Agenda item

10.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Douglas Johnson, and formally seconded by Councillor Ruth Mersereau, that this Council:-

(a)       notes that it is 12 months since this Council declared a climate emergency;

(b)       notes the Tyndall Centre’s advice to “Initiate an immediate programme of CO2 mitigation to deliver cuts in emissions averaging 14% per year”;

(c)        is disappointed to have seen no evidence showing this yearly reduction has been achieved in the last 12 months;

(d)       believes that this Council needs a cross-party Climate Emergency Committee to lead on implementing the changes Sheffield needs to make to be resilient for the future; and

(e)       asks that the Council sets up a properly resourced team of sustainability officers as a priority at the earliest opportunity.

10.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Mark Jones, and formally seconded by Councillor Adam Hurst, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of paragraphs (c) to (e) and the addition of new paragraphs (c) to (g) as follows:-

(c)        further notes the budget for this was calculated as 16mT CO2 from 2020 to 2038 and that the Council has committed to achieving net zero by 2030, therefore we have 16mT CO2 for the next 10 years, which demonstrates why the following action has been delivered since a Climate Emergency was declared:-

(i)         the Council now purchases electricity generated from 100% renewable sources, this is an increase of 81%;

(ii)        the Council has established Energy Surgeries and installed Smart Energy Meters for Council tenants – creating a 40% saving for tenants as well as a substantial reduction in wasted energy;

(iii)       Sheffield is trialling electric bin lorries powered by the very waste they collect, with re-powered lorries having zero carbon emissions and producing no air pollution;

(iv)       working with the city’s schools and education community to see a reduction in plastic usage and waste, including huge reductions in the amount of single use plastics used at school meal times; and

(v)        the Council has recently prepared an £85m programme of cycling, walking and bus corridor improvements as part of a further Sheffield City Region Transforming Cities Fund bid, announcements on which are expected soon;

(d)       notes, in addition, the work currently being undertaken to improve air quality in the city, including:-

(i)         anti-idling zones are now active outside of all primary and secondary schools, and other notable places such as hospitals and health centres; and

(ii)        piloting schemes to close targeted roads to traffic for set periods of time to create a better, less polluted and congested environment, targeted at benefiting children; such as School Streets - where roads outside schools are closed at drop-off and pick-up times; Play Streets - a resident-led scheme where a road is closed to traffic for a set period of time; and Living Streets - where a road is closed to traffic completely;

(e)       further notes that last summer, the Council consulted on its proposals to introduce a Clean Air Zone to improve emissions from the 19% of vehicles that are responsible for 50% of the Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) emissions from transport, and are currently awaiting confirmation from Government on our CAZ proposals;

(f)        notes that a Citizens Assembly will be introduced by June 2020 - to consider the necessary actions in the city to implement further change, with its membership being drawn to represent all parts of the city, including young people, and that it has taken time to set this up as it needs to be ensured that sufficient research has been conducted, and that there is a significant evidence base so that the assembly understands the scale of the task and what work is required, and that procurement for gathering this evidence is now almost over; and

(g)       believes great strides have been made in the last twelve months in tackling the climate emergency, but that huge changes will have to continue to be made in order to meet the Council’s commitment of making Sheffield carbon neutral by 2030.

10.3

It was then formally moved by Councillor Tim Huggan, and formally seconded by Councillor Andrew Sangar, as an amendment, that the  Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (f) to (j) as follows:-

(f)        believes that, nationally, only the Liberal Democrats have a bold and credible plan to tackle the climate emergency, which includes:-

(i)         reaching 80% renewable electricity by 2030;

(ii)        insulating all low-income homes by 2025;

(iii)       raising energy efficiency standards for new homes; and

(iv)       investing £15 billion to retrofit 26 million homes;

(g)       believes this Council has a responsibility as a land, property and house owner to ensure its stock is energy efficient, which will help to reduce carbon emissions in the city;

(h)       is dismayed that the timetable for the Sheffield Local Plan has been rescheduled and publication will, at the earliest, be 2023, seven years off when this Council proposes to reach carbon zero;

(i)         calls for a plan to reduce the carbon footprint of the Council's housing stock to be drafted and for officers to report back to full Council with their findings; and

(j)         acknowledges the current increased risk of intense rainfall leading to flooding and calls for significant mitigation measures, including substantial additional tree planting and improved moorland management in the upper catchments of Sheffield’s rivers.

10.4

It was then formally moved by Councillor Peter Garbutt, and formally seconded by Councillor Alison Teal, as an amendment, that the  Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of a new paragraph (f) as follows:-

(f)        notes the increasing public concern about the Climate Emergency and acknowledges the hard work of the community groups lobbying the Council and demanding we respond urgently to the crisis we are facing.

10.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Mark Jones was put to the vote and was carried.

10.6

The amendment moved by Councillor Tim Huggan was then put to the vote and was negatived.

10.6.1

(NOTE: Councillors Angela Argenzio, Kaltum Rivers, Douglas Johnson, Ruth Mersereau, Martin Phipps, Paul Turpin, Peter Garbutt and Alison Teal voted for paragraphs (g) to (j) and against paragraph (f) of the amendment, and asked for this to be recorded.)

10.7

The amendment moved by Councillor Peter Garbutt was then put to the vote and was carried.

10.8

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

10.8.1

(NOTE: Councillors Angela Argenzio, Kaltum Rivers, Douglas Johnson, Ruth Mersereau, Martin Phipps, Paul Turpin, Peter Garbutt and Alison Teal voted for paragraphs (a), (b) and (h) and against paragraphs (c) to (g) of the Substantive Motion, and asked for this to be recorded.)