Hartlepool drawing up battle plan to deal with climate change - but leader doesn't want 'copy and paste ideas'

A motion was submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council from Labour councillors calling on the authority to acknowledge the climate breakdown which is already causing serious damage around the world.

It also called on the council to declare a ‘climate emergency’ that requires urgent action, ensure the council’s activities are net-zero carbon by 2030 and various other steps.

Council leader Cllr Shane Moore called for the item to be sent to the Finance and Policy Committee, so Hartlepool can come up with its own ideas and form a collaborative approach on how to help the planet.

He noted instead of backing the ‘copy and pasted’ motion, they should come up with plans specific for Hartlepool, which was supported by councillors from across parties.

Cllr Moore said: “I fully agree with the intent behind the motion, and I’m sure we all share the desire for Hartlepool and the wider area to play our part in tackling the effects of climate change.

“However I don’t feel a generic climate change motion that refers to working at a district and county level is appropriate for a smaller unitary authority like Hartlepool.

“Rather than just taking a copy and paste motion, let’s look at Hartlepool’s approach to it, let’s look at exactly what we can do, because we might be able to be more ambitious, then we would actually be leading the way.”

Cllr Amy Prince, who had initially raised the motion to council, had also received a letter from a local nine-year-old in support of the calls.

Cllr Prince added the motion was about lobbying the government to do more.

She said: “Quite a few of the councils up and down the country have passed this declaring that they believe there is a climate emergency.

“It’s about joining in unity with other councils to lobby the government together, to say that a lot of councils up and down the country believe that the government needs to act more quickly than they are on this matter.”

However Cllr Karen King, For Britain Movement representative, said she was against the plans and did not believe there was a climate emergency.

She said: “I disagree that there’s a climate emergency and I think any money the council spends on this would be a waste of money.

“There are countries like China, India and America who have a huge carbon footprint, so any changes we make to the council’s footprint are not going to have any impact on the planet.”

Cllr Carl Richardson rejected Cllr King’s suggestion, and also noted the move could have benefits such as creating jobs in green industries.

He said: “Why can’t Britain take the lead in this, instead of having to follow we should be taking the lead, we’ve got the position to do it.”

Cllr Marjorie James added they need to lobby government to ensure new housing developments have the infrastructure in place for electrical vehicles, to ensure the public purse does not have to pay the price at a later date.

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