A - Climate Emergency
Proposer: Mr Whybrow - Seconder: Mr Bird
Background information
While Kent County Council has shown leadership when it comes to carbon reduction and addressing climate breakdown, there needs to be greater urgency, more focus, ambitious performance targets and reporting.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C described the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise. It concluded that limiting global warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and local authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities.
Prime exposures to climate change for Kent’s residents include the effects of more severe weather events and coastal flooding, and the rapid loss of biodiversity, which is occurring at “a rate seen only during mass extinctions” according to the World Wide Fund for Nature1.
Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure (including electric vehicle charging) etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm2.
Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities, as well as improved well-being for people worldwide. The Government and the Committee on Climate Change believe the shift to a very low carbon energy future represents the best course for the country’s economic development while also lowering the risk of fuel poverty and reducing air pollution.
Motion
“In terms of achievements to date, the significant reduction in carbon emissions from the roll-out of LED streetlights across the county was an excellent step forward by KCC and there is also important work within the Kent Environment Strategy and other initiatives such as the Active Travel Strategy and emerging Energy and Low Emissions Strategy.
Building on this:
Footnotes:
1. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has called for government leadership to make the changes necessary to reduce carbon emissions. According to the WWF Living Planet Report 2018, “Earth is losing biodiversity at a rate seen only during mass extinctions”. The losses in vertebrate species - mammals, fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles - averaged 60% between 1970 and 2014.
2 To reduce the chance of runaway global warming and limit the effects of climate breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from the current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible - Fossil CO2 & GHG emissions of all world countries, 2017: http://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/overview.php?v=CO2andGHG1970-2016&dst=GHGpc
B – Council tax exemptions for young care leavers
Proposer: Ida Linfield Seconder: Mrs Dean
Background information
Kent County Council currently provides a package of support to care leavers up to the age of 25 through the Care Leavers 18+ service which includes a package of financial assistance and support. However, those care leavers who are living independently find themselves handing back a portion of their income through their council tax contributions. A 2015 report by the Children’s Society entitled, ‘The Wolf at the Door - how council tax debt collection is harming children,’ identified that care leavers are a particularly vulnerable group for council tax debt.
From April 2019, young people leaving the care system in Wales were made exempt from paying Council tax up to the age of 25. This follows the lead of Scotland which implemented a similar policy one year earlier. In England, several local authorities including Manchester City Council, Southwark Council and Nottingham County Council have already put in place exemptions for young care leavers.
Motion
“The council notes the disadvantage that care leavers have when transitioning into adult life and therefore resolves to engage with each of Kent’s twelve district councils and ask for their relevant committees to consider and agree to provide a 100% council tax discount to care leavers who meet the following criteria:
Minutes:
(a) Climate Emergency
(1) Mr Whybrow moved and Mr Bird seconded the following motion:
1.1 “In terms of achievements to date, the significant reduction in carbon emissions from the roll-out of LED streetlights across the county was an excellent step forward by KCC and there is also important work within the Kent Environment Strategy and other initiatives such as the Active Travel Strategy and emerging Energy and Low Emissions Strategy.
1.2 Building on this:
(i) KCC recognises the Climate Emergency and will commit resources and will align its policies to address this.
(ii)KCC will set a target of carbon neutrality from its activities and those of its trading companies by 2030 using the Carbon Trust framework, with an Action Plan for achieving this.
(iii)KCC will report annually at full council on its progress towards the target.
(iv)KCC will work with partners and contract providers and will investigate all possible sources of external funding and match funding to support this commitment as well as writing to central government with respect to the emergency to request funding to implement swift appropriate actions in response.”
(2) Mr Payne proposed and Mr Whiting seconded the following amendment:
1.1
“In terms of achievements to
date, data shows that Co2 emissions have already been reduced by
36% when compared to the 2005 baseline target set in the existing
Kent Environment Strategy of 34% by 2020. A the
significant reduction in carbon emissions from the roll-out of LED
streetlights across the county was an excellent step forward by KCC
and there is also important work within the Kent Environment
Strategy and other initiatives such as the Active Travel Strategy
and emerging Energy and Low Emissions Strategy.
1.2
Building on this:
(i)
KCC recognises the UK Environment
and Climate Emergency and will continue to commit
resources and will align its policies to address
this.
(ii) Through the framework of the Energy and Low Emissions Strategy KCC will facilitate the setting and agreement of a target of Net Zero emissions by 2050 for Kent and Medway.
(iii) KCC will by May 2020 set an accelerated target with associated action plan for its own estate and activities including those of its traded companies using appropriate methodologies.
(iv) KCC will in addition deliver a Kent and Medway Climate Change Risk and Impact Report, and develop and facilitate adoption of a subsequent Kent and Medway Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan by the end of March 2020.
(ii) KCC
will set a target of carbon neutrality from its activities and
those of its trading companies by 2030 using the Carbon Trust
framework, with an Action Plan for achieving this.
(v) KCC will report annually at full council on its progress towards the target as part of a KES report.
(vi)
KCC will continue to work with
partners and contract providers and will investigate all possible
sources of external funding and match funding to support this
commitment as well as continuing to work with writing
to central government with respect to the emergency to
request funding to implement swift appropriate actions in
response.”
