Issue - meetings

To hear any deputations requested by members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 32.

Members are asked to note that the following deputations are due to be received at the meeting:

6.1   Response and action to address the climate emergency in Brent (deputation to be made by Action for the Climate Emergency Brent)

6.2   Implementation and operation of Blue Bag recycling scheme (deputation to be made by Sheila Darr, local resident)

(Agenda republished to include confirmation of second deputation on 14 November 2023)

6.1     Action to address the Climate Emergency

NOTED the deputation received from Elaine Sheppard and Sylvia Gauthereau (representing Action for the Climate Emergency in Brent) outlining concerns regarding the urgency of the action being taken by the Council to address the climate emergency and achieve the target of becoming a net carbon zero borough by 2030.  Referring to the coalition of groups represented by the newly established ACE Brent (which included Brent Friends of the Earth, Brent Cycling Campaign, Brent Parks Forum, Brent Pure Energy, Brent XR and Divest Brent) members were also reminded of the recent correspondence outlining the coalition’s detailed proposals along with the need to increase the pace of action over the coming five-year period.  Whilst recognising that the government was not on track regarding the climate emergency, ACE Brent felt that Brent as a borough could be.

Although recognising the Council’s commitment towards achieving net zero (as outlined within its Climate Emergency Strategy, Green Vision Planning guidelines, Green Neighbourhood pilots and other initiatives) it was not felt these were sufficiently urgent in nature as a response or reflected (given the diversity within Brent) the global and local social justice obligations which underpinned tackling the climate emergency.  Whilst aware of the financial pressures on the Council and impact of cost-of-living crisis, it was felt that working together to focus on more ambitious and urgent action did not mean having to spending more money, with calls for a revamped Climate Plan to galvanise and replace the current strategy that would bring together all current strategies and initiatives to more clearly prioritise SMART and costed actions that would deliver net zero and protect those residents most at risk.  Prior to handing over to Sylvia Gauthereau to continue, Elaine Sheppard ended by expressing concern at the limited scope of the Climate Strategy Delivery Plan 2022-24 in terms of the activities covered and also at the recent decision to revise reporting on the climate action from an annual to biannual basis, reiterating that this decision negatively impacted the ability to effectively monitor delivery of the Climate Strategy in advance of 2030.

Sylvia Gauthereau continued by advising that ACE Brent had welcomed the agreement at a recent Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee seeking a more accessible accountability framework to monitor performance, especially with regard to clearer measurement of emissions which it was hoped was now in progress.  It was also felt that the development of any new Plan should be initiated and informed by a new Climate Assembly which would have regular dialogue with, and report to, residents and stakeholders.  In support of this proposal, reference was made to the establishment of dedicated Climate and Emergency Scrutiny Committees and Citizen Panels by other local authorities.  As a result, ACE Brent felt that in order to effectively support the move towards net zero and ensure the necessary co-ordination and oversight was provided, Brent should also consider establishing a dedicated Climate and Ecological Emergency Scrutiny Committee which met on a quarterly basis. To conclude,  ...  view the full decision text for item 7

The Mayor advised that she had accepted two requests for deputations to be presented at the meeting.  The first of these was from Elaine Sheppard and Sylvia Gauthereau (representing Action for the Climate Emergency in Brent) outlining concerns about the action being taken by the Council to address the climate emergency and achieve the target of becoming net carbon zero by 2030.  The second was from Sheila Darr (as a local resident) seeking to highlight a number of practical implementation and operational concerns relating to the recently introduced blue bag recycling scheme across the borough.

Unless otherwise indicated by members, the Mayor advised that she intended to allow up to five minutes for presentation of each deputation before then allowing the relevant Lead Cabinet Member up to two minutes to respond.

As no objections were raised on the approach outlined, the Mayor moved on to welcome the first deputation.

7.1     Action to address the Climate Emergency

In thanking the Mayor for the opportunity to address the meeting, Elaine Sheppard and Sylvia Gauthereau advised they were presenting the deputation on behalf of the newly established Action for the Climate Emergency in Brent (ACE Brent) which represented a coalition of groups including Brent Friends of the Earth, Brent Cycling Campaign, Brent Parks Forum, Brent Pure Energy, Brent XR and Divest Brent.  In seeking to outline their concerns regarding the urgency of the action being taken by the Council to address the climate emergency and achieve the target of becoming a net carbon zero borough by 2030, Elaine Sheppard began by reminding members of the correspondence circulated in advance of the meeting, which had outlined the coalition’s detailed proposals along with what they felt was a need to increase the pace of action over the coming five-year period.  Whilst recognising that the government was not on track regarding the climate emergency, ACE Brent felt that Brent as a borough could be.

Although recognising the Council’s commitment towards achieving net zero (as outlined within its Climate Emergency Strategy, Green Vision Planning guidelines, Green Neighbourhood pilots and other initiatives) it was not felt these were sufficiently urgent in nature as a response or reflected (given the diversity within Brent) the global and local social justice obligations which underpinned tackling the climate emergency.  Whilst aware of the financial pressures on the Council and impact of cost-of-living crisis, it was felt that working together to focus on more ambitious and urgent action did not mean having to spending more money.  ACE Brent were therefore seeking a revamped Climate Plan to galvanise and replace the existing strategy aimed at bringing together all current plans and initiatives to more clearly prioritise SMART and costed actions that would deliver net zero and protect those residents most at risk.  Prior to handing over to Sylvia Gauthereau, Elaine Sheppard ended by expressing concern at the limited scope of the current Climate Strategy Delivery Plan in terms of the activities covered and also at the recent decision to revise reporting on climate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7