Agenda

Motion 03/2023

Motion 03/2023 was moved and seconded by Councillor Virgo and Barnard respectively as follows:

Bracknell Forest Council recognises that many residents are extremely concerned about sewage discharges, specifically those flowing from Thames Water facility works in our Borough, into streams and water courses. These concerns have been amplified by the recent news over financial problems at Thames Water. The Council commits to work to examine and support the tightening of regulations, through the work of the Executive and Overview and Scrutiny, to help end this harmful process, that is destroying both the environment and our wildlife.

An amendment to the motion was proposed and seconded by Councillors M Forster and C Eberle respectively as follows:

Bracknell Forest Council recognises that many residents are extremely concerned about sewage discharges, specifically those flowing from Thames Water facility works in our Borough, into streams and water courses. These concerns have been amplified by the recent news over financial problems at Thames Water. Furthermore, the Council commits to work with other Local Authorities across the Thames Valley to challenge the failures of Thames Water to collectively minimise the environmental damage we are all facing.

Councillors Virgo and Barnard did not accept the proposed amendment and therefore the amendment was put to the vote.

On being put to the vote the amendment was carried and became the new substantive motion.

An amendment to the new substantive motion was proposed and seconded by Councillors Temperton and Virgo respectively as follows:

·   To add “the Council recommends that Overview and Scrutiny commits to work with other Local Authorities across the Thames Valley”

Councillors M Forster and C Eberle accepted the proposed amendment, and the substantive motion became:

Bracknell Forest Council recognises that many residents are extremely concerned about sewage discharges, specifically those flowing from Thames Water facility works in our Borough, into streams and water courses. These concerns have been amplified by the recent news over financial problems at Thames Water. Furthermore, the Council recommends that Overview and Scrutiny commits to work with other Local Authorities across the Thames Valley to challenge the failures of Thames Water to collectively minimise the environmental damage we are all facing.

On being put to the vote the new substantive motion was carried

Motion 04/2023

Motion 04/2023 was moved and seconded by Councillor Harrison and Hayes MBE respectively as follows:

That the Council:

1. Commends the progress made by Bracknell Forest Council's Public Protection Partnership officers in detecting and prosecuting environmental crime such as fly tipping.

2. Reaffirms its commitment to deterring and detecting fly tipping in the Borough by expanding the use of CCTV cameras in identified fly tipping hotspots.

3. The Council notes the revenue and capital budget underspends achieved in the 2022/23 financial year and invites the Executive to approve spending on further CCTV units and signage to protect further areas identified as vulnerable to illegal dumping of household or trade waste.

An amendment to the motion was proposed and seconded by Councillors Jefferies and Purnell respectively as follows:

That the Council:

• Commends the progress made by Bracknell Forest Council's Public Protection Partnership officers in detecting and prosecuting environmental crime such as fly tipping.

·      Reaffirms its commitment to deterring and detecting fly tipping in the borough with the use of signage, CCTV cameras, both mobile and fixed. To follow through on the prosecution of offenders and publication of their names.

·      Encourages residents to report in on flytipping so more prosecutions can be intelligence lead.

Councillors Harrison and Hayes MBE did not accept the proposed amendment and therefore the amendment was put to the vote.

On being put to the vote the amendment was carried and became the new substantive motion.

An amendment to the new substantive motion was proposed and seconded by Councillors Smith and Barnard respectively as follows:

That point number four be added to the motion as follows:

4. That the Council commits to review of the most effective use of the funds available due to any budget underspend in 2023/24, with specific consideration of whether additional CCTV cameras to tackle fly tipping represents value for money for residents.

Councillors Jefferies and Purnell accepted the proposed amendment, and the substantive motion became:

That the Council:

1. Commends the progress made by Bracknell Forest Council's Public Protection Partnership officers in detecting and prosecuting environmental crime such as fly tipping.

2. Reaffirms its commitment to deterring and detecting fly tipping in the borough with the use of signage, CCTV cameras, both mobile and fixed. To follow through on the prosecution of offenders and publication of their names.
3. Encourages residents to report in on flytipping so more prosecutions can be intelligence lead.

4. Commits to review of the most effective use of the funds available due to any budget underspend in 2023/24, with specific consideration of whether additional CCTV cameras to tackle fly tipping represents value for money for residents.

On being put to the vote the new substantive motion was carried.

Motion 05/2023

Motion 05/2023 was moved by Councillor Temperton and seconded by Councillor Haffegee respectively, as follows:

This Council declares a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency

To that end, this Council invites the Executive to;

1. Resolve to review, broaden and accelerate its Climate Change Strategy, and to commit to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions as close to 2030 as possible.

2. Co-produce with the community a Community Climate Emergency Strategy, with the aim of making the wider Bracknell Forest area net-zero as close to 2030 as possible.

3. Explore the feasibility of raising a Bracknell Forest Local Climate Bond to support decarbonisation projects throughout the Borough.

4. Revise the Biodiversity Action Plan to include audits of the State of Nature in the Borough and to highlight local biodiversity threats due to the Climate Change. Reports of these will be presented annually. Any expected ecological impacts will also be added to Executive and Council reports.

An addition was made to the motion by Councillor Temperton, and seconded by Councillor Haffegee, therefore the motion would read as follows:

This Council declares a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency.

To that end, this Council invites the Executive to;

1. Resolve to review, broaden and accelerate its Climate Change Strategy, and to commit to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions as close to 2030 as possible.

2. Co-produce with the community a Community Climate Emergency Strategy, with the aim of making the wider Bracknell Forest area net-zero as close to 2030 as possible.

3. Both the strategies should be done so in a financially transparent way to demonstrate accountability, affordability and economic benefits, with clear interim, smart targets.

4. Explore the feasibility of raising a Bracknell Forest Local Climate Bond to support decarbonisation projects throughout the Borough.

5. Revise the Biodiversity Action Plan to include audits of the State of Nature in the Borough and to highlight local biodiversity threats due to the Climate Change. Reports of these will be presented annually. Any expected ecological impacts will also be added to Executive and Council reports.

A recorded vote was called by Councillor M Forster on the motion and the voting was as follows:

FOR (34): Councillors Allen, Bailey, Barnard, Bidwell, Brown, Cochrane, Collings, C Eberle, T Eberle, Ejaz, M Forster, S Forster, Frewer, Frost, Gillbe, Haffegee, Hayes, Jefferies, Karim, McLean, Neil, O’Regan, Penfold, Purnell, Smith, Temperton, C Thompson, P Thompson, Virgo, Watts, Webb, Welch, Wright, Zahuruddin

AGAINST (0): None

ABSTAIN: (0): None

The motion was carried.