Rugby Lib Dems calling for a unity Council budget putting climate change as a priority
Cllr Jerry Roodhouse (Paddox) Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Rugby Borough Council is calling for a unity budget putting climate change as a priority. Cllr Roodhouse says, "It is such an important matter that we should put political differences to one side and put the resources needed together and work together for the next generation". Cllr Roodhouse has sent an open letter to both the Leaders of the Conservative Group and Labour Group.
Open Letter
Cllr Jerry Roodhouse Leader Liberal Democrat Group Rugby Borough Council
To
Leaders, Conservative Group, Labour Group with a Copy to Executive Director Adam Norburn.
January 6th 2020
Dear Cllrs Sebastian Lowe and Maggie O Rourke,
I hope you would agree that Rugby Borough Council is at its strongest when all political parties are working together towards a common goal. I remember the Rugby Airport campaign as just one example where this achieved a successful outcome.
On the 18th July 2019, Full Council agreed that there was a Climate Emergency and all political groups supported the motion. A cross party working group was established and is working to produce a set of actions that will need to be followed up. It is clear that as this work progresses the Council will have to follow through and establish adaptation and resilience programmes to see changes to our planning policies along with community related other work. if as agreed by the motion that this an emergency and we are serious about tackling the changes to our climate within the timescales mentioned, resources will have to be made available to provide the capacity needed.
I hope you would agree that as we enter 2020 when the UK will also host the UN 2020 Climate Change Conference, that this has to be a top priority for our Borough and future generations and if so, we should look to put aside our political differences and agree on a joint budget that places this issue at the top of the agenda and to also commit enough financial resources to enable us to fulfil the promise of action to deal with any emergency.
I hope that as Leaders we can meet as soon as possible to agree a way forward and demonstrate to our residents that we have taken the issue of climate change seriously and can put aside the politics and join forces to tackle the changes that are facing us all, especially our younger population who will have to suffer the consequences if we fail to act quickly.
Yours
Cllr Jerry Roodhouse Leader Liberal Democrat Group