To receive petitions and public questions in accordance with Standing Order 9.
Minutes:
Under standing order 9 the Mayor invited the following public questioners to pose their questions.
1) Question from Brenda Kent
"In the light of recent flood warnings, a tide higher than predicted and rising sea levels, what plans do you have in place to protect residents, land and dwellings in those local areas that are perilously close to sea level given that your 2008 strategy document will now be, at the very least, in the most urgent need of updating?"
Councillor Devereux gave the following response:
I understand the thrust of your point, but, I must first correct your second proposition. The basic magnitude and timing of our ‘tides’ are a matter of predictable scientific expression: this is what enables the publication of nationally available tide tables. However, individual local tidal water levels are subject to the additional variable effects of wind direction and magnitude as well as local air pressure and other weather trends over short timescales. It is these factors that are analysed, tracked and assessed by the Environment Agency in real time, with data from the Met Office, to provide overarching estimates of increased risk of higher water levels that might over-top the flood defences; these risks inform multi-agency decision making on specific flood alerts, warnings and exceptionally, precautionary evacuation notices, as recently experienced at Hunstanton. On this latest occasion, the combined additional effect of the weather was less than originally forecast for the time of the highest tide, because the wind dropped. As a consequence, the forecast flood levels did not occur: but, the warning actions were prudent in the light of the weather forecasts at the time.
As to the other points, I presume that your reference to a 2008 document is the high level, Environment Agency “Shoreline Management Plan” for our part of the Wash. This document informed the basic decision making for the Wash East Coast Management Strategy. This led initially to the Shingle Bank Flood Defence recycling process plan at Snettisham and then, more recently drafting of the Hunstanton Coastal Management Plan. This latest detailed local plan takes a 75+ year view of coastal change, including the estimates of sea level rise and their effect on tidal flood levels, to identify the engineering works needed to defend Hunstanton, including increased height of ‘sea-walls’. This was subject to extensive consultation with the community and national agencies over recent years.
All Shoreline Management Plans across England are currently going through their 10 year review cycle by the Environment Agency. As it happens, our Borough Council Team is scheduled to be reviewing ours with the EA during November.
By way of supplementary Mrs Kent asked to what degree the council had a sense of urgency about the impending climate chaos and what steps would be taken to prevent damage.
Councillor Devereux confirmed that the council was committed to doing an assessment of the carbon footprint and its work was underway. An officer working group had been established and additional staff recruited to undertake the additional work required.
2) Question by Dr Charlie Gardner
To be read by Lee Stevens
Thank you, Mr Mayor and borough councillors, for all your efforts, over the months and years, to ensure that West Norfolk remains a thriving and happy place for its residents. Thank you too, Mr Mayor, for the opportunity to address you on this hugely important evening. I apologise for not being here in person - yesterday I was in Cardiff speaking to the National Assembly for Wales, whose members are taking their collective responsibilities in this time of climate and ecological emergency very seriously, and tomorrow I will be at University of Kent, teaching tomorrow’s leaders about these same emergencies. Unfortunately, I have not been able to return home to King’s Lynn in between.
Tonight is a momentous occasion. Less than three weeks ago, parts of Hunstanton, Heacham and Snettisham were evacuated due to the risk of dangerous flooding, reminding us of the acute danger we face as one of the country’s most vulnerable communities to the impacts of climate breakdown. And over the last 10 days, tens of thousands of people (including myself and many others from West Norfolk), have been sacrificing their time, and in many cases their liberty, to fight for our collective survival on the streets of London and capital cities around the world. And just last week a report was published stating that the costs of climate breakdown are ‘potentially infinite’, and include a possibility of human extinction. In case you are wondering, it was published by those notorious ecowarriors the IMF. So the timing of tonight’s vote could not be more pertinent, or historical.
Council members have said, in our meetings and in the press, that you don’t want gesture politics. On that we can all agree. To indulge in gesture politics at a time like this would be to fiddle while Rome burns. It would be a dereliction of your duty not only as councillors, but as proud residents of West Norfolk. The only alternative to gesture politics is to pass a strong declaration, as Councillor de Whalley has proposed, and to back it up with the necessary drive and commitment. Because to do otherwise, and vote against this action, would be to vote for climate breakdown. It would be a vote for the flooding of West Norfolk, a vote for food insecurity and hunger, and a vote against your children and grandchildren. It would be a vote that West Norfolk would never forgive you for, and one that will be remembered when the next floods hit.
