Agenda item

The required notice has been given to the Chief Executive of the following motion, to be proposed by Councillor Dowding and seconded by Councillor Bannon:-

Lancaster City Council

(i) acknowledges the efforts that this council has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote and install renewable energy as part of its intention to become net -zero carbon,  particularly since its Declaration of a Climate Emergency in January 2019.

(ii) further recognises  

·       that very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being nearly impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so, 

·       that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would enable and empower new local businesses in Lancaster and Lancashire, or councils such as the existing Lancaster City Council or any successors, to more easily be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local customers, and

·       that revenues received by new local renewable electricity providers could be used to help improve the local economy, local services and facilities and to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions;

(iii) accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, supported by 187 MPs which, if made law, would establish a Right to Local Supply which would promote local renewable electricity supply companies and co-operatives by making the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate to the size of the supply operation; and

(iv) further resolves to  

·       inform the local media of this decision,

·       write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN or info@powerforpeole.org.uk) expressing its support.

An officer briefing note is enclosed.

During this item, a number of declarations of interest were made. Councillor Caroline Jackson declared an ‘other’ interest as  a director of MORE renewables; Councillor Frea declared a non-prejudicial ‘other’ interest as a director of Halton Lune Hydro; Councillor Brookes declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) as a shareholder in Morecambe Bay Community Renewables, and Councillor Greenall declared that he would not take part in the vote, due to being in receipt of a pension from an electricity company.

The following motion of which notice had been given to the Chief Executive in accordance with the Constitution was moved by Councillor Dowding and seconded by Councillor Bannon:-

“Lancaster City Council

(i)             acknowledges the efforts that this council has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote and install renewable energy as part of its intention to become net -zero carbon, particularly since its Declaration of a Climate Emergency in January 2019.

(ii)            further recognises

·       that very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being nearly impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so,

·       that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would enable and empower new local businesses in Lancaster and Lancashire, or councils such as the existing Lancaster City Council or any successors, to more easily be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local customers, and

·       that revenues received by new local renewable electricity providers could be used to help improve the local economy, local services and facilities and to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions;

(iii)           accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, supported by 187 MPs which, if made law, would establish a Right to Local Supply which would promote local renewable electricity supply companies and co-operatives by making the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate to the size of the supply operation; and

(iv)           further resolves to

·       inform the local media of this decision,

·       write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN or info@powerforpeole.org.uk) expressing its support.”

An officer briefing note was included with the agenda.

As the Mayor was about to move the meeting into debate, he lost connection for a few minutes. Councillor Joan Jackson, Deputy Mayor was invited to take the Chair, however Councillor Joan Jackson also lost connection. The Mayor then rejoined the meeting and continued in the Chair.

During debate, there were indications that at least one Member wished to abstain from voting, therefore the Mayor called for a roll-call vote to be taken at the conclusion of the debate.

The motion was clearly carried with 40 Members in favour and 11 abstentions.

Resolved:-

Lancaster City Council

(i)             acknowledges the efforts that this council has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote and install renewable energy as part of its intention to become net -zero carbon, particularly since its Declaration of a Climate Emergency in January 2019.

(ii)            further recognises

·       that very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being nearly impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so,

·       that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would enable and empower new local businesses in Lancaster and Lancashire, or councils such as the existing Lancaster City Council or any successors, to more easily be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local customers, and

·       that revenues received by new local renewable electricity providers could be used to help improve the local economy, local services and facilities and to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions;

(iii)           accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, supported by 187 MPs which, if made law, would establish a Right to Local Supply which would promote local renewable electricity supply companies and co-operatives by making the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate to the size of the supply operation; and

(iv)           further resolves to

·       inform the local media of this decision,

·       write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN or info@powerforpeole.org.uk) expressing its support.