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Surprise expressed at climate motion controversy
05/09/2020 @ 10:48
Surprise has been expressed by Liberal Democrat county councillors who could see their motion declaring a climate emergency overturned.
Powys County Council is seeking legal advice on how to proceed after errors were found in the counting of votes at a full council meeting on 30 July.
The first vote at the full council meeting was on a motion to refer the declaration to a working group.
This was so that costs could be worked out and then a climate emergency motion could be brought back to full council at a later date.
Cllr Jake Berriman said: “Obviously, this is very disappointing.
“Powys will be a laughing stock if it becomes the first county council to have a climate emergency ‘undeclared’.
“We are facing a climate crisis and, the stalling vote aside, the decision by Powys to finally declare a climate emergency, is monumental.
“The substantive vote clearly won.
“So let’s simply have another vote, come together in common cause and have a unanimous declaration of a climate emergency next time round.”
Cllr Jackie Charlton who seconded the motion at the council meeting added:
“This year we’ve seen extreme flooding wreck homes, livelihoods and critical infrastructure in my own area of Crickhowell and Llangattock, but also in the Upper Swansea Valley, Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire and communities across Powys.
“These problems are only going to get worse unless all levels of government take the climate emergency seriously.”
She added that there were concerns why the error only came to light several weeks after the meeting.
“We hope that common sense prevails,” added Cllr Charlton.
A spokesman for PCC said that the council would be issuing “no further statement” on the issue.
On the day the online voting system caused confusion with councillors having to check that they had voted as they intended.
Those for the original motion had to vote against the deferral, and vice versa.
Those who could not vote electronically, gave their decision verbally, and the mistake was found in adding the online and verbal votes
On the day the vote was tied at 28 apiece and two abstentions.
PCC chairman, Cllr Beverley Baynham used her casting vote against the referral.
But after checks took place an extra vote was found and the referral motion would have won by 29 votes to 27.
The vote on the actual climate emergency motion was then taken and passed with 29 votes for, 20 against and four abstentions.
It is hoped that the council will receive the legal advice before the next full council meeting which will take place on 24 September.
The declaration called on the council to take urgent action to address its’ environmental impact, including setting a net carbon zero target for 2030.
It included creating a cabinet portfolio with responsibility for climate change mitigation and creating a Powys-wide climate change assembly bringing climate action campaigners and farming representatives together.
Powys County Council is seeking legal advice on how to proceed after errors were found in the counting of votes at a full council meeting on 30 July.The first vote at the full council meeting was on a motion to refer the declaration to a working group.
This was so that costs could be worked out and then a climate emergency motion could be brought back to full council at a later date.
Cllr Jake Berriman said: “Obviously, this is very disappointing.
“Powys will be a laughing stock if it becomes the first county council to have a climate emergency ‘undeclared’.
“We are facing a climate crisis and, the stalling vote aside, the decision by Powys to finally declare a climate emergency, is monumental.
“The substantive vote clearly won.
“So let’s simply have another vote, come together in common cause and have a unanimous declaration of a climate emergency next time round.”
Cllr Jackie Charlton who seconded the motion at the council meeting added:
“This year we’ve seen extreme flooding wreck homes, livelihoods and critical infrastructure in my own area of Crickhowell and Llangattock, but also in the Upper Swansea Valley, Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire and communities across Powys.
“These problems are only going to get worse unless all levels of government take the climate emergency seriously.”
She added that there were concerns why the error only came to light several weeks after the meeting.
“We hope that common sense prevails,” added Cllr Charlton.
A spokesman for PCC said that the council would be issuing “no further statement” on the issue.
On the day the online voting system caused confusion with councillors having to check that they had voted as they intended.
Those for the original motion had to vote against the deferral, and vice versa.
Those who could not vote electronically, gave their decision verbally, and the mistake was found in adding the online and verbal votes
On the day the vote was tied at 28 apiece and two abstentions.
PCC chairman, Cllr Beverley Baynham used her casting vote against the referral.
But after checks took place an extra vote was found and the referral motion would have won by 29 votes to 27.
The vote on the actual climate emergency motion was then taken and passed with 29 votes for, 20 against and four abstentions.
It is hoped that the council will receive the legal advice before the next full council meeting which will take place on 24 September.
The declaration called on the council to take urgent action to address its’ environmental impact, including setting a net carbon zero target for 2030.
It included creating a cabinet portfolio with responsibility for climate change mitigation and creating a Powys-wide climate change assembly bringing climate action campaigners and farming representatives together.
By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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