Swale Borough Council in Kent has created a dedicated position in the authority’s Cabinet to focus on climate change.
This reaffirms the authority’s commitment to tackling climate change and improving biodiversity in the borough.
The post was announced by council Leader, Councillor Roger Truelove, at a full council meeting that was held on 23 June.
Councillor Tim Valentine will take up the role as the Cabinet member, while Councillor Ben A Martin will be deputy.
Commenting, Councillor Truelove said: “Swale is now widely seen as a frontrunner council in tackling the challenges brought forward by the growing climate change emergency at a local level.
“We are setting the pace and I want to have a Cabinet portfolio concentrating particularly on taking this further forward, as this is a high priority for our coalition administration.
Councillor Valentine added: “I look forward to the opportunity to lead on the council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan.
“The good news is that the actions we need to take will make Swale a better and healthier place to live.
“For example, by improving our air quality, enhancing our green spaces and making homes warmer in winter.”
Swale Council declared a climate and ecological emergency in June 2019.
The purpose of the declaration was to draw attention to the urgent need to reverse the decline in biodiversity in Swale and to take effective action to reduce carbon emissions in the borough.
The declaration sets the goals for carbon emissions from the council’s operations to be carbon neutral by 2025 and for the borough to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Swale Council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan outlines the steps the authority will take to reach these targets, in areas including transport, air quality, buildings, ecology and biodiversity, resource consumption and waste.
PSE will be hosting a Public Sector Decarbonisation event on 9 September. Join us for the full day event by registering here.
