The following non-Cabinet member spoke under
this item:
Councillor Julia
Wakelam (Report number CAB/WS/21/032: Environment and Climate
Change Action Plans: 2021 Update)
Councillor Julia Wakelam wished to address the
Cabinet in relation to the above report.
In her opening remarks, she expressed her
support for the report and for what the Council had so far achieved
in addressing the climate emergency and congratulated Officers on
these achievements. She also commended
the development of the Suffolk Climate Emergency Plan (SCEP) which
had been approved by the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders (as
referenced within the report at Appendix C).
Councillor Wakelam called for further work to
be undertaken by the Council in the following key areas:
·
The adoption of virtual hybrid meetings, to allow for remote
attendance at meetings by Members/public etc..
·
Further educating communities on the climate crisis and to
encourage them to be active in their communities by the promotion
of environmental practices.
·
The Council to be working towards achieving ‘Zero
Carbon’ by 2030.
·
The Council to ensure that their contractors/suppliers understood
and promoted environmental practices.
·
Energy efficiency programmes for home-owners to be able to improve their homes with
energy efficient measures. Also working
with the Council’s housing partners to improve the energy
efficiency of their homes.
·
With regards to the Council’s approach to biodiversity, it
should be not be using pesticides to control unwanted vegetation
and should also be promoting the re-wilding of some grass
verges.
The Chair thanked Julia for her positive
remarks. The Cabinet would be
discussing the detail of this report, later
on the agenda, but the Chair did wish to initially respond
to some of the comments made.
During the height of the pandemic, the Council
had held all of its meetings virtually
as allowed by temporary Regulations and would continue to do so for
some of its non-public meetings. The
future use of hybrid meetings was also currently being
investigated, including understanding the practicalities and
legalities of being able to meet in that manner.
The Chair agreed that the continued
collaboration with the community was very important, alongside the
promotion of re-wilding schemes and the reduction in the use of
pesticides.
The Council was ensuring that homes being
built were more environmentally friendly and the work currently
being undertaken on the development of the new West Suffolk Local
Plan would also assist with addressing environmental
issues. The Council also continued to
work closely with its housing partners and outlined some of the
environmental initiatives being introduced by Flagship Homes and
Havebury Housing.
In conclusion, the Chair also went on to
explain that this year’s West Suffolk Business Festival
(being held from 4 to 15 October 2021) would also include an
Environmental Award.