Issue - meetings

That the Executive supports the ‘Take the Jump’ campaign

3.2       That Waverley residents be encouraged to ‘take the jump’

3.3       That organisations within the public, private and voluntary sectors operating in Waverley be encouraged to roll out the “Take the Jump” seminar to employees/ members

3.4       That events be organised in Waverley to encourage people to promote the          National ‘take the jump’ launch in June.

3.5       That a ‘Take the Jump” awareness-raising campaign be organised to inform       Waverley staff members and councillors, who will be invited to try making at          least one shift in the way that they eat, travel and shop.

RESOLVED that

1.    The ‘Take the Jump’ campaign be supported;

2.    Waverley residents be encouraged to ‘take the jump’;

3.    Organisations within the public, private and voluntary sectors operating in Waverley be encouraged to roll out the “Take the Jump” seminar to employees/ members;

4.    Events be organised in Waverley to encourage people to promote the National ‘take the jump’ launch in June; and

5.    A ‘Take the Jump” awareness-raising campaign be organised to inform Waverley staff members and councillors, who will be invited to try making at least one shift in the way that they eat, travel and shop.

Reason: Whilst Waverley Borough Council and other tiers of government maintain responsibility for making many of the changes in the Carbon Neutrality Action Plan, to achieve significant reductions in the carbon footprint of the borough individuals and communities can help to make a difference by making some of the six shifts in behaviour.

[ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE]

The Leader of the Council presented the item on behalf of the Portfolio Holder who could not be present at the meeting.  The report proposed supporting the Take The Jump campaign, which supported the evidence that whilst the Government maintains responsibility for making strategic and potentially radical changes to reduce the impact of climate change, individuals and communities could make a difference by making 6 shifts in behaviour while still living a fulfilled life.  The campaign had been supported by the Godalming Climate Forum.

Councillor Hyman spoke on this item, expressing concern over the proposed behaviour changes and that residents should be allowed to use their common sense.

The Leader of the Council and Councillors Townsend, Merryweather, Palmer, Mirylees and Clark all spoke on this item, acknowledging that some of the suggested behaviour changes would seem alien to some residents yet emphasising that the Take the Jump campaign would encourage, rather than require, residents to make small behavioural changes to reduce the impact of climate change.

The Executive RESOLVED that

1.    The ‘Take the Jump’ campaign be supported;

2.    Waverley residents be encouraged to ‘take the jump’;

3.    Organisations within the public, private and voluntary sectors operating in Waverley be encouraged to roll out the “Take the Jump” seminar to employees/ members;

4.    Events be organised in Waverley to encourage people to promote the National ‘take the jump’ launch in June; and

5.    A ‘Take the Jump” awareness-raising campaign be organised to inform Waverley staff members and councillors, who will be invited to try making at least one shift in the way that they eat, travel and shop.

Reason: Whilst Waverley Borough Council and other tiers of government maintain responsibility for making many of the changes in the Carbon Neutrality Action Plan, to achieve significant reductions in the carbon footprint of the borough individuals and communities can help to make a difference by making some of the six shifts in behaviour.