Council overturns climate emergency declaration

Councillor Andrew Mynors says net zero targets distracted the authority from its main priorities

Elected officials have voted to overturn a local authority's declaration of a climate emergency.

Staffordshire County Council, which has been run by Reform UK councillors since May's local elections, made the decision on Thursday.

The authority said it would instead be dedicated to "immediate environmental issues" instead of "pursuing unfunded targets a generation away".

The declaration of a climate change emergency was initially agreed by the authority in July 2019 while it was led by the Conservatives, who have said that rescinding it sent out the "wrong message".

Andrew Mynors, cabinet member for connectivity, said language surrounding a climate emergency and net zero targets had been distracting the focus from the council's main priorities.

He identified these as being the economy, education, supporting vulnerable residents and ensuring value-for-money.

However, Conservative Simon Tagg, who previously held the role of cabinet member for environment, said he had proposed an alternative suggestion to rescinding the original declaration.

"We should be refreshing and replacing it, and moving it forward," he said.

He said he hoped he and other Tory councillors could work with the Reform UK administration on measures his party had initiated.

"The portfolio holder who was proposing his motion was talking about energy efficiency savings that can be made, green spaces and better recycling – they're all of the things that we were pushing for four or five years anyway."

He said he felt Reform UK councillors had to be "seen to be making a big gesture" due to their party's national position on issues such as climate change.

He was pleased the authority's nature recovery declaration from 2021 had not been rescinded, he added.

'Make a difference immediately'

On the the new administration's approach to its environmental policy, Mynors said he firmly believed "we ought to leave our environment, our countryside, our county in a better place than we found it".

"We favour practical energy-saving measures, which reduce energy consumption and cut costs at the same time for businesses, consumers and taxpayers," he added.

He said he believed trying to achieve "unfunded targets" in 25 years' time was putting "real pressure" on the council.

"We have a responsibility to make sure our wonderful environment is protected and enhanced, and this means taking real tangible actions that make a difference immediately," he explained.

The council said it would be providing more detail on its environmental strategy later in the year.