5/20
The Council
considered a report that presented an update on the development of
the draft Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy.
During the debate, the following points were
raised:-
(a)
Assurances were given that all Members
would have the ability to have an input into the Climate Change and
Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan before it was then
re-considered at the Council meeting on 24 September
2020;
(b)
An amendment to the motion was
PROPOSED and SECONDED as
follows:
1.
That the consultees or
their representatives be invited to address the Climate Change and
Biodiversity Working Group by means of a remote meeting within the
next six weeks. The meeting be subject
to a protocol which provides for each address to be no longer than
5 minutes;
2.
That the membership of the
Climate Change and Biodiversity Working Group be increased to eight
Members, with Cllr Rose being nominated by the Opposition Group and
Cllr Brown being nominated by the Conservative
Group.
In discussion on the amendment, the
proposer felt that the additions would be reflective of the
emphasis that the Council was giving to the Emergency that it had
declared. At the invitation of the
Chairman, the proposer and seconder of the original motion both
confirmed that they were willing to accept the amendment and it was
therefore included as part of the substantive motion;
(c)
Since town and parish councils now had
the ability to meet remotely, there was felt to be greater scope to
engage and consult with these stakeholders;
(d)
In emphasising the importance of making
tangible progress, some Members felt that there was a need for the
Action Plan to now commit to dates, costings and the establishment
of SMART targets.
It was then:
RESOLVED
1.
That the progress on the development of
the draft Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy be
noted;
2.
That the feedback from the consultation
on the draft Action Plan exercise undertaken in Quarter 4 of
2019/20 be noted;
3.
That the Climate Change and
Biodiversity Working Group be requested to update the Strategy and
Action Plan in light of the consultation responses and report back
to the Council meeting on 24 September 2020;
4.
That the correlation between the
Council’s Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy and the
Emerging Recovery and Renewal Plans be recognised and that, in
developing and implementing its plans, including working towards a
resilient green and sustainable economy, it will engage with local
businesses, organisations and residents;
5.
That the consultees or their
representatives be invited to address the Climate Change and
Biodiversity Working Group by means of a remote meeting within the
next six weeks. The meeting be subject
to a protocol which provides for each address to be no longer than
5 minutes;
6.
That the membership of the Climate
Change and Biodiversity Working Group be increased to eight
Members, with Cllr Rose being nominated by the Opposition Group and
Cllr Brown being nominated by the Conservative Group.