After the extreme heat and drought of the summer in England and extreme weather including overheating, and floods elsewhere with many lives lost it was appropriate that last night's Full Council had a dual focus on the Climate Emergency.
ACE Brent made a presentation on the need for the Council to involve councillors and residents in the challenge society now faces with an even hotter summer forecast next year and floods predicted this Autumn and Winter. They called for greater accountability through a Climate Emergency Scrutiny Committee and the restoration of the Climate Champion role carried out by Cllr Mary Mitchell when she was a Labour councillor.
It was Cllr Mitchell who moved the Green Group's motion on 'Addressing Urban Heat and Climate Inequality in Brent'. An attempt to dilute the motion by the Conservatives was defeated, the Greens accepted a Liberal Democrat amendment and the resulting amended motion was supported by Labour.
The full presentation and debate can be viewed in the video above.
After the meeting Elaine Sheppard of ACE said:
ACE Brent representatives are pleased that the climate emergency finally got more of a hearing in the council chamber last night, with our deputation with our deputation challenging 2 years absence of discussion in the Brent council chamber, and overall lack of accountability despite increasing climate breakdown, and the Green Party motion on urban heat and climate inequality.
Cllr Mitchell said:
We did it! The first Green Party motion in Brent was carried yesterday, marking a significant step in the Council’s recognition of the climate crisis and the actions we must take to protect residents from extreme heat.
We were delighted to receive support from all parties in the chamber, and thank Brent Green Party members for their support, participation and belief that elected Greens make a difference, no matter how large the group! We also thank the Brent Liberal Democrat group for their amendments that strengthened the motion even further.
No resident in Brent should be put at risk because of where they live, how much access they have to green space or shade, or whether or not they can afford air conditioning.
We must act now.
