action Plan.

The report stated that the Action Plan had been developed following the Council’s declaration of a Climate Emergency at its meeting on 18 July 2019. The declaration set out the Council’s commitment to play as full a role as possible in achieving a carbon-neutral Borough by 2030.

The initial Action Plan identified eight priority areas, as follows:

·                Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions from transport;

·                Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions from domestic and business property – the Green Bank Project;

·                Generate more renewable energy in the Borough;

·                Create a Local Plan that Specifies Net Zero construction and Infrastructure;

·                Increase the Levels of Carbon Sequestration in the Borough through greening the environment;

·                Engage with young people and support sustainable schools;

·                Reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill;

·                Encourage behaviour change.

The report stated that the Council would be committing £50m over the next three years (subject to Budget approval) to implement the actions in the Action Plan. A progress report with a costed Action Plan with carbon emissions data would be submitted to the Council in July 2020 and annually thereafter.

It was proposed by Gregor Murray and seconded by Laura Blumenthal that the recommendation in the report be approved, subject to the recommendation being amended to read:

That the Council approves the initial Climate Emergency Action Plan, endorsing the assessment of Wokingham Borough’s carbon footprint and the initial actions proposed for Wokingham Borough Council to play as full a role as possible in achieving a zero carbon Wokingham Borough by 2030.

The proposed amendment reflected the fact that a Climate Emergency Progress Report would be submitted to the Council in July 2020 (and annually thereafter). The progress report would include a fully costed Action Plan with carbon saving quotas against individual projects.

On being put to the Vote, the Mayor confirmed that the proposed amendment was approved.

It was proposed by Gregor Murray and seconded by Laura Blumenthal that the recommendation in the report, as amended, be approved.

Prior to the vote being held, six Members, in accordance with Rule of Procedure 4.2.15.5, requested that a recorded vote be taken on the proposed recommendation.

The voting was as follows:

RESOLVED That the Council approves the initial Climate Emergency Action Plan, endorsing the assessment of Wokingham Borough’s carbon footprint and the initial actions proposed for Wokingham Borough Council to play as full a role as possible in achieving a zero carbon Wokingham Borough by 2030.