Agenda item

The Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability.

Councillor Moses, Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability, stated that the report responded to a motion presented to Full Council on 30 November by Councillor Essex. The motion was referred, by the Mayor, for consideration by the Executive.

The motion made 4 requests, relating to climate change and nature. These were:

·       To declare a climate emergency, and reflect this in our Environmental Sustainability Strategy;

·       To fully endorse the Surrey Climate Strategy and Surrey Local Transport Plan in the update of our Environmental Sustainability Strategy;

·       To support the Climate and Ecology Bill; and

·       To write to local MPs informing them that the motion has been passed.

The report considered each motion request in turn, providing some background information and setting out options and a proposed response.  When it came to declaring a climate emergency, the Executive of course has the option to do this. However, the report recommends a continuation of the Council’s previously stated approach. That is, to recognise the continuing need for urgent action on climate change and to take action, in line with the Council’s agreed Environmental Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan.

Moving on to the request to fully endorse Surrey’s Climate Strategy and Local Transport Plan.  The recommendation was that the Council acknowledged the need to work with Surrey County Council, and other districts and boroughs, to achieve a wide range of shared climate change and sustainability objectives. This this was a broader recommendation than that requested by the motion, which was focused just on two specific documents.

When it came to supporting the Climate and Ecology private members Bill, while the Executive had the option to express its support for the Bill, this was not recommended in the report. Instead, the suggestion was to focus on the Council’s own activity. Recommendation (i) also recognised the need for urgent action on nature recovery and that the Council would take action through its Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

Finally, the report included a third recommendation which reflected the spirit of the fourth motion request. This was for Councillor Moses to contact local MPs to outline the Borough Council’s approach to climate change and environmental sustainability. To ask for the opportunity to discuss with them how the Government can help the Council achieve its objectives in the future.

The Council’s current Environmental Sustainability Strategy explained how the Council was taking action on both climate change and nature issues. The Strategy review that was currently underway would continue the Council on this journey. The Council was already making good progress. The recommendations in the report reiterate the Council’s ongoing commitment to continue to do more.

Councillor Moses therefore commended the recommendations for approval by the Executive.

Councillor Booton requested that the Executive set an example by declaring a climate emergency. Six neighbouring authorities, Surrey County Council and Parliament have all declared a climate emergency and the Executive had this opportunity too. In 2019 the Executive did not approve a climate emergency and five years on there had been no change.

In response Cllr Moses explained that the Council was taking the issue seriously, however it was not necessary to use these words. The Council was moving forward in terms of sustainability and was not shying away from action.

Councillor Essex stated that the Council produced a fraction of the carbon emissions in the borough, however it should lead by example. The Council buildings should be retrofitted with solar panels for example. The Council was 3 years into a 5 year programme and little had been achieved; solar panels had not been fitted on the Town Hall roof. It was disappointing that the Council would not use the words “climate emergency” like neighbouring authorities. Surrey’s climate strategy should work as one public estate and the Council should endorse Surrey’s climate strategy.

Since 2020, the Government has watered down its transport strategy; housing and transport should be considered together. The Executive was urged to reconsider declaring a climate emergency and endorse the Surrey strategy and collaborate with them along with the local transport plan.

The Leader of the Council stated that the second recommendation was to work closely with Surrey County Council. The Executive wanted action rather words and would continue with that approach. It was noted that the Council would not receive additional funding by declaring a climate emergency. The neighbouring six authorities that had declared a climate emergency were doing less in terms of the environment than this Council and this Council had an Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability.

In terms of putting solar panels on the Town Hall roof, the weight of these may not be able to be sustained by the roof, however solar panels were being placed on other Council buildings. The Council was undertaking a number of initiatives such as purchasing an electric bin lorry as one example, others were also detailed.

Councillor Booton replied, stating that he appreciated the comments however declaring a climate emergency would be an easy step to take. Councillor Essex stated that both words and actions were important, and a sense of urgency needed to be shown to move this up the political agenda.

Councillor Blacker stated that the Council was working to reducing carbon emissions and that this Council was doing more than many.

RESOLVED that:

(i)             The Council recognises the continuing need for urgent action on climate change and nature recovery, and is committed to maintaining an up-to-date Environmental Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan which will provide the basis for its work at a Council level and within Reigate & Banstead Borough;

(ii)           The Council is committed to continuing to work closely with Surrey County Council and Surrey district and borough authorities to achieve shared climate change and environmental sustainability objectives; and

(iii)         The Council agrees that the Portfolio Holder for Environment & Sustainability write to local MPs informing them of the Council’s approach to taking action on climate change and nature recovery, and requesting to meet to discuss how the Government’s future approach to policy and legislation can assist in this.