Agenda item

Recommendation from Climate Change Working Group - Climate Emergency EXE19-112

Minutes:

The Council had before it the recommendations from the Executive in respect of proposals raised by the Climate Change Working Group which were essential to monitoring progress in achieving the target of the Council’s estate and operations becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and Borough-wide by 2050.  The recommendations were introduced by Councillor Davies, Portfolio Holder for the environment and sustainability.

Councillor Lyons spoke against recommendation (v) which had the effect of requesting the Planning Committee to exercise its discretion wherever possible to permit zero or minimal parking provision in Woking Town Centre developments in accordance with the Council’s Parking Standards Supplementary Planning Document.  Councillor Morales moved and Councillor Aziz seconded an amendment to recommendation (iv) to delete the words “in the longer term”.  A further motion – seeking the addition of the provision of electric vehicles under recommendation (v) – was withdrawn following advice that the electric vehicles were not covered in the Supplementary Planning Document.

In accordance with Standing Order 10.8, the names of Members voting for and against the amendment were recorded.

In favour:                                Councillors M Ali, T Aziz, A-M Barker, W Forster, D Hughes, L Lyons L Morales, J Sanderson.

Total in favour:                       8

Against:                                  Councillors S Ashall, A Azad, D Bittleston, G Cundy, K Davis, G Elson, D Harlow, K Howard, S Hussain, C Kemp, N Martin, C Rana and M Whitehand.

Total against:                         13

Present not voting:                 R Leach

Total present not voting:        1

The amendment was therefore lost by 8 votes in favour to 13 votes against.

The Mayor referred the Council to recommendations (i) to (iv) as set out in the report.  The recommendations were agreed nem con

RESOLVED

That  (i)    the Climate Change Working Group’s recommended public definition of carbon neutrality, set out below, be adopted and published on the Council’s website:

“On 25 July 2019, the Council pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030. It will reduce to zero any greenhouse emissions associated with its own estate and operations. Where any remaining emissions cannot be avoided, the Council will offset these through projects such as tree planting and maintain trade in renewable energy, thereby eliminating its contribution to climate change”;

          (ii)   the Climate Change Working Group’s recommended definition of the Council’s estate and operations - comprising all Council owned assets (as set out in paragraph 3.8 of the Climate Change Working Group Report at Appendix 1) - be adopted;

          (iii) the Climate Change Working Group’s recommended baseline year of 2018/19 for monitoring emissions be adopted;

          (iv) in the longer term, the Council will develop plans for borough-wide emissions and adaptation actions to address the climate and ecological emergency, in so far as it is able to influence activities beyond its direct control, with the aim of carbon neutrality by 2050; and

The Mayor referred to recommendation (v) and in accordance with Standing Order 10.8, the names of Members voting for and against the recommendation were recorded.

In favour:                                Councillors S Ashall, A Azad, D Bittleston, G Cundy, K Davis, G Elson, D Harlow, K Howard, S Hussain, C Kemp, R Leach, N Martin, C Rana and M Whitehand.

Total in favour:                       14

Against:                                  Councillors M Ali, T Aziz, W Forster, D Hughes and L Lyons

Total against:                         5

Present not voting:                 Councillors A-M Barker, L Morales and J Sanderson.

Total present not voting:        3

The recommendation was therefore carried by 14 votes in favour to 5 votes against.

RESOLVED

That  (v)   the Planning Committee, having regard to the Parking Standards Supplementary Document, be requested to exercise its discretion wherever possible to permit zero or minimal parking provision in Woking Town Centre developments.

Supporting documents: