Agenda item

A period of up to 15 minutes is available to deal with issues raised by the public;

In accordance with the Public Forum Procedure Rules, the Chairman informed that three questions had been received for consideration during this agenda item.

1.      Question from Mr Peter Scott

‘In the drafting of South Hams’ Climate Action Plan, what opportunity will (a) South Hams residents and (b) expert organisations in the South Hams have to influence:

(a)    The remit, target date and policy areas to be included in the Plan;

(b)    The timetable and consultation procedures involved in drawing up the Plan;

(c)    An early outline draft of the Plan;

(d)    The final policy recommendations, targets and indicators of progress?’

The Leader responded that there was presently a recommendation to the Special Council meeting on 25 July 2019 that a Climate Change Emergency be declared and an Action Plan produced.  It was too early to provide exact details of how the Action Plan would be developed and exactly who would be involved.  Residents and expert organisations would be involved and/or consulted through the Action Planning process and/or through the Devon Carbon Plan that was proposed by the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group (DCERG).

2.      Question from Mr Robert Vint

‘Teignbridge District Council has invited this Council to work with it on drafting a Climate Action Plan, it has set up an Action Group consisting of representatives of key community organisations and last week hosted the first public meeting of Teignbridge Climate Emergency Action Group attended by around 200 residents.  How has this Council responded to Teignbridge’s invitation and does it plan to set up an equivalent Action Group to actively involve residents and key community organisations in the drafting of this Plan?’

In response, the Leader informed that the lead officer for Climate Change had been in contact with Teignbridge regarding the benefits of working together, for example, through joint procurement.  Officers would continue to work closely with them, and other partners, where it was beneficial to do so.

At present, there was a recommendation to the Special Council meeting on 25 July 2019 that a Climate Change Emergency be declared and an Action Plan produced. 

It was too early to provide exact details of how the Action Plan would be developed and exactly who would be involved.  Residents and community organisations would be involved and/or consulted through the Action Planning process and/or through the Devon Carbon Plan that is proposed by the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group (DCERG).

3.      Question from Mr Gordon Nicholson

‘How will the need to reduce local carbon emissions in response to the Climate Emergency be taken into account in decisions that the Executive will take this month on Renewable Energy Investment, Electric Vehicle Charging Points, the Air Quality Action Plan and also in relation to future development of Langage Energy Park?’

In response, Cllr Pearce emphasised that the need to reduce carbon emissions was recognised and the declaration of a Climate Change Emergency had been recommended by the Executive and would be considered at the Special Council meeting on 25 July 2019.  Carbon emissions and their reduction would be one of many factors considered and taken into account, where relevant, during the decision-making processes at the Council’s Executive.