Motion 01/2023 moved by Councillor Temperton and seconded by Councillor Brown
“This Council asks the Executive to show their continued commitment to respond to climate change pressures by replacing the words ’ pressing matter’ by the word ‘Emergency’ in the motion passed unanimously in July 2019”
(This Council strongly believes in the need to continue its work to address the impact of man-made Climate Change on our local communities. To this end, this Council asks the Executive to develop detailed action plans with measurable ambitious annual targets and an annual report to address this pressing matter to ensure that the Council meets the government target of eradicating its net contribution to climate change by 2050.)
Motion 02/2023 moved by Councillor Bettison OBE and seconded by Councillor Mrs Hayes MBE
This council, having given the battle against climate change its utmost priority since we first signed the Nottingham Declaration in January 2007, believes that the council's actions and initiatives since then, have put Bracknell Forest in the forefront of local authorities in working towards net zero carbon by the year 2050.
This council further believes that given the term 'climate
emergency' is now the common parlance for central and local
government action towards carbon reduction, this council officially
recognises this term, and will in future use it to describe its
on-going endeavours and projects towards net zero carbon, which
will continue to be reported upon annually.
Minutes:
Motion 01/2023 was moved and seconded by Councillors Temperton and Bettison OBE respectively as follows:
This Council strongly believes in the need to continue its work to address the impact of man- made Climate Change on our local communities. To this end, this Council asks the executive to continue its detailed action plans with measurable ambitious annual targets and an annual report to address the climate emergency to ensure that the Council meets the government target of eradicating its net contribution to climate change by 2050.
Speaking to the motion Councillor Temperton emphasised that the word ‘emergency’ had to be included in the motion because there was an emergency. She hoped that including the word ‘emergency’ in the motion would put urgency into the conversation that would hopefully lead to action. The Met office had confirmed 2022 as the hottest year on record with average annual temperatures passing 10°C for the first time.
Councillor Temperton ran through some statistics to support the rationale for her motion.
Councillor Temperton recognised that the had done a lot to increase its biodiversity and reduce its carbon footprint. She noted that the Council could only do so much. Every business and resident’s commitment was going to be required. Councillor Temperton commended residents for their response to the Council’s food waste recycling campaign.
Councillor Temperton expressed a desire for the Council hold more roadshows to encourage change and to be out in every community.
Councillor Virgo said, in supporting the motion, that Councillors had been working cross party on the Council’s climate change goals. Every portfolio was being examined for its climate change impact. Councillor Virgo agreed there was an emergency and stated that important initiatives were being worked on, and were to be announced in due course, that were to make a huge difference to the Borough.
Councillor Dr Barnard spoke in support of the motion. He mentioned that world communities, business and industry had come together to tackle environmental problems in the past – giving the examples of acid rain and holes in the ozone layer.
Councillor Dr Barnard explained that he was confident that by working together, residents and the Council would be able to affect positive change.
Councillor Turrell expressed his pleasure at the direction the Council was taking. He explained that Bracknell Forest Council had a record of taking opportunities when they arose and that the Climate Change Strategy that the Council had brought into force in 2020 was a very useful means of being able to take those opportunities as quickly as possible.
Councillor Bidwell spoke in favour of the motion. He said that it was important that the strong language that had been recommended in the motion be maintained by all members so that the public were aware of the Council’s commitment to tackle the climate emergency.
Councillor Harrison spoke of the need for action. He highlighted the fact that climate change would happen regardless of what language was used to describe it. Councillor Harrison called for more recycling and for a continued effort to reduce the amount of energy used. He also spoke of the need for emergency planning so that the Council would be better placed to deal with the impact of climate change.
Councillor Bettison OBE, the motion’s seconder, thanked Councillor Temperton for agreeing that the best message to send was via a cross-party motion to show unity. He highlighted the importance of working together. He explained that all of the work that had been done in the war against carbon in the past had been down to the fact people had worked together and, this unity was to be needed in the fight to come.
Councillor Bettison OBE spoke of the need to work with everyone who wanted to work with the Council in the fight against climate change.
Councillor Mrs Hayes MBE thanked Members for realising that Bracknell Forest Council was determined to fight climate change. Working with the residents had been substantially beneficial to the Borough and it was hoped that this benefit would continue to be realised.
Winding up, Councillor Temperton thanked those who had spoken and reiterated that there was a climate emergency and, if all stakeholders were brought together, the Council would achieve net zero carbon.
On being put to a vote the motion was CARRIED.