Notice of Motion attached.

Resolved:

That in accordance with Standing Order 8.4, the following Notice of Motion, be referred to the Cabinet:

‘SOUTHEND-ON-SEA BOROUGH COUNCIL AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Council notesthe impacts of climate change which were considered in the Report on Global Warming, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in October 2018, that describes the enormous harm that a 2°C average rise in global temperatures is likely to cause compared with a 1.5°C rise; confirms that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society and the private sector; and states that all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to act, and local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies.

Furthermore, Council notes the recent statement  from Government that the target for zero emissions is to be set at 2050, and the IPCC’s finding that net-zero carbon dioxide emissions must be reached by 2030.  Strong policies to cut emissions also have associated health, wellbeing and economic benefits; and recognising this, a growing number of UK local authorities have already passed 'Climate Emergency' motions.

MOTION

Given the special situation of this Borough geographically, ecologically and environmentally, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council therefore declares a Climate Emergency requiring urgent action and commits to the following six actions, andin so doing calls on the Government to provide the powers, resources and help with funding to achieve them, and urges its local MPs to support this action and lobby Government accordingly -

1.    ensuring action is taken to achieve net-zero carbon by 2030 if not earlier for its activities, supporting and working with all other relevant agencies towards making the Borough zero carbon by that date and that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are aligned with a shift to zero carbon and achieving 100% clean energy across the Council’s full range of functions by 2030 if not earlier, as part of the Borough’s 2050 Vision;

2.    ensuring that this work is embedded within all political and senior officer leadership teams in all areas to effect the reduction, as rapidly as possible, of carbon emissions resulting from the Council’s activities, with any recommendations fully costed and that the Executive and Scrutiny Committees review Council policies, strategies and activities taking account of production and consumption emissions and produce an action plan within 12 months, together with budget actions and a measured baseline. This leadership to be led across the Council by key roles selected by the Chief Executive and the Cabinet.

3.    working with, influencing and inspiring partners across the Borough and region to help deliver this goal through all relevant strategies, plans and shared resources and sets up a Climate Change Partnership group, involving Councillors, residents, climate science and solutions experts, businesses and other relevant parties, and in particular the young people who will have to live with the consequences of our actions, to consider strategies and actions being developed by the Council and other partner organisations and develops a strategy in line with a target of net zero emissions by 2050 if not earlier, including ways to maximise local benefits of these actions in other sectors;

4.    reporting on the level of investment in the fossil fuel industry alongside sustainable and renewable energy schemes that our pensions plan and other investments have, and review the Council’s investment strategy to give due consideration to climate change impacts in the investment portfolio;

5.    ensuring that all reports in preparation for the 2020/21 budget cycle and investment strategy will take into account the actions the Council will lead and take to address this emergency;

6.    considering other actions that could be implemented, such as renewable energy generation and storage, providing electric vehicle infrastructure and encouraging alternatives to private car use, increasing the efficiency of buildings, in particular to address fuel poverty; proactively using local planning powers to accelerate the delivery of net carbon new developments and communities, coordinating a series of information and training events to raise awareness and share good practice;

Proposed by Cllrs Wexham, Mulroney and Dent

Seconded by Cllrs Collins, Hooper, Thompson and Mitchell”