Is democracy being served?-Ian Pirie Havering Friends of the Earth.
Today, Ian Pirie Co-ordinator of Havering Friends of the Earth writes in the Havering Daily on Havering Council’s meeting on 17 November 2021 and notice of a new organisation Havering Climate Coalition.
I recently sat down to watch the video recording of the full council meeting on Weds 17th November. I have since re-watched sections of it. I’m a reasonably intelligent and experienced person (I have a degree, and over 35 years experience teaching in FE and HE) and yet I remain mystified. What was going on? What happened?
The main item on the agenda was the newly-minted ‘Climate Action Plan.’ This was agenda item 7, which is what I wanted to hear about. Before we could get to this there were speeches in memory of a former much respected councillor Del Smith, and a couple of petitions, and the Leader of the Council put forward a motion concerning agenda item 12d (something to do with a controversy over a bridge between two parks).
There followed some 15 minutes of wrangling over procedures, during which the Monitoring Officer’s advice was sought more than once. The Mayor, who chairs these meetings, seemed out of his depth to say the least.
More than once the Leader stood up to point out that they should have dealt with his motion – eventually, in the middle of discussion about whether to discuss the Climate Action Plan or not, the motion about the bridge was dealt with.
However, most of the wrangling was over what is known as a ‘call in’ of the Climate Action Plan: opposition councillors felt so strongly that the plan was inadequate that, as I understand it, they wanted to defer a debate and refer it back so that the authors – a ‘topic group’ and council officers could be properly questioned about it.
Now usually, I believe, a call-in is voted on and, if passed,then there is no further discussion of the item. Not so on Havering council: speeches were made proposing acceptance of the Climate Action Plan. Some said quite erroneously that Havering was one of the first London boroughs to have such a plan – on the contrary, Havering is one of only three London boroughs that do not (see: https://data.climateemergency.uk/councils/ ). It was claimed there are 121 measurable outcomes in the plan – I had counted approximately one.
Speeches were made saying the call-in process was being undermined, and speeches were made saying how weak a plan it was. But in the end the vote to accept the plan was passed. At one point the Mayor, to some laughter, asked ‘Has democracy been served?’ I remain bewildered, and angry that the plan is being pushed through without proper scrutiny.
The Havering Climate Action Plan is, as the leader of the opposition said, a vague wish-list, and it badly needs input from members of the public who know something about climate change. For this reason, we are setting up a Havering Climate Coalition which will consist of groups and individuals in the borough who would like to campaign with the aim of strengthening the Action Plan.
If you would like to help please contact either: Ian_michael_pirie@btinternet.com or: jeff.stafford@haveringcyclists.org
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Its amusing really, but the Council Leader Cllr Damian White is now out-competing Ian Pirie in their hyperbole to save the planet. Ian says more must be done and Damian says we will do whatever it takes, both ignoring the fact humans can do nothing to save the planet as mankind has no say in the matter due to cosmic forces beyond our control.
Hence why its religious vanity to believe mankind’s puny efforts can determine climate once you consider the world, universe and everything. Rec 26/11.
Take a look at the solar system do you really believe humans puny efforts can compete with the influence of that billions year old giant ball of gas called the Sun? In climate terms ignoring the Sun is a bit like a religious person ignoring God.
However as man made climate change has become the new state credo the Council Leader shows his devotion by promoting a town hall climate action plan with a starting price of £500,000, but which he say’s could reach over £10 million.
Except the council is broke, with the Council Executive warning of big increases in council tax and mass redundancies to balance the books! In other words his words are either empty rhetoric or a criminal waste of money due to more important matters.
I appreciate the zealots think desperate virtue signalling still makes a difference, but the fact is carbon reductions in Havering or indeed the UK as a whole cannot save the planet because COP26 was a failure as China and India still (sensibly) intend to burn coal making the UK contribution irrelevant.