Agenda

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.

Motion 06/2023

Motion 06/2023 was moved by Councillor Smith and seconded by Councillor C Eberle respectively, as follows:

This Council recognises that it has some way to go in achieving its published values, particularly in terms of inclusivity, engaging with residents, and involving residents in important policy decisions. Council requests the Executive to report at a future meeting on efforts to enhance resident engagement, including practical measures aimed at improving working arrangements so as to give residents a stronger, genuine voice in the Council’s business.

On being put to the vote the motion was carried.

Motion 07/2023 was moved by Councillor Barnard and seconded by Councillor McLean respectively, as follows:

The Council continues to recognise and promote the vital importance of good emotional health and well-being for our residents, particularly but not exclusively for younger people, and commits to working with partner organisations and local communities to further improve awareness of advice, support and opportunities available to all to support this aim.

Furthermore, the council will work to ensure that promoting positive emotional well-being and mental health will underpin the objectives of the new Council Plan.

An amendment was made to the motion by Councillor Barnard, and seconded by Councillor McLean, therefore the motion would read as follows:

The Council continues to recognise and promote the vital importance of good emotional health and well-being for our residents, particularly but not exclusively for younger people, and commits to working with partner organisations and local communities to further improve awareness of advice, support and opportunities available to all to support this aim.

Furthermore, the council will work to ensure that promoting positive emotional well-being and mental health will be an essential objective of the new Council Plan.

On being put to the vote the motion was carried.