Walsall Council has officially ended its climate emergency declaration after Reform UK councillors voted to rescind the 2019 commitment, with the majority also rejecting an amendment that affirmed the existence of man-made climate change.
Motion to scrap climate emergency
At a full council meeting on July 27, Reform leader Elaine Williams and deputy leader Nicky Barker submitted a Notice of Motion seeking to withdraw the authority's climate emergency declaration, in which previous councillors had pledged to take action to tackle global warming. The pair described the declaration as performative and argued it delivered no benefit for Walsall taxpayers. Their motion also called for a review of council resources to ensure investment was targeted on practical interventions and for an assessment of internal spending and policies linked to the declaration.
Councillor Aftab Nawaz, leader of the Walsall Community Independents (WCI), was one of the councillors who originally proposed the climate emergency declaration in 2019. At this week's meeting, he put forward an amendment that asked all council members to state whether they believe in man-made climate change. The amendment stated: "This council believes unequivocally that, as the earth is round, and as gravity exists, and as the sky is blue, that in the same certainness, man-made climate change exists and is having a significant impact on global warming with life-limiting consequences across the world."
Vote results
The amendment was voted down by all Reform councillors present except Councillor Alan Fleming and Councillor Karen Griffiths, who both abstained. In total, 30 councillors voted against the amendment: 29 from Reform and one independent, Councillor Bella Simon. All nine Conservative members present abstained, while all seven WCI members present voted in favour. Independent member Ashfaq Ahmed and the council's only Labour member, Councillor Simran Cheema, also voted in favour.
With the amendment defeated, the original motion to scrap the climate emergency declaration passed, effectively ending net zero mandates in Walsall. Councillor Aiden Clarke, Reform ward member for Bloxwich East and Blakenall Heath, said: "This Reform administration was elected to deliver common sense fiscal discipline and frontline value for tax payers. Not to chase unachievable virtue signalling targets. Today we are formally cancelling net zero mandates and ending the climate emergency declaration. The council signing up to empty promises with zero plan to pay for them is proven by the Climate Emergency UK Independent Audit where Walsall Council scores a miserable 23 per cent overall."
Reactions from councillors
Councillor Irene Henery, Reform member for Rushall-Shelfield, added: "I think you can all remember a time when the climate scientists were telling us we were heading for the ice age. Now they've flipped it and tell us that we're going to fry. I get that this summer has been a little bit warmer but I don't think it's a climate emergency."
Councillor Nawaz responded: "What a load of tosh. Man-made climate change exists and our impact on this planet is having a devastating effect. You don't need to declare a climate emergency or remove it to help people with the cost of living or housing. You can still do all of that. And you don't have to bring it to the council as well. As the administration your cabinet has the power to declare or undeclare anything. You talk about virtue signalling. This is what this is. It's saying Reformers don't believe in man-made climate change. For me it's quite clear man-made climate change exists, and we are seeing devastating consequences across the world."
Councillor Khizar Hussain, deputy leader of WCI, said: "Scientists and educated people have told us it's a real issue. This negative step from the administration, I think, is given from the central office as it's a duplication of what's going around in the country. I feel sorry for them because the central party is controlling the timetable."
Councillor Hajran Bashir, WCI member for Palfrey and the Delves, said: "Climate change remains one of the biggest challenges facing our communities, the economy and environment. Local councils have a crucial role to play through planning policies, housing improvements, tree planting, active travel initiatives and support for low carbon technologies. We have a responsibility not only for today's residents but also the future generations."
Councillor Simran Cheema, ward member for Willenhall, added: "Whilst I appreciate the intention that council resources are used effectively and that we focus on the practical measures to support residents, I am concerned about rescinding Walsall's climate emergency declaration. Climate change is not an ideology or political slogan. It's a scientific fact. The NHS recognises climate change as one of the greatest threats to public health this century and as a local authority we have a duty to respond to these challenges and help where we can."
Councillor Adrian Andrew, leader of the Conservative group, said: "I don't think withdrawing the declaration or not is going to make one iota of difference but what I would suggest is sending this to scrutiny in order to come up with a proper strategy in how this council can address some of the issues of climate change."
List of councillors who voted against the amendment
The following 30 councillors voted against the amendment to affirm man-made climate change: Councillor Elaine Williams (Short Heath), Councillor Nicky Barker (Bloxwich West), Councillor Ann Ault (Pelsall), Councillor Tabbi Wilberforce Awotwe (Harden, Goscote and Ryecroft), Councillor David Bailey (Darlaston South), Councillor Mick Barker (Bentley and Darlaston North), Councillor Rohan Beecha (Short Heath), Councillor Ian Benton (Aldridge North and Walsall Wood), Councillor Peter Burton (Darlaston South), Councillor Stuart Chapman (Rushall-Shelfield), Councillor Aiden Clarke (Bloxwich East and Blakenall Heath), Councillor Carl Creaney (New Invention), Councillor Josh Dixon (Brownhills), Councillor Matt Eason (Beechdale, Leamore and Reedswood), Councillor Jenny Goodall (Darlaston South), Councillor Peter Harrison (Willenhall), Councillor Irene Henery (Rushall-Shelfield), Councillor Lisa Jones (Harden, Goscote and Ryecroft), Councillor Stuart Lathe (Beechdale, Leamore and Reedswood), Councillor Paul Lunn (Bentley and Darlaston North), Councillor Lesley Lynch (Aldridge North and Walsall Wood), Councillor Aysha Nizamoglu (Brownhills), Councillor Jim Parsons (Pelsall), Councillor Daniel Rollinson (New Invention), Councillor Tony Sadla (Bloxwich West), Councillor David Sambrook (Bloxwich East and Blakenall Heath), Councillor Scott Simmons (Beechdale, Leamore and Reedswood), Councillor Bella Simon (Short Heath), Councillor Pete Sutton (Brownhills), and Councillor Richard Tapper (Bloxwich East and Blakenall Heath).