(3) Following the debate, the Chairman put the amendment set out in paragraph (2) above to the vote and the voting was as follows:
For (54)
Mr M Angell, Mr M Balfour, Mrs C Bell, Mrs R Binks, Mr T Bond, Mr A Booth, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr D Butler, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs S Chandler, Mrs P Cole, Mr A Cook, Mr G Cooke, Mr P Cooper, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr M Dance, Miss E Dawson, Mrs L Game, Mr R Gough, Ms S Hamilton, Mr M Hill, Mr T Hills, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr M Horwood, Mr E Hotson, Mrs L Hurst, Mr R Long, Mr R Love, Mr G Lymer, Mr S Manion, Mr A Marsh, Ms D Marsh, Mr J McInroy, Mr P Messenger, Mr D Murphy, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr M Payne, Mrs S Prendergast, Mr K Pugh, Miss C Rankin, Mr H Rayner, Mr C Simkins, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr I Thomas, Mr R Thomas, Mr M Whiting, Mr J Wright.
Against (13)
Mr R Bird, Mr J Burden, Mr I Chittenden, Mr J Clinch, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr D Farrell, Mr P Harman, Mr B Lewis, Ida Linfield, Mr A Ridgers, Dr L Sullivan, Mr M Whybrow.
Abstain (0)
Amendment Carried
(4) The Chairman put the substantive motion as set out in paragraph (2) above to the vote and the voting was as follows:
For (57)
Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mrs C Bell, Mrs R Binks, Mr T Bond, Mr A Booth, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr J Burden, Mr D Butler, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs S Chandler, Mrs P Cole, Mr A Cook, Mr G Cooke, Mr P Cooper, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr M Dance, Miss E Dawson, Mr D Farrell, Mrs L Game, Mr R Gough, Ms S Hamilton, Mr P Harman, Mr M Hill, Mr T Hills, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr M Horwood, Mr E Hotson, Mrs L Hurst, Mr J Kite, Mr B Lewis, Mr R Long, Mr R Love, Mr G Lymer, Mr S Manion, Mr J McInroy, Mr P Messenger, Mr D Murphy, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr M Payne, Mrs S Prendergast, Mr K Pugh, Miss C Rankin, Mr H Rayner, Mr C Simkins, Dr L Sullivan, Mr B Sweetland, Mr I Thomas, Mr R Thomas, Mr M Whiting, Mr J Wright.
Against (8)
Mr M Balfour, Mr R Bird, Mr I Chittenden, Mr J Clinch, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Ida Linfield, Mr M Whybrow.
Abstain (0)
Substantive motion Carried
(5) RESOLVED that:
a) in terms of achievements to date, data shows that CO2 emissions have already been reduced by 36% when compared to the 2005 baseline target set in the existing Kent Environment Strategy of 34% by 2020. A significant reduction in carbon emissions from the roll-out of LED streetlights across the county was an excellent step forward by KCC and there is also important work within the Kent Environment Strategy and other initiatives such as the Active Travel Strategy and emerging Energy and Low Emissions Strategy;
b) KCC recognises the UK Environment and Climate Emergency and will continue to commit resources and align its policies to address this;
c) through the framework of the Energy and Low Emissions Strategy, KCC will facilitate the setting and agreement of a target of Net Zero emissions by 2050 for Kent and Medway;
d) KCC will by May 2020 set an accelerated target with associated action plan for its own estate and activities including those of its traded companies using appropriate methodologies;
e) KCC will in addition deliver a Kent and Medway Climate Change Risk and Impact Report, and develop and facilitate adoption of a subsequent Kent and Medway Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan by the end of March 2020;
f) a report will be submitted annually to full Council on progress towards the target, as part of a KES report; and
g) KCC will continue to work with partners and contract providers and will investigate all possible sources of external funding and match funding to support this commitment as well as continuing to work with central government to implement swift appropriate actions in response.
(b) Council tax exemption for young care leavers
(6) Ida Linfield moved and Mrs Dean seconded the following motion:
“The council notes the disadvantage that care leavers have when transitioning into adult life and therefore resolves to engage with each of Kent’s twelve district councils ask for their relevant committees to consider and agree to provide a 100% council tax discount to care leavers who meet the following criteria:
• Have been in the care of Kent County Council (as Corporate Parent) for a period of at least 13 weeks since the age of 14
• Are under the age of 25
• Reside within Kent
(7) Mr Gough proposed and Mrs Prendergast seconded the following amendment:
1.1
The council notes the disadvantage that
care leavers have when transitioning into adult life and therefore
resolves to engage with each of Kent’s twelve district
councils ask for their relevant committees to consider and agree to
provide a 100% council tax discount to care leavers who meet the
following criteria:
•
Have been in the care of Kent County
Council (as Corporate Parent) for a period of at least 13 weeks
since the age of 14
•
Are under the age of 25
•
Reside within Kent
welcomes the initiative by the young people's council in proposing the full exemption of Kent Care Leavers living in Kent from council tax until the age of 25, and in raising this as a Challenge Card at the Corporate Parenting Panel. The Council welcomes the commitment by officers and Members to pursue this with Kent's 12 District Councils, and notes the discussions that have already taken place with District Council Finance Officers. The Council asks that the Chairman, in her continuing role as Chair of the Corporate Parenting Panel, reports back on progress and ultimate delivery of this policy through her Chairman's announcements.
(8) Ida Linfield, as proposer of the original motion, with the support of her seconder agreed to accept the amendment.
(9) Following the debate, the amendment set out in paragraph (2) became the substantive motion and was agreed without a formal vote.
(10) RESOLVED that the Council notes the disadvantage that care leavers have when transitioning into adult life and therefore welcomes the initiative by the young people's council in proposing the full exemption of Kent Care Leavers living in Kent from council tax until the age of 25, and in raising this as a Challenge Card at the Corporate Parenting Panel. The Council welcomes the commitment by officers and Members to pursue this with Kent's 12 District Councils, and notes the discussions that have already taken place with District Council Finance Officers. The Council asks that the Chairman, in her continuing role as Chair of the Corporate Parenting Panel, reports back on progress and ultimate delivery of this policy through her Chairman's announcements.