Agenda item

Councillor Sutton presented his motion regarding the use of Single-Use Plastics;

‘There are very real concerns with some of our residents around Climate Change in general and the use of single-use-plastics in particular.

Anecdotal evidence suggest somewhere in the region of eight million tonnes enters the sea each year. David Attenborough urged: ‘A plastic crisis is engulfing our seas, and we need to stop the problem urgently’.

How can we as leaders of this district allow this to continue without picking up the gauntlet and leading the way in reducing the SUP in all the buildings we own and manage?

I’m not for one minute suggesting we can resolve the world issue but we can in a small way help reduce the issue locally by supporting my motion.

This Council resolves to: Develop a robust strategy to make Fenland District Council a ‘single-use-plastic-free’ authority and encourage the districts institutions, businesses, tenants and citizens to adopt similar measures by;

1. Ending the sale and provision of SUP products such as bottles, cups, cutlery and drinking straws in all council owned buildings, (Including Freedom Leisure) events and services, with immediate effect where possible and feasible, and in any event, no later than Dec 2019;
2. Encouraging schools, clubs and all our outside bodies to adopt measures, with the aim of phasing out SUP, for example containers and cutlery in their premises;
3. Ensuring that the District Council, via its procurement of goods, services and supplies, has integrated the aim to end the use of SUP products by suppliers wherever feasible and appropriate;

Councillor Yeulett seconded the motion and Councillor Mrs Mayor opened the motion up for debate.

Councillor Miss Hoy stated;

‘I propose an amendment to this motion (as per the attached amendment). The reason I propose this amendment is whilst I agree with the sentiment there are elements that I cannot see how the Council can implement.

One of the things is regarding Freedom Leisure who is now responsible for the management of the Council’s Leisure Centres. I do not know how we as the Council, can ask them to implement this and remove the sale of plastic drink bottles from the Leisure Centres.

We have no control over the schools in our district and whilst we can try and influence them to make a change, we cannot enforce this.

We need to focus more on recycling in general and the Council have the potential to create a strategy to fully support this.

I propose that the motion is amended as follows;

Many Fenland residents have very real concerns about the use of Single Use Plastics (SUPs), especially following David Attenborough’s recent television series about our seas and oceans.

Anecdotal evidence suggests somewhere in the region of eight million tonnes of plastic waste enters the sea each year.  David Attenborough urged: “a plastic crisis is engulfing our seas and we need to stop the problem urgently”.

This Council should in absolutely no way be responsible, either directly or indirectly, for plastic waste entering our seas and oceans. 

THIS COUNCIL THEREFORE RESOLVES:

1. That an audit of the disposal of single use plastics used by this Council be conducted and presented to the July meeting of Cabinet to give assurance (or otherwise) that no plastic waste produced by FDC is entering our seas or oceans.

2. That if any evidence is found that single use plastic waste produced by FDC is entering our seas or oceans, immediate action be taken by Officers to change our disposal methods to stop any of FDC’s plastic waste entering our seas or oceans.

The disposal and use of SUPs is but a part of a much wider problem.  FDC should be adhering to the “REDUCE, RE-USE and RECYCLE” principles (often called the “3Rs”) when considering all of its activities.

THIS COUNCIL THEREFORE RESOLVES:

3. That a comprehensive report be prepared and considered by Cabinet this calendar year evaluating our success or otherwise in adhering to the 3Rs principles in all of FDC’s activities, proposing improvements to current practice wherever possible.  In that context, specific consideration should be given to how the direct use of any SUPs by FDC can be consistent with FDC’s adherence to the 3Rs.

4. That the comprehensive report in item 3 above should consider how FDC can, via its procurement of goods, services and supplies, wherever feasible and appropriate minimise if not eliminate its indirect use of SUPs via its procurement of goods, services and supplies.

5. That, once FDC is able to display a high level of compliance with the 3Rs principles, we should seek to lead by example and influence the behaviour of the District’s other institutions, businesses, tenants and citizens.’

Councillor Murphy seconded the amendment and Councillor Mrs Mayor opened the amended motion up for debate.

1.    Councillor Booth highlighted that whilst we cannot enforce this in schools, we can encourage and influence them to follow the same principles as the Council. He highlighted that whilst these policies take time to implement, it should be pursued in a timely manner.

2.    Councillor Boden stated that SUPs do have a serious environmental impact however and in the developed world this can be via overdeveloped landfill. He highlighted that the amendment to the motion reflects this and links our use of SUPs with the final destination of these SUPs. He stated that the Council must ensure that none of their SUPs are ending up in the seas and oceans.

3.    Councillor Boden said the use of SUPs needs to be considered as part of a wider review into recycling as the Council cannot encourage other authorities without researching their own use.

4.    Councillor Tierney agreed that the Council have been too slow to make changes previously. He encouraged members to share ideas with one another to progress this further.

5.    Councillor Tierney agreed that before we can advise other authorities on their use of SUPs, the Council must ensure their own use is satisfactory.

6.    Councillor Tanfield agreed and suggested that members could visit schools to educate them on their use of SUPs.

7.    Councillor Hay said she was pleased to see this motion and agreed that the Council cannot advise others until their own policies are in place. She reiterated that the Council need to fully understand their own use of SUPs and this process should not be rushed.

8.    Councillor Sutton supported the amendment and highlighted the importance of this issue to residents in Fenland.

A vote was taken on the amendment and the amendment to the motion was adopted. Councillor Mