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A new Reform UK administration’s decision to scrap its net zero targets, while continuing to take cash for green projects, is being challenged today by opposition councillors.

Last month, Byline Times reported that the now Reform UK-run council in West Northamptonshire is systematically removing all references to climate change and net zero from its strategies, website and documents – while simultaneously continuing to take Government cash for climate projects.

The decision to scrap its net zero policies has sparked local protests, and considerable opposition anger after the news was announced in an article in The Telegraph – before the actual decision had been voted on by councillors. 

Council leader Mark Arnull claimed net zero plans were “something we cannot afford”, saying: “There was no budget, there’s been no scope or plans”.

“It’s not a case of denying climate change, it’s a case of being realistic with the public,” he added, as reported by the BBC at the time. 

It came just hours after Reform-controlled Durham County Council became the first local authority in England to scrap its net zero targets. 

Since national legislation requires the council to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, opposition councillors have warned that the move to abandon its plans for how to get there risks “creating a set of incoherent polices, and creating a scenario where West Northamptonshire suffers a lack of inward investment due to this political stance” and plan to challenge it at a scrutiny committee on Tuesday.

The call-in report adds: “These are targets. They have never been absolutes, so is it that the administration believes that these targets are wrong in themselves and therefore need revising, or fundamentally object to the concept of net zero itself?”

“The council sets targets all the time…[It] sets a sense of direction and focus whether or not they are achieved. The same applies on this pathway to net zero 2050.” 

The last Labour Government’s landmark Climate Act 2008 creates a legal requirement for the council to include climate impact in all its decision making. 

As the scrutiny panel points out: “It does not say ‘environmental’ – it specifically says climate. Removing this from council reports could be seen as weakening of this requirement and potentially putting the council in breach of the act.” 

The chances of the decision being overturned appear slim, though an opposition source believes they may have to reconsider banning the word ‘climate’ in council docs, not least due to the fact that the 2050 legal requirement to hit net zero remains in place, as do legal requirements to mitigate and adapt to climate change under the 2008 Act.

“We will be arguing that we need to measure progress as it’s the council’s duty,” say the opposition councillors.

Reform also have the majority of councillors on the scrutiny committee. They must declare if they have been whipped by the party, something that is not meant to happen in scrutiny meetings.

Lib Dem deputy leader on the council, Councillor Rosie Humphreys, told Byline Times: “The way the administration have gone about [this process] – with a very weak report to Cabinet in July which asserts that local targets are unaffordable with not a single shred of evidence or any figures – is decision making at its worst and contrary to WNC’s constitution…

“Reform want to suppress the word climate when referring to ‘climate impact’ in Cabinet reports (using ‘environmental impact’ instead).

“It is a climate denial fantasy. The Climate Act 2008 specifically requires councils to include climate impact in all its decision making.”

She added that the call-in vote was important as “opposition members and many residents and local climate groups…are aghast at this decision.”

West Northants Green Party co-chair, Dave Pearson, is set to address the crucial call-in meeting challenging the decision on West Northants on Tuesday evening.

He will implore Reform councillors to reconsider their “incoherent decision to turn their backs on both the threats faced by local people” and the investment that climate policies can bring to the region.

Pearson will reflect on his own experience of living and working in conflict zones – alongside people “doing their best to make the right decisions in a time of crisis.”

He’s expected to say: “I’ve had an interesting life. I’ve been threatened with a machine gun, evacuated from a civil war and stayed put through five attempted coups. I know the importance of leadership in a crisis.

“Local government plays an important leadership role in addressing the climate and ecological crises. Research shows that the British people want the government to lead, and even to speed up climate action. We don’t want to be left alone to face and tackle the climate crisis as isolated individuals.

“People are noticing the floods, the heatwaves, the rising food prices from falling crop yields, and we’re worried. We know that our own health and wellbeing depends on the health of our planet. 

“Individuals must play a part, but unless action is spearheaded and co-ordinated by national and local government, people will rightly question our ability to reduce emissions quickly and fairly.” 

Pearson will say Britain needs “a narrative that shows how we can rise to the challenge together.”

“Scrapping interim net zero targets doesn’t just undermine that narrative, it destroys it.” 

The Green politician, who worked in international development for 34 years, points to the fact that renewable energy is “very popular” saying that “The majority of people support their local authority approving new solar and wind projects.” 

Cllr Pearson will also highlight how a neutral scientific measurement – “net zero” emissions – has been “turned it into a weapon” in Reform and fossil fuel firms’ culture war. 

Reform has received millions in funding from climate change deniers and fossil-fuel linked firms and individuals. 

“In this climate crisis we need good leadership from courageous, well-informed people. People unafraid to attend climate crisis training. People unafraid to disobey orders, and do what is right.

“I urge this committee to refer this decision back to the Cabinet for them to reconsider.” 

The meeting is at 7pm and is expected to be live-streamed.

This piece has been amended to make clear that Dave Pearson is not currently a councillor.

Got a story? Get in touch in confidence on josiah@bylinetimes.com 

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Josiah Mortimer also writes the On the Ground column, exclusive to the print edition of Byline Times.

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