Climate Change Motion

A Climate Change Motion was proposed by Councillor Peter Coley and seconded by fellow Lib Dem Councillor Roger Blackmore at last weeks full Council meeting:-

Cllr. Peter Coley said, "Its very satisfying that all parties are united behind this motion as it is very important that central Government commissions low energy buildings as their estate alone comprises of around 10% of the total UK office market. Hopefully this action will create a demand in the private sector, a recent official report by the national Audit Office has shown that Government promise's are not being kept, 14 out of 21 are less energy efficient than they were in 2000 and 15 Government departments have increased their carbon omissions. By holding the Government to their promises this bill will help to reduce omissions across the whole of UK office market."

The motion, which was supported by the Council read:

"This Council:- believes that tackling climate change must be central to the aims of local and central Government and that urgent action is needed to reduce carbon emissions; therefore welcomes the introduction of new environmental sustainability performance indicators for local authorities; welcomes also repeated statements by the Government that it will procure only buildings in the top quartile of energy performance, believing that this will create demand for low carbon buildings and will start to transform the wider commercial property market; notes that the public sector is responsible for 5% of the UK's carbon emissions and that sustainable public buildings can save at least £20 million per year through energy and water saving; notes with concern, however, that according to a recent report from the National Audit Office most Government departments are failing to meet their carbon reduction and energy efficiency targets;

and therefore resolves to:-

support the Public Sector Buildings (Energy Performance) Bill (introduced into Parliament with cross-party support on 5 December 2007), which would give legal force to the Government's commitment to procure only buildings in the top quartile of energy performance;

write to:-

Phil Woolas, M.P., the relevant Government Minister, urging him to support the Bill as drafted; Local M.P.s urging them to sign EDM 673 in support of the Bill and to pledge to attend the House of Commons to support the Bill at its Second Reading debate on 25 April."