The Head of Policy, Communications and Governance presented the report on establishing the Biodiversity and Climate Change Review in accordance with the Council Motion in April 2019.  As requested in June 2019 the report now included information on work by other local authorities which was extensive.  It also referenced the Overview and Scrutiny review from 2003 which contained key recommendations on climate change.  The review would look at what worked elsewhere and see if that learning could be incorporated locally.  £40k funding had previously been agreed by Policy and Resources Committee to provide officer support for the proposed working group.

The Committee was clear that this matter that had support from the whole Council and expressed a strong desire to see things move at pace.  The debate centred around the appropriate governance arrangements to achieve this.

Cllr Mortimer proposed and Cllr Mackay seconded the following motion:

i.  To establish a Maidstone Borough Council Climate and Ecological Emergency Working Group with immediate effect.

ii.  That the Maidstone Borough Council Climate and Ecological Emergency Working Group will undertake research and development activities to formulate a suite of recommendations to be presented to Policy and Resources Committee by April 2020 addressing the changes required across corporate policy and practice to deliver upon the principles of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Declaration.

iii.  The working group will comprises twelve members with:

Ø  Five drawn from the Council’s Elected Membership (i.e. one nominated from each of the five political groups, with a caveat that should the number of political groups represented on the Council change this calculation will need to be revisited);

Ø  Five drawn from named representatives of interested and/or expert stakeholders e.g. namely: an activist group representative; a business representative; a utilities representative; a landowning/farming representative; a nature conservation organisation representative;

Ø  Two independent members:

Local ecologist and resilience professional Louise Butfoy; and Honorary Alderman Fran Wilson;

Ø  The working group co-chairs will comprise Cllr. Paul Harper (as mover of Council motion) and Cllr. Tony Harwood (as instigator and chair of 2003 MBC Climate Change Review)

iv.  The working group will receive appropriate officer support from Maidstone Borough Council for two years i.e. one year to enable policy and practice formulation, including interviews with expert witnesses and site visits, and one year to undertake implementation monitoring and review.

v.  Associated on-costs such as expert witness expenses and stakeholder workshops or conferences will be drawn from identified £40k budget.

vi.  The working group will demonstrate community leadership by building a broad coalition for positive change in climate and ecological policy and practice in Maidstone Borough and seek partnerships and common purpose with areas beyond its borders.

vii.  The working group will ensure appropriate performance monitoring and review across project implementation and milestones.

viii.  The key working group aims will be achieving adaptation and resilience to global heating impacts, landscaping scale ecological recovery and practical action to reduce the individual carbon footprint of Maidstone Borough Council and their commissioned services, residents, businesses and public and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43