Warwickshire's Levelling-Up plan is condemned by Green councillors for failing to have any meaningful sustainability objectives
Cllr John Dearing (Green Party, Park Hill, Kenilworth) pointed out that while Sustainable Futures was one of four framing elements for levelling-up, there was no mention of it in any of the eight stated objectives. Nor were relevant metrics provided that would help define the potential for districts and boroughs to achieve a sustainable future, for example the energy efficiency of existing housing stocks, air quality, or parish level carbon emissions.
See Warwick Nub News and Kenilworth Nub News
John said:
“Clearly, the county is not really intending to make sustainability a key part of the county’s levelling up objectives even though it’s claimed to be. This is particularly galling as Sustainable Futures as a priority had the strongest agreement in residents’ surveys. There are already significant differences in the levels of commitment and investment in climate change and environmental actions across the county. The county’s responsibility is to ensure that those differences are levelled-up so that the effects of climate and environmental deterioration do not fall disproportionately on the less well off.”
The scrutiny committee recommended that WDC Cabinet formally notes, and makes appropriate representations about, the lack of reference to Sustainable Futures in the WCC Levelling Up objectives.
Contact: John Dearing 07779649665. j.dearing@soton.ac.uk