Given the decision
of the Chairman (Minute 02/19 above refers), a motion was then
PROPOSED and SECONDED as
follows:
‘In light of the declaration of the Climate Emergency by
Teignbridge Council on the 18 April 2019 and by Parliament on 1 May
2019 we request, as an urgent matter, the Council agrees to the
matter of the adoption of Teignbridge Council’s Climate
Emergency Declaration and cooperation with Teignbridge on tackling
Climate Change being referred to the Executive for its
consideration at its next meeting on 6 June 2019 in order that a
recommendation be put to the next meeting of Full
Council.’
In his
introduction, the proposer advised that he was aware from the
latest published version of the Executive Forward Plan that the
Executive was already due to consider a report related to Climate
Change at its next meeting on 6 June 2019. It was therefore the intention of his motion for
specific reference to be included in this report on the ambitious
actions that had been recently approved by Teignbridge District
Council (including a pledge to do what was within their powers to
make the Teignbridge District carbon neutral by 2025).
In the
ensuing debate, the following points were raised:-
(a)
An amendment was PROPOSED and SECONDED to read as
follows:
‘In light of the declaration of the Climate
Emergency by Devon County Council and by Parliament on 1 May 2019
we request, as an urgent matter, the Council agrees to the matter
of the adoption of Devon County Council’s Climate Emergency
Declaration and cooperation with Devon on tackling Climate Change
being referred to the Executive for its consideration at its next
meeting on 6 June 2019 in order that a recommendation be put to the
next meeting of Full Council.’
In citing as an example the ongoing
work on the aligned Devon Waste Strategy, the proposer advised that
the Council was already working closely with Devon County Council
(DCC). Since the Council did not
currently work as closely with Teignbridge District Council (TDC),
it was felt to be more appropriate to co-operate with DCC rather
than Teignbridge District Council.
Another Member highlighted that the TDC
portfolio holder for Climate Change had recently made contact with
the Council pointing out that TDC was keen to work alongside its
neighbouring District Councils and DCC on the actions necessary to
become carbon neutral by 2025. As a
consequence, the Member felt that the amendment was discourteous to
TDC.
When put to the vote, the amendment was
declared CARRIED;
(b)
A further amendment was then PROPOSED and SECONDED to read as
follows:
‘In light of the declaration of the Climate
Emergency by Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council
and by Parliament on 1 May 2019 we request, as an urgent matter,
the Council agrees to the matter of the adoption of Devon County
and Teignbridge District Councils’ Climate Emergency
Declarations and cooperation with Devon and Teignbridge on tackling
Climate Change being referred to the Executive for its
consideration at its next meeting on 6 June 2019 in order that a
recommendation be put to the next meeting of Full
Council.’
By including reference to both DCC and TDC, the
proposer and seconder were of the view that their amendment was
more inclusive and reflective of the views of the majority of
Members and, when put to the vote, this amendment was declared
CARRIED.
It was then:
RESOLVED
That, in light of the
declaration of the Climate Emergency by Devon County Council and
Teignbridge District Council and by Parliament on 1 May 2019, we
request, as an urgent matter, the Council agrees to the matter of
the adoption of Devon County and Teignbridge District
Councils’ Climate Emergency Declarations and cooperation with
Devon and Teignbridge on tackling Climate Change being referred to
the Executive for its consideration at its next meeting on 6 June
2019 in order that a recommendation be put to the next meeting of
Full Council.