The last time I spoke at a full council meeting was in early August, when I was invited to speak in support of a climate emergency motion proposed by the Conservative portfolio holder for economic development in Tunbridge Wells Town Council. Tunbridge Wells is not a coastal town, and so is much less threatened than West Norfolk. Their council is strongly conservative, and the motion proposed was stronger than that proposed by Councillor de Whalley. Yet it was passed unanimously with just a single abstention. The councillors of Tunbridge Wells are not alone - over half the local authorities in the UK, including our neighbours in North Norfolk, have declared a Climate Emergency, as have others in over 20 countries. The cities of New York, Paris, Sydney and Ottawa have declared Climate Emergencies. So has the UK Parliament, and those of the Republic of Ireland, France and Canada. Governments around the world, from local to national levels, are starting to show the leadership, vision and courage to take the necessary first step to saving our only home.
So my question to you is straightforward. If all these authorities around the world have the confidence, courage and vision to take the necessary actions for the people they represent, what makes King’s Lynn and West Norfolk so different?
Councillor Devereux gave the following response:
Thank You, Mr Stevens, for your input.
Mr Mayor, I will try to keep my response within the bounds of the Nolan Principles, but I’m afraid that this so called question just confirms to me the arrogant self-seeking nature of Extinction Rebellion.
I refuse to acknowledge their patronising approach and their flagrant disregard of our laws and Institutions of Government, in pursuit of their clearly stated political objectives: their intention to overthrow our well-established local and national government processes, and for them to be replaced by their ideas of “Peoples’ Assemblies”. What nonsense
We in this Borough do not need telling that Climate Change is happening....we live the implications every day! But, together with Regional and National Authorities we have implemented robust actions to protect our communities. There is no doubt that much needs to be done to continue these arrangements into the future and we will continue to pursue them vigorously. It is sad that XR has no viable, practical solutions.
We must have top down constructive strategies and plans to overcome the adversity of changes to our climate and weather, whilst maintaining economic and political stability: Global policies must be agreed by International Governments to find the robust technical paths to enable the world to progress towards a better future. XR’s aspirations are narrow, manipulative and driven by their partisan, anti-establishment view of the world. Their way would deny humankind of the essentials of life today, including pharmaceuticals, health care, food, potable water, communications, transport and security, amongst many other essentials valued by individual cultures.... In a word: “Disaster”.
It is a matter of great concern to me that so many Global and National Leaders pay lip-service to acceptance of XR pressures, then fail to address the international requirements for all of our futures, thereby providing XR the publicity on which they thrive.
Mr Mayor, We will continue to do what can be done, and that which we can do… within the Authority of this Council: to best serve the people and communities we have been democratically elected to represent.
We will not dance to the tune of unelected, anarchistic and disruptive objectors!
By way of supplementary Mr Stevens made a statement.
3) Question from M J Ray
How many times more important to this council is cutting traffic jam length than cutting air pollution; and how many times more important is cutting traffic jam length than increasing walking and cycling levels?
Councillor Long responded confirming that both were considered equally important, and once traffic jams were sorted, other options such as walking and cycling became better with less fumes etc.
By way of supplementary Mr Ray asked what the council would do to prioritise measures that did both, and asked if the Council would meet with WN Bug to discuss what could be achieved.
Councillor Long explained that the King’s Lynn Transport Plan document was still in draft, but there were various options to consider. He confirmed that the County Council was the lead on the matter, but the Borough had agreed to part fund the process. He confirmed that the cabinet member would meet with the Group.
4) Question from Hazel Fredericks
With regard to action on the Climate Change issue, does the council accept that it ought to do more than simply take responsibility for reducing its own Corporate greenhouse gas emissions, welcome though that would be.
Who does the council see as having the responsibility for overseeing population-wide greenhouse gas emission reductions throughout our area of West Norfolk and what plans are currently in place to effect our fair share of cuts to meet our part of the 2015 Paris Agreement?
Councillor Devereux gave the following response:
“Mr Mayor, On the first part, I would refer the questioner to my earlier response to Mr Stevens, specifically, “We will continue to do what can be done, and that which we can do… within the Authority of this Council: to best serve the people and communities we have been democratically elected to represent!”.
As to the second part: the simple answer is everyone is responsible for their actions! I am sure we will all want to comply with the Law of the Land as it develops.”
By way of supplementary Mrs Fredericks made a statement.