Issue - meetings
CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meeting: 11/07/2024 - Council (Item 20)
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.
Ecological Emergency
The Council has declared an ecological emergency and is committed to addressing the ecological emergency and nature recovery by identifying appropriate areas for habitat restoration and biodiversity net gain whilst ensuring that development limits impact on existing habitats in its process.
The Council has set out to do that by a) setting measurable targets and standards for biodiversity increase, in both species and quantities, seeking to increase community engagement, b) to work with our partners to establish a Local Nature Partnership for Hertfordshire and to develop Nature Recovery Networks and Nature Recovery Strategy for Hertfordshire and c) to investigate new approaches to nature recovery such as habitat banking that deliver biodiversity objectives and provide new investment opportunities.
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 recorded.
(2) The Chair reminded Members that the Council had declared both a Climate Emergency and an Ecological Emergency. These are serious decisions, and mean 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.
(3) The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.
(4) The Chair advised that the normal procedure rules in respect of debate and times to speak will apply.
(5) The Chair advised that 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution applied to agenda items 15 and 16 and the corresponding referrals 8F and 8G. A comfort break would be held at an appropriate time, should proceedings continue at length.
(6) The Chair thanked everyone involved in the General Election, specifically the Elections team. The Chair congratulated the three elected MPs covering the North Herts area and thanked those MPs that were unsuccessful in their re-election or who had stood down, for their service to North Herts.
(7) The Chair announced that Kevin Abbiss, Helpdesk Customer Services Team Leader, had been working at North Hertfordshire for 40 years, and extended her gratitude to Kevin for his services to the Council.
It was:
RESOLVED: That the Council placed on record its sincere thanks and appreciation to Kevin Abbiss for his long and valuable service to Local Government.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 3 minutes 33 seconds
(1) The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.
(2) The Chair reminded Members that the Council had declared both a Climate Emergency and an Ecological Emergency. These are serious decisions, and mean 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.
(3) The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.
Further reminded Councillors of the requirement to complete the mandatory Code of Conduct training by 30 July 2024 and those that were re-elected needed to confirm their interests to the Monitoring Officer.
(4) The Chair advised that the normal procedure rules in respect of debate and times to speak would apply.
(5) The Chair advised that 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution applied to agenda items 15 and 16 and the corresponding referrals 8F and 8G. A comfort break would be held at an appropriate time, should proceedings continue at length.
(6) The Chair thanked everyone involved in the General Election, specifically the Elections team. The Chair congratulated the three elected MPs covering the North Herts area and thanked those MPs that were unsuccessful in their re-election or who had stood down, for their service to North Herts as well as those that stood for election.
Councillor Daniel Allen thanked all those involved in the Election, the outgoing MPs for their hard work and congratulated the new MPs.
(7) Long Service Award – Kevin Abbiss
The Chair announced that Kevin Abbiss, Helpdesk Customer Services Team Leader, had been working at the Council for 40 years, and extended her gratitude to Kevin for his services to the Council.
The following Members paid tribute:
· Councillor Ralph Muncer
· Councillor Claire Strong
· Councillor Ruth Brown
· Councillor Ian Albert
· Councillor Amy Allen
Councillor Clare Billing, as Chair, proposed and Councillor Daniel Allen seconded and, following a vote, it was:
It was:
RESOLVED: That the Council placed on record its sincere thanks and appreciation to Kevin Abbiss for his long and valuable service to Local Government