Issue - meetings
CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meeting: 25/05/2023 - Council (Item 204)
CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Climate Emergency
The Council has declared a climate emergency and is committed to achieving a target of zero carbon emissions by 2030 and helping local people and businesses to reduce their own carbon emissions.
A Cabinet Panel on the Environment has been established to engage with local people on matters relating to the climate emergency and advise the council on how to achieve these climate change objectives. A Climate Change Implementation group of councillors and council officers meets regularly to produce plans and monitor progress. Actions taken or currently underway include switching to green energy, incentives for low emission taxis, expanding tree planting and working to cut food waste.
In addition the council is a member of the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership, working with other councils across Hertfordshire to reduce the county’s carbon emissions and climate impact.
The Council’s dedicated webpage on Climate Change includes details of the council’s climate change strategy, the work of the Cabinet Panel on the Environment and a monthly briefing on progress.
Declarations of Interest
Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable Interest and are required to notify the Chair of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda. Members declaring a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring a Declarable Interest, wishing to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’, must declare this at the same time as the interest, move to the public area before speaking to the item and then must leave the room before the debate and vote.
Decision:
(1) The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio recorded;
(2) The Chair reminded Members that the Council has declared a Climate Emergency. This was a serious decision and means that, as this was an emergency, all of us, Officers and Members had that in mind as we carried out our various roles and tasks for the benefit of our District. More details were included in the agenda front sheet.
(3) The Chair reminded Members to make declarations of interest before an item, the detailed reminder about his and speaking rights was set out under the Chair’s Announcements in the Agenda.
(4) The Chair welcomed and congratulated the newly elected Members following the elections on 4 May: Councillors Dominic Griffiths, Dave Winstanley, Daniel Wright-Mason, Mick Debenham, Bryony May, Dan Marsh, Cathy Brownjohn, Matt Barnes and Louise Peace.
(5) The Chair congratulated those Councillors successfully re-elected; Councillors Michael Muir, David Barnard, Sean Prendergast, Keith Hoskins, Steve Jarvis, Gerald Morris and Tom Tyson.
(6) The Chair thanked former Councillors George Davies, Adem Ruggiero-Cakir, Sam North, Tony Hunter and Carol Stanier, who did not stand for re-election.
(7) The Chair thanked former Councillors Morgan Derbyshire and Jean Green who were un-successful in being re-elected.
(8) The Chair reminded new and returning Members to complete their Register of Interest forms online by 2 June 2023.
(9) The Chair reminded Members, Agents and Election Candidates to complete the post-Election survey by 31 May 2023.
(10) The Chair reminded Members to complete and return their elections expenses by 1 June 2023 for Town and Parish elections and 9 June 2023 for District Council elections.
(11) The Chair advised that the normal procedure rules in respect of debate and times to speak would apply.
(12) The Chair advised that his charities for the Civic Year 2023/24 would be Feed Up Warm up and Resolve.
(13) The Chair offered thanks to Penny Copestake, Chair’s Secretary, on behalf of former Chair Sam North, and announced that a gift of flowers had been arranged in recognition of her hard work and support.
(14) The Chair congratulated James Lovegrove, the Committee, Member and Scrutiny Manager on his upcoming wedding.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 11:58
(1) The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio recorded;
(2) The Chair reminded Members that the Council has declared a Climate Emergency. This was a serious decision and means that, as this was an emergency, all of us, Officers and Members had that in mind as we carried out our various roles and tasks for the benefit of our District. More details were included in the agenda front sheet.
(3) The Chair reminded Members to make declarations of interest before an item, the detailed reminder about this and speaking rights was set out under the Chair’s Announcements in the Agenda.
(4) The Chair welcomed and congratulated the newly elected Members following the elections on 4 May: Councillors Dominic Griffiths, Dave Winstanley, Daniel Wright-Mason, Mick Debenham, Bryony May, Dan Marsh, Cathy Brownjohn, Matt Barnes and Louise Peace.
(5) The Chair congratulated those Councillors successfully re-elected; Councillors Michael Muir, David Barnard, Sean Prendergast, Keith Hoskins, Steve Jarvis, Gerald Morris and Tom Tyson.
(6) The Chair thanked former Councillors George Davies, Adem Ruggiero-Cakir, Sam North, Tony Hunter and Carol Stanier, who did not stand for re-election.
(7) The Chair thanked former Councillors Morgan Derbyshire and Jean Green who were un-successful in being re-elected.
(8) The Chair reminded new and returning Members to complete their Register of Interest forms online by 2 June 2023.
10) The Chair reminded Members, Agents and Election Candidates to complete the post-Election survey by 31 May 2023.
11) The Chair reminded Members to complete and return their elections expenses by 1 June 2023 for Town and Parish elections and 9 June 2023 for District Council elections.
12) The Chair advised that the normal procedure rules in respect of debate and times to speak will apply.
13) The Chair advised that his charities for the Civic Year 2023/24 would be Feed Up Warm up and Resolve.
14) The Chair offered thanks to Penny Copestake, Chair’s Secretary, on behalf of former Chair Sam North, and announced that a gift of flowers had been arranged in recognition of her hard work and support.
15) The Chair congratulated James Lovegrove, the Committee, Member and Scrutiny Manager on his upcoming wedding.