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 did not apply to this meeting. A comfort break would be held at an appropriate time, should proceedings continue at length.
(6) The Chair welcomed and congratulated the newly elected Members following the elections on 2 May: Councillors Tina Bhartwas, Sadie Billing, Rhona Cameron, David Chalmers, Jon Clayden, Ruth Clifton, Emma Fernandes, Joe Graziano, Tim Johnson, Caroline McDonnell, Steven Patmore, Vijaiya Poopalasingham, Martin Prescott, Emma Rowe, Paul Ward, Laura Williams, Stewart Willoughby, Claire Winchester and Donna Wright.
(7) The Chair congratulated those Councillors successfully re-elected: Councillors Ian Albert, Amy Allen, Daniel Allen, David Barnard, Matt Barnes, Clare Billing, Ruth Brown, Cathy Brownjohn, Val Bryant, Sam Collins, Mick Debenham, Elizabeth Dennis, Dominic Griffiths, Chris Hinchliff, Keith Hoskins, Steve Jarvis, Chris Lucas, Ian Mantle, Nigel Mason Bryony May, Michael Muir, Ralph Muncer, Lisa Nash, Sean Nolan, Louise Peace, Sean Prendergast, Claire Strong, Tamsin Thomas, Tom Tyson, Alistair Willoughby, Dave Winstanley and Daniel Wright-Mason.
(8) The Chair thanked former Councillors Richard Thake, Gerald Morris, Mandi Tandi, Adam Compton, Michael Weeks, Raj Bhakar, Terry Tyler, James Denselow, Daniel Marsh and Tom Plater who did not stand for re-election.
(9) The Chair thanked former Councillors Simon Bloxham, Juan Cowell, Faye Frost, Terry Hone, David Levett, Ian Moody and Phil Weeder who were unsuccessful in being re-elected.
(10) The Chair reminded Members to complete their Register of Interest forms by the 31 May 2024.
(11) The Chair reminded Members to complete their election expenses by 7 June 2024.
(12) The Chair encouraged Members, Agents and Election Candidates to complete the post-Election survey by the 31 May 2024.
(13) The former Chair confirmed the amount raised for his chosen charities Feed Up Warm Up and Resolve, during the civic year 2023-24 and presented a cheque to a representative from Resolve.
(14) The Chair advised that her chosen charity for the Civic Year 2024-25 would be Sands.
(15) The Chair offered thanks to Penny Copestake, Chair’s Secretary, on behalf of former Chair Daniel Allen, and announced that a bouquet would be sent in recognition of her hard work and support.
(16) Members paid tribute followed by a minutes silence for former Councillor Michael Weeks.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 28 minutes 6 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.
(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 did not apply to this meeting. A comfort break would be held at an appropriate time, should proceedings continue at length.
(6) The Chair welcomed and congratulated the newly elected Members following the elections on 2 May: Councillors Tina Bhartwas, Sadie Billing, Rhona Cameron, David Chalmers, Jon Clayden, Ruth Clifton, Emma Fernandes, Joe Graziano, Tim Johnson, Caroline McDonnell, Steven Patmore, Vijaiya Poopalasingham, Martin Prescott, Emma Rowe, Paul Ward, Laura Williams, Stewart Willoughby, Claire Winchester and Donna Wright. Thursday, 23rd May, 2024
(7) The Chair congratulated those Councillors successfully re-elected: Councillors Ian Albert, Amy Allen, Daniel Allen, David Barnard, Matt Barnes, Clare Billing, Ruth Brown, Cathy Brownjohn, Val Bryant, Sam Collins, Mick Debenham, Elizabeth Dennis, Dominic Griffiths, Chris Hinchliff, Keith Hoskins, Steve Jarvis, Chris Lucas, Ian Mantle, Nigel Mason Bryony May, Michael Muir, Ralph Muncer, Lisa Nash, Sean Nolan, Louise Peace, Sean Prendergast, Claire Strong, Tamsin Thomas, Tom Tyson, Alistair Willoughby, Dave Winstanley and Daniel Wright-Mason.
(8) The Chair thanked former Councillors Richard Thake, Gerald Morris, Mandi Tandi, Adam Compton, Michael Weeks, Raj Bhakar, Terry Tyler, James Denselow, Daniel Marsh and Tom Plater who did not stand for re-election.
(9) The Chair thanked former Councillors Simon Bloxham, Juan Cowell, Faye Frost, Terry Hone, David Levett, Ian Moody and Phil Weeder who were unsuccessful in being re[1]elected.
(10) The Chair reminded Members to complete their Register of Interest forms by the 31 May 2024.
(11) The Chair reminded Members to complete their election expenses by 7 June 2024.
(12) The Chair encouraged Members, Agents and Election Candidates to complete the post-Election survey by the 31 May 2024.
(13) The former Chair confirmed the amount raised for his chosen charities Feed Up Warm Up and Resolve, during the civic year 2023-24 and presented a cheque to a representative from Resolve.
(14) The Chair advised that her chosen charity for the Civic Year 2024-25 would be Sands.
(15) The Chair offered thanks to Penny Copestake, Chair’s Secretary, on behalf of former Chair Daniel Allen, and announced that a bouquet would be sent in recognition of her hard work and support.
(16) Members paid tribute followed by a silence for former Councillor Michael Weeks.
The following Members paid tribute:
· Councillor Elizabeth Dennis
· Councillor David Barnard
· Councillor Alistair Willoughby
· Councillor Ralph Muncer