New partnership to tackle climate change

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Tuesday, 26 January 2021 16:44

By Carmelo Garcia - Local Democracy Reporter

There are plans to set up a county-wide partnership to tackle the climate and ecological challenges facing the county.

Herefordshire councillors have suggested establishing a 60-person board which would include environmental experts, representatives from major carbon emitters, organisations that provide major services and community action groups.

Environment, economy and skills cabinet member Ellie Chowns said they are hoping the partnership will be very broad and people who are interested in the climate and ecological emergency to get involved.

“What we are suggesting is a board with four categories of members,” she said.

“The major emitters, public and private sector organisations who have a big carbon footprint, experts so individuals and organisation with particular climate and nature expertise, enablers, so that’s organisations with the capacity to shape the actions of others, that includes the council and others providing vital infrastructure or services and communities, so organisations that represent and reflect public opinion.

“The proposal would be to have a board of 60 people divided as equally as possible between those groups, specifically with that aim to engage that wider range of stakeholders as possible.”

Coun Barry Durkin supports the idea but raised concerns over the partnership’s accountability.

“Are we not looking at an unelected, unaccountable group running the council’s climate and environmental situation?

“I just wonder if we are giving away a lot of the decision making power and council tax funding to an unelected, unaccountable group.”