Agenda item

To consider notices of motions submitted under Procedure Rule 16 in such order as the Mayor shall direct.  The motions received for this meeting are attached.

At this point in the meeting Councillor J Boulton left the meeting and did not vote on the motion.

The following motion was moved submitted by Councillor T Kingsbury and seconded by Councillor J Cragg:

“Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council notes that the United Kingdom is leading the way on climate change, with 90 per cent of the world’s economy covered by net zero targets, a significant increase from just one third before the UK’s COP 26 presidency.

WHBC is supportive of the UK Government’s ambition to make this country a clean energy superpower and is proud of the UK’s record on cutting greenhouse emissions.

However, WHBC is concerned by the impact of illegal protests on residents, threatening nationally important infrastructure like last year’s local M25 protests and recent disruption of sport and cultural events.

WHBC understands the need to act on the environment but believes that cooperation with the UK Government and residents is the right way to pursue our objectives.

WHBC therefore condemns all illegal protests organised by Just Stop Oil.

WHBC demands that Just Stop Oil end all illegal protest activities and work constructively alongside local and national government to achieve our net zero target."

Councillor Zukowskyj proposed amendments to the motion. Councillor Chesterman seconded the proposals. The amended motion was set out below:

“Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council notes that the United Kingdom government claims to be leading the way on the climate Emergency since the UK’s COP 26 presidency.

This Council is supportive of the UK Government’s ambition to cut greenhouse emissions and reach net zero by 2050, although it also recognises its own target to reach Net Zero by 2030 is rather more ambitious and therefore this council encourages the government to be more ambitious than it has been to date.

This Council notes that global efforts to deal with climate change will require more than warm words, empty promises and missed targets. This Council notes in this respect that Welwyn Hatfield is the home constituency for the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero who has nevertheless endorsed the Governments desire to develop new fossil fuel resources and whose voting record on Environmental Issues is far from exemplary.

This Council is also concerned by the impact of recent Climate Emergency protests on our residents and the disruption to the ability of emergency services to respond to emergencies.

This Council is wholly supportive of the right to legal protest and recognises the importance in a functioning democracy of allowing this fundamental right to be exercised. This Council also understands the urgency to act on the climate emergency but believes that cooperation is the right way for all to pursue that crucial objective.

This Council therefore urges protestors from Just Stop Oil and similar organisations to minimise the disruption from their protests and work constructively alongside local and national government to increase efforts to achieve our joint net zero target as soon as possible.”

On being put to the meeting the amendment to the motion was voted:

FOR the motion – 26

AGAINST the motion – 25

ABSENTATIONS for the motion – 1

The amendment to the motion was agreed, and was considered by the meeting.

On being put to the meeting, the Council voted:

FOR the motion - 26

AGAINST for the motion - 21

ABSTAINATIONS for the motion - 1