Agenda item

Members were presented with a report that presented the recommendations of the Climate Change and Biodiversity Working Group in respect of the setting up of a Citizens’ Assembly.

In discussion, the following points were raised:

(a)    A Member expressed her view that the Council should be establishing its own Citizens’ Assembly as soon as was practically possible.  In contrast, other Members stated that they did not share this view and considered it to be more appropriate to work with Devon County Council in this respect;

(b)    An amendment to the motion was PROPOSED and SECONDED as follows:

1.      ‘That, in considering the setting up of a Citizens’ Assembly, the Working Group be provided with full particulars of the Citizens’ Assembly proposed by Devon County Council including, but not limited to, the issues and matters to be addressed; the number of assembly members and their geographic spread; and the means of administration / operation.  The said particulars are to be provided to the Working Group prior to its next meeting to be held on 10 October 2019;

(This will inform the benefits and options of establishing a Citizens’ Assembly for the South Hams).

2.      That, in order to provide clarity in respect of the proposed Action Plan that is to be prepared in accordance with the resolution of the Council made at its meeting on 25 July 2019, its scope will have an internal and external focus as follows:

Internal: will focus on what the Council can do as an authority to reduce its own carbon footprint; and

External: will focus on identifying a number of opportunities in which the Council can influence or reduce the carbon footprint for the South Hams.  In respect of this part of the Action Plan, there will be the categorisation of what the Council can do directly and what it needs to lobby / influence in order to achieve a successful outcome.

In support of his amendment, the proposer felt that it was also important that the Council set out clear guidance to the Working Group on the scope of the Action Plan to be developed.

At the invitation of the Chairman, the proposer and seconder of the original motion both confirmed that they were content with this amendment and it was therefore included as part of the substantive motion.

It was then:

RESOLVED

1.      That, in considering the setting up of a Citizens’ Assembly, the Working Group be provided with full particulars of the Citizens’ Assembly proposed by Devon County Council including, but not limited to, the issues and matters to be addressed; the number of assembly members and their geographic spread; and the means of administration / operation.  The said particulars are to be provided to the Working Group prior to its next meeting to be held on 10 October 2019;

(This will inform the benefits and options of establishing a Citizens’ Assembly for the South Hams).

2.      That, in order to provide clarity in respect of the proposed Action Plan that is to be prepared in accordance with the resolution of the Council made at its meeting on 25 July 2019, its scope will have an internal and external focus as follows:

Internal: will focus on what the Council can do as an authority to reduce its own carbon footprint; and

External: will focus on identifying a number of opportunities in which the Council can influence or reduce the carbon footprint for the South Hams.  In respect of this part of the Action Plan, there will be the categorisation of what the Council can do directly and what it needs to lobby / influence in order to achieve a successful outcome.