Decision details

The committee considered a report which set out the proposed response from Cheshire East Council to a Notice of Motion from the Full Council Meeting of 11th December 2024 which concerned the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Councillor Sam Corcoran addressed the committee as a visiting member as proposer of the Notice of Motion. Councillor Sam Corcoran stated that the Notice of Motion was to note that the scientific consensus was clear, that fossil fuels are primarily responsible for accelerating global climate change and encouraged Members to view the NASA website which showed graphs of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increasing from under 320 parts per million in 1970 to over 420 parts per million today. Councillor Sam Corcoran stated that it was not just the statistical evidence, but the scientific explanation that carbon dioxide acted like a blanket, keeping in the energy from the sun, so the more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the hotter the planet would get, as a result of burning fossil fuels. Councillor Sam Corcoran also noted that the reliance on fossil fuels posed a risk to public health.

Councillor Sam Corcoran stated that the economic opportunities of the transition to clean energy were large. Councillor Corcoran recommended Members read the Director of Public Health's 2024 annual report. Councillor Sam Corcoran stated that it was inevitable that the health well-being and livelihoods of people in Cheshire East and across the UK would continue to be put to greater risk with the continued use of fossil fuels. Councillor Corcoran stated that, as the Chair of the Warrington, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Commission, there was an opportunity to be at the forefront of new low carbon technologies. Councillor Corcoran thanked the officers for their report, and highlighted that there were no financial implications and no risks to Cheshire East Council in signing up, that the motion was in line with an existing policy, and that supporting this motion should be a political decision taken by Members and not officers. Councillor Sam Corcoran stated that climate change was a global problem and appreciated what Cheshire East do and asked that everyone engaged and supported the motion.

The Committee questioned what the outcome of approving the motion would be ,and what mechanisms Cheshire East would have to support the motion.  Officers noted that the motion was aimed at central government to encourage them to address the wider issues.

The Committee debated the recommendations and felt that there was a lack of clarity. It was therefore proposed, seconded and subsequently carried unanimously that:

An amendment to recommendation 2 was proposed by Councillor Clark, seconded by Councillor Seddon and carried unanimously:

The Environment and Communities Committee is recommended to:

1. Note the Notice of Motion

2. Endorse the motion as presented

Members requested that the recommendations were voted on individually.

RESOLVED (by majority):

The Environment and Communities Committee is recommended to:

1. Note the Notice of Motion

RESOLVED (by majority):

The Environment and Communities Committee is recommended to:

2. Endorse the motion as presented

Councillor Hayley Whittaker left the meeting at 11.30am at the end of the Item 7 and did not return