Agenda item

9.14pm – Councillor Wesley Harcourt moved, seconded by Councillor Larry Culhane, the special motion in their names:

“This Council recognises that global warming and climate change poses a clear and present danger and is one of the greatest threats facing the world. This Council therefore agrees that action is needed at an international, national, regional and local level.

We call upon the Government to work constructively with the London Mayor and take all necessary steps to combat these dangers which should include complying with the European Union regulations with regard to these matters and to implement the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change.

Locally, the residents of Hammersmith & Fulham face significant dangers which includes the potential of increased flooding, damage to the local environment, worsening air quality and more premature deaths because of air pollution.

The Council agrees it has a duty to provide investment and take actions to protect and improve the environment; That should include: increasing the use of electric cars; improving cycling lanes and making the roads safer; reducing flooding; insisting more developers build carbon positive buildings; improving bio-diversity and cutting its use of pesticides; and taking measures to improve air quality.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Wesley Harcourt, Caroline Needham, and Iain Cassidy (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15(e)(6), Councillor Robert Largan moved, seconded by Councillor Viya Nsumbu, an amendment to the special motion as follows:

“In paragraph 4, insert after “pesticides”:

“(where practical without leading to lower standards of street cleanliness)”.

After paragraph 5, insert:

“The Council further resolves:

1.      To introduce smart metering across the entire of the Council’s estate and to make all the information, including CO2 emissions, publicly available.

2.      To work with the Mayor of London to meet his pledge to increase the number of trees across London by 5% by 2025.””

Speeches on the amendment to the special motion were made by Councillors Robert Largan (for the Opposition) and Councillor Stephen Cowan (for the Administration). The amendment was then put to the vote.

FOR                            16

AGAINST                  22

NOT VOTING            1

The amendment was declared LOST.

Speeches on the substantive motion were made by Councillor Robert Largan and Andrew Brown (for the Opposition) and Councillors Stephen Cowan and Larry Culhane (for the Administration).

Councillor Wesley Harcourt then made a speech on the substantive motion winding up the debate. The substantive motion was then put to the vote.

FOR                            22

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING            18

The substantive motion was declared CARRIED.

9.53pm – RESOLVED

This Council recognises that global warming and climate change poses a clear and present danger and is one of the greatest threats facing the world. This Council therefore agrees that action is needed at an international, national, regional and local level.

We call upon the Government to work constructively with the London Mayor and take all necessary steps to combat these dangers which should include complying with the European Union regulations with regard to these matters and to implement the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change.

Locally, the residents of Hammersmith & Fulham face significant dangers which includes the potential of increased flooding, damage to the local environment, worsening air quality and more premature deaths because of air pollution.

The Council agrees it has a duty to provide investment and take actions to protect and improve the environment; That should include: increasing the use of electric cars; improving cycling lanes and making the roads safer; reducing flooding; insisting more developers build carbon positive buildings; improving bio-diversity and cutting its use of pesticides; and taking measures to improve air quality.