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 advised of a change in the order of the Agenda. Agenda Items 14, 15 and 16 would be considered following Item 6. This would be followed by Agenda Item 7 and then Items 17 and 18 would be considered. Then returning to Agenda Items 8 to 13.
(7) The Chair announced that Ros Allwood, Cultural Services Manager, had been working at North Hertfordshire for 30 years, and extended his gratitude to Ros for her services to the Council.
RESOLVED: That the Council placed on record its sincere thanks and appreciation to Ros Allwood for her long and valuable service to Local Government.
(8) The Chair announced that Aimee Jarmain, Senior Benefits Subsidy Officer, had been working at North Hertfordshire for 30 years, and extended his gratitude to Aimee for her services to the Council.
RESOLVED: That the Council placed on record its sincere thanks and appreciation to Aimee Jarmain for her long and valuable service to Local Government.
(9) The Chair announced that former Chief Executive Stuart Philp passed away on 10 December 2024.
(10) The Chair announced that former District Councillor Marilyn Kirkland had passed away on 13 June 2025.
(11) The Chair announced that former District Councillor Lawrence Oliver had passed away recently, and Members stood for a minute in silence in tribute to them all.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 2 minutes 55 seconds
N.B. Councillor Martin Prescott entered the Chamber at 19:35.
(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 advised of a change in the order of the Agenda. Agenda Items 14, 15 and 16 would be considered following Item 6. This would be followed by Agenda Item 7 and then Items 17 and 18 would be considered. Then returning to Agenda Items 8 to 13.
In response to a question from Councillor Daniel Allen, the Chair advised that he had opted to trial Questions from Members and Motions on Notice ahead of other items.
(7) The Chair announced that Ros Allwood, Cultural Services Manager, had been working at North Hertfordshire for 30 years, and extended his gratitude to Ros for her services to the Council.
The following Members provided comments:
· Councillor Daniel Allen
· Councillor Ruth Brown
· Councillor Ralph Muncer
Councillor Keith Hoskins proposed and Councillor Daniel Allen seconded and it was:
RESOLVED: That the Council placed on record its sincere thanks and appreciation to Ros Allwood for her long and valuable service to Local Government.
(8) The Chair announced that Aimee Jarmain, Senior Benefits Subsidy Officer, had been working at North Hertfordshire for 30 years, and extended his gratitude to Aimee for her services to the Council.
The following Member provided comments:
· Councillor Ian Albert
Councillor Keith Hoskins proposed and Councillor Ian Albert seconded and it was:
RESOLVED: That the Council placed on record its sincere thanks and appreciation to Aimee Jarmain for her long and valuable service to Local Government.
(9) The Chair announced that former Chief Executive Stuart Philp passed away on 10 December 2024.
The following Members paid tribute:
· Councillor Keith Hoskins
· Councillor Claire Strong
· Councillor Steve Jarvis
(10) The Chair announced that former District Councillor Marilyn Kirkland had passed away on 13 June 2025.
The following Members paid tribute:
· Councillor Steve Jarvis
· Councillor Alistair Willoughby
(11) The Chair announced that former District Councillor Lawrence Oliver had passed away recently.
The following Members paid tribute:
· Councillor Ruth Brown
· Councillor Jon Clayden
· Councillor Claire Strong
Members stood for a minute in silence in tribute to them all.