Agenda

Chair to report.

(a) To consider the following notice of motion received by Councillor Pearson

“Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt in the UK and around the world. Global temperatures have increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO₂ levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm) and continue to rise. This far exceeds the 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity. Without more significant and sustained action, the world is set to exceed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit between 2030 and 2040. Therefore the current UK target of net zero by 2050 is not satisfactory. It is too little too late. The increase in harm caused by a rise of 2°C rather than 1.5°C is significant. This is described by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C published in October 2018. According to the IPCC, limiting heating to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities. The costs of failing to address this crisis will far outstrip the investments required to prevent it. Investing now will bring many benefits in the form of good jobs, breathable cities and thriving communities.

Council notes that 

1.    This council has declared a climate and ecological emergency;

2.    Many local authorities have established Citizens’ Assemblies that are playing an important role in assisting them in their plans to achieve net zero by 2030 or before; and that

3.    There is a Bill before Parliament—the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (published as the “Climate and Ecology Bill”)—according to which the Government must develop an emergency strategy that:

a)    requires that the UK plays its fair and proper role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with limiting global temperature increase  to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial temperatures;

b)    ensures that all the UK’s consumption emissions are accounted for;

c)    includes emissions from aviation and shipping;

d)    protects and restores biodiverse habitats along overseas supply chains;

e)    restores and regenerates the UK’s depleted soils, wildlife habitats and species populations to healthy and robust states, maximising their capacity to absorb CO₂ and their resistance to climate heating;

f)      sets up an independent Citizens’ Assembly, representative of the UK’s population, to engage with Parliament and Government and help develop the emergency strategy.

Council therefore resolves to:

1.             Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill

2.             Inform the local media of this decision;

3.             Write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill; and

4.             Write to the CEE Bill Alliance, the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (campaign@ceebill.uk).”

(b) To consider the following notice of motion received by Councillor Mack:

“North Devon District Council fully supports the campaign to remove from sale cheap, polystyrene bodyboards. The council recognises the negative impact on the natural environment these types of bodyboards can have including the danger to wildlife and the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

(NB. Members only need to re-declare any interests previously declared at Committee and Sub-Committee meetings if the item is discussed at Council).

(a) To receive the following question by Councillor Henderson

“Can we urge this administration to use their time in power productively for the benefit of all the people of North Devon.

The recent announcement of £6.5m for Barnstaple is of course welcomed, but other key North Devon towns such as Ilfracombe and South Molton must be included on the radar for a slice of the recently announced £20m made available by the Chancellors Levelling Up fund for 'local areas' to help their struggling economies.

Can the current administration please detail any specific plans for towns other than Barnstaple which they have in the pipeline. If none at present, will the current administration commit to working with the Town Councils of other North Devon towns alongside our MP to - in the words of the Chancellor, 'improve “the infrastructure of everyday life” (which can include projects such as funding for a new bypass, upgraded railway station, roadworks to cut traffic, more libraries, museums and galleries, or town centre improvements.)”

Report by Leader of the Council (attached).

Questions to the Leader or the Chair of a Committee submitted under Part 4, Council Procedure Rules, paragraph 10.4 of the Constitution.

Lead Member for Climate Change to report.

Report by Head of Resources (attached) and minute extract of the Strategy and Resources Committee held on 7 January 2021 (to follow).

Report by Head of Resources (attached).

Report by Senior Corporate and Community Services Officer  (attached)

Council is recommended to note the schedule of Committee minutes and approve recommendations as listed below:

(i) 12 November 2020

(i) 17 November 2020

(i) 11 November 2020

(ii) 9 December 2020

(i) 7 December 2020

(A) Minute 229: Approval and Release of Section 106 Public Open Space Funds, Tawstock

(B) Minute 232: Interim Devon Climate Change Plan and North Devon Council Environmental Policy

(ii) 4 January 2021 (to follow)

Nil.