To receive petitions and public questions in accordance with Standing Order 9.
Minutes:
Under Standing Order 9 the Mayor invited the following members of the public to ask their questions as shown:
1) Trudy Clark read by Bernadette Barclay
A report produced for the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership has as a core aim to establish an ecological network in Norfolk.
Following is a quote from the “REPORT OF ECOLOGICAL NETWORK MAPPING PROJECT FOR NORFOLK”, 2006, R. Land, Norfolk Wildlife Trust for Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership.
“It is increasingly apparent that the area of wildlife habitat needs to be greatly increased and re-connected if it is to survive in a human dominated landscape and be given a chance to adapt to climate change. The creation of an ecological network is, therefore, a necessity.”
Clearly this is 14 years old, and the problems facing nature and biodiversity have since become even more pressing.
One way habitats can be increased is by reconnecting already existing hedgerows that have become fragmented.
An aim of the Norfolk Volunteer Network is to record gaps in hedgerows with the idea of restoring them with native plants fit for the purpose once breeding season is over. Then, to care for those plants until they are established.
I acknowledge the Council has projects in place to help nature and with limited resources struggles to do all it would like. Therefore, I respectfully ask the Borough Council to give the Norfolk Volunteer Network permission to begin surveying the hedgerows it is responsible for, with a view to planting, at its own expense later in the year?
Councillor Nockolds gave the following response:
“Thank you for your very interesting question and the details you have given us.
I totally agree with you that it is so important to maintain and increase habitats for our wildlife.
As you have mentioned one way is to reconnect all of the hedgerows and restore them with native plants.
Although the Borough Council land does not have many hedgerows, I am very happy to speak to you and discuss the possibility of giving Norfolk Volunteer Network permission to survey the hedgerows with a view to planting. The Borough Council always appreciate the time and commitment volunteers give to our Borough.”
By way of supplementary, Ms Barclay in referring to the Council’s tree strategy, asked what the Council was doing to bring its tree planting in line with its own strategy.
Councillor Nockolds responded that she did not consider the Council was neglecting trees, there were a lot of open spaces in the Borough, but the majority of land belonged to other people.
2) Alistair Kent
"What steps have been taken to identify land suitable for tree planting in the Borough following the decision by the County Council to plant a million trees across the County, and will details of any plots identified, the number and species of tree to be planted and when this will happen be made public in the near future?"
Councillor Devereux gave the following response:
This Council has committed to supporting the Norfolk County Council in planting a million trees across the county. Last weekend some 500 trees were planted on Council land in Kings Reach and we have declared our tree planting intentions in support of the potential Parkway housing development over coming years. Other sites will be identified in due course.
By way of supplementary Mr Kent asked whether Councillor Devereux was correct in stating that the decision on the Notice of Motion from Councillor Squires to plant trees was not in addition to the trees planted by the County Council.
Councillor Devereux responded that it was intended to support the intentions of the motion, the County Council proposals were being considered along with the overall picture.
3) Cliff Goodman
It is evident from Council reports and from seeing Council or Council supported activities that climate change adaption and mitigation measures are taking place. To a lesser extent carbon reduction measures are also receiving attention.
I do however detect a lack of will by the Council to take more urgent and bold, radical steps to deal with what is an emergency. Science warns that we are fast reaching the tipping point where temperature rises will spiral out of control resulting in catastrophe. Of course, many of the urgently required actions need to be dealt with at national and global level, but there are many highly effective meaningful actions that local authorities can take.
Now is not the time for excuses for not taking appropriate emergency action, now is the time to look for ways to do and act on what is needed. I know that this Council has received documents with suggested actions and I strongly suspect that it has had plenty of opportunity to look at these and to obtain further information and advice from its own sources. The suggested actions such as those in the Friends of the Earth report are worthy of consideration. I note that progress has been made on some of these initiatives. It may be considered that actions need to be balanced and proportionate. However, it must be remembered that this must be considered as balanced and proportionate to the risk to health, life, environment and property.
Emergency adaption and mitigation actions are needed but it will be actions such as carbon reduction that will be key to preventing passing the tipping point where temperature rise spirals out of control resulting in catastrophic risk to health, life, environment and property.
Will this Council commit to an urgent start on climate change prevention; including more effort into actions such as those suggested by environmental groups?
Councillor Devereux gave the following response:
“This Council has long been engaged in Climate Change prevention and embarked on a new programme some 10 months ago to quantify our achievements to date and to set a baseline for further action. Our Carbon Footprint Audit has been completed and is reported later in these proceedings and will be considered further at the Environment & Community Panel on 3rd March. This work has enabled us to look at how we might achieve net zero by 2050 with work focussed on prevention and reductions in Key Areas including:-
Green Habitat
Planning
Housing
The Borough’s Refit programme;
Vehicle Fleet
Staff travel”
By way of supplementary Mr Goodman asked if the Council would be more pro active with the climate emergency and lobby government for changes in the law and funding for the work needed.
In response Councillor Long reported that the Council would be considering the environmental policy, he referred to the reductions achieved in the Council’s carbon footprint and those planned to be made in the future. He commented that the Council was also trying to encourage other businesses to do so. Councillor Devereux also drew attention to the additional resource put in place to assist with the work required.
4) Dr Charlie Gardner
The council has significant financial investments. Could you please clarify how much of the council’s total investments is invested in fossil fuels and other industries that contribute to climate breakdown and associated sea level rise, such as aviation and concrete production?
In response Councillor Long explained that the Council had £26m of investments spread between a mix of loans to other Councils. The Council’s investment policies were for local services. He listed the banks where money was invested, explaining that a large amount of the money would be used to fund the developments planned in King’s Lynn.
By way of supplementary Dr Gardner explained that the Council could control where its money was invested as Barclays was the largest funder of fossil fuels in Europe. He asked if the Council would commit to invest responsibly.
Councillor Long responded that the Council had some large sums of money which had to be invested in a short space of time, these were constantly reviewed, along with the requirement for investment in west Norfolk.
5) Alistair Macdonald
As a former print journalist and award-winning broadcaster, I would like to ask the council what steps it is taking to prevent the intimidation of journalists trying to report the work of the council so they have a safe and friendly environment in which to carry out their work unfettered by attacks on the democratic process?
Councillor Long responded that he did not believe there was a problem as there was a good working relationship with the media. He stated that Cabinet Members were encouraged to engage with the local press in a constructive manner.
By way of supplementary Mr MacDonald made reference to a twitter post and asked if the Leader condemned the behaviour.
Councillor Long responded that he had deleted twitter, but had apologised to the person concerned and the good working relationship was maintained.