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Five Notices of Motion have been submitted in accordance with Rule 3 in Part 4.1 of the Constitution - Council Procedure Rules and are listed in order of the date received.

 

 

Motion 1 Received 02/062021 @ 14:08

 

Proposer Cllr Dr T Barrett                       Seconder Cllr G Barrett

 

That the Council notes that:

 

(1)       humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds the 350-ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;

 

 

(2)       in order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible;

 

(3)       individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm;

 

(4)       carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;

 

(5)       unfortunately, the world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050;

 

(6)       the IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published in the autumn of 2018, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and told us that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, and local communities;

 

(7)       Councils and Parliaments around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency;

 

That the Council believes that:

 

(8)       all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Breakdown, and local governments should be proactive to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Brentwood Borough Council and the UK that local authorities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible;

 

(9)       the consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s priority;

 

(10)     bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people worldwide);

 

and That the Council resolves to:

 

(11)     declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

 

(12)     pledge to do everything within the Council's power to make Brentwood Borough Council area carbon neutral by 2030;

 

(13)     seek the provision to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;

 

(14)     work with other authorities (both within the UK and internationally) to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C;

 

(15)     continue to work with partners across the borough and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;

 

Cllr Dr T Barrett presented his motion and ask the Council to approve recommendations 11-15 within his motion.

 

Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Cloke SECONDED an amendment recommendations 12 and 13 to state 2050, not 2030.  This was not accepted by Cllr Dr T Barrett.

 

After a full discussion, Cllr Hossack withdraw his motion and move an amendment to 12 and 13 to state 2040, not 2030 was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Cloke.  This was not accepted by Cllr Dr T Barrett.

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands on recommendation 12.

 

(12)   pledge to do everything within the Council's power to make Brentwood   Borough Council area carbon neutral by 2030 2040;

 

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands on recommendation 13.

 

(13)     seek the provision to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 2040 target possible;

 

The motion was CARRIED.

 

 

These approved amendments, become part of the SUBSTANTIVE MOTION.

 

It was agreed to vote on each items 11-15 separately.

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands on recommendation 11.

 

(11) declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

 

The motion was LOST.

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands on recommendation 12.

 

(12)   pledge to do everything within the Council's power to make Brentwood   Borough Council area carbon neutral by 2040;

 

The motion was CARRIED.

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands on recommendation 13.

 

(13)     seek the provision to provide the powers and resources to make the 2040 target possible;

 

The motion was CARRIED.

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands on recommendation 14.

 

(14)     work with other authorities (both within the UK and internationally) to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C;

 

The motion was CARRIED.

 

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands on recommendation 15.

 

(15)     continue to work with partners across the borough and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;

 

The motion was CARRIED.

 

In accordance with the Constitution Paragraph 10.1 and 10.2 the Mayor

proposed to enact the guillotine on all remaining motions which would be taken as proposed and seconded and voted on with no debate.

 

Motions 2, 3 and 5 were deferred to Ordinary Council on 13^th October 2021. Motion 4 was withdrawn by Cllr Aspinell.