Council feeling heat over plan to scrap long-term climate strategy

Opposition say existing plans 'save millions'

- Joseph Richards

REFORM-LED Staffordshire County Council’s plan to scrap long-term climate change targets in favour of focusing on the immediate future has been criticised as ‘shortsighted’.

A new proposal will see the council focus on short-term targets rather than pursuing what it calls ‘unfunded targets a generation away.

The authority is proposing that it rescinds the Climate Change Emergency agreed by the Conservative-run authority in July 2019 and focuses on immediate actions instead that deliver value-for-money.

However, Councillor Simon Tagg, Conservative opposition spokesman, criticised the new proposal and said the 2019 plan has already delivered measurable savings for taxpayers.

Reform UK’s Andrew Mynors, cabinet member for connectivity, said the authority will now look at helping businesses reduce energy costs and leaving the environment in a better place for the next generation.