Agenda item

Councillor Alan Schneiderman moved the motion in his name.  Councillor Dean Cohen moved the amendment in his name.  Councillor Anne Clarke moved the amendment in her name.  Debate ensued.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Dean Cohen was put to the vote. 

Votes were recorded as follows:

The amendment in the name of Councillor Dean Cohen was declared CARRIED.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Anne Clarke was put to the vote.  Votes were recorded as follows:

Votes were recorded as follows:

The motion in the name of Councillor Anne Clarke was declared LOST.

The substantive motion as amended by Councillor Dean Cohen was put to the vote. 

Votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED that:

Council recognises:

1.    That Barnet Council has committed itself to a multifaceted approach to improving environment factors around the borough. This includes, but is not limited to, the Air Quality Action Plan 2017-2022 and planting 4500 new trees over the next five years.

2.    That through carbon offsetting and ensuring improvements to air quality through means such as divesting responsibly from high pollutants in the borough, Barnet Council can create efficiencies that create savings as well as improving public health.

3.    That Parliament has agreed a motion declaring an environment and climate emergency.

Council notes:

1.    That the same environmental challenges that are faced by the UK are also faced in Barnet.

2.    Over 60 councils have passed ‘climate emergency’ motions since the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report on Global Warming of 1.5°C was published in October 2018. This report describes the major environmental harms that a 2°C rise in world temperature is likely to cause and urges that governments and related authorities world-wide seek to limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C.

3.    That the IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C argues that limiting Global temperature rises to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national Governments AND local Government working in collaboration with partner agencies, organisations, groups and local communities.

4.    That Barnet’s commitment to remain a green and pleasant borough goes hand-in-hand with the Council’s commitment to fighting climate change and pollution. Barnet remains the borough with the sixth most green space, and has invested in a strategy to ensure that it remains both literally and figuratively a green borough.

5.    That Barnet’s tree planting initiatives have won awards.

6.    That the Ultra Low Emission Zone uses the North Circular as its outermost border, excluding much of the borough. This includes West Hendon, the ward already most severely affected by NO2 emissions.

7.    That Barnet Council continues to take action to reduce emissions, such as through:

a.    The commitment to have installed 116 electric car charging points within the near future, with 44 already installed.

b.    Supporting the launch of the Drive Now floating car club in Barnet. This scheme makes 50 vehicles available for use by residents and visitors. These cars are a mixture of fully automatic and low-emission.

8.    That Barnet Council is at the forefront of innovation in energy provision and wastage minimisation by investing in a district energy and heating system.

9.    15 out of Barnet’s 118 schools are at a level in excess of the legal EU air quality limit. However, 14 of these schools are located adjacent to roads administered by TfL/Highways England and not the council itself. This limits the council’s ability to improve the air in these areas, damaging the health of the borough’s young people.

Council resolves:

1.    To lobby the Mayor of London to support Barnet Council

a.    Reduce emissions from roads that fall outside of the Council’s jurisdiction.

b.    Prioritise the bus routes that serve within 100m of the 15 schools most impacted by emissions for a transition to cleaner buses i.e. through hybrid double-decker, and hydrogen powered single-decker buses.

2.    To ensure that the Air Quality Action Plan is carried through to completion.

3.    To call on the Government to provide additional powers and resources to ensure Barnet Borough Council can help deliver on national targets relating to climate change.