To consider and approve the proposed declaration of a ‘Climate Emergency’ by the Council and agree the next steps in developing the Council’s response to Climate Change.

Cllr Aspinell MOVED and Cllr Dr Barrett SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

Cllr Hirst MOVED an AMENDMENT and SECONDED by Cllr White as followed: . 

R1.  To recognise the global climate emergency acknowledging that the Council needs to urgently act to include proper consideration of the causes and impacts of climate change in all its works.

The amendment was not accepted by the mover, Cllr Aspinell or seconder Cllr Dr Barrett. 

After a full discussion  the amendment, a vote was taken and the amendment was LOST.  

Councillors discussed the substantive recommendations.  A  recorded vote was requested by Councillors: Laplain, Dr Barrett, Kendall, M Cuthbert and Naylor.  The recorded bote was as followed:   

FOR:  Cllrs Barrett, Haigh, Aspinell, Dr Barrett, M Cuthbert, N Cuthbert, Davies, Francois, Fulcher, Gorton, Kendall, Laplain, Lewis, Mayo, Munden, Murphy, Mynott, Naylor, Pound, Rigby, Sankey, Slade, Wagland, White, Wiles, Worsfold (26)

AGAINST: (0)

ABSTAIN:  Cllrs Barber, Bridge, Gelderbloem, Heard, Hirst, Marsh, McCheyne, Parker, Poppy, Reed, Russell (11)

The substantive recommendations were RESOLVED. 

For the recommendations:

R1. To Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ acknowledging that the Council needs to urgently act on the causes and impacts of climate change;

R2. To confirm the Council’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon status by 2030 for its own estate, and by 2050 for the Brentwood Borough area, and pursue efforts to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions even earlier;

R3. To establish a Climate Emergency Sub-Committee of the Clean & Green Committee;

R4. That the Council lobby for further funding and policy changes at a national level to support the delivery of the Environment Strategy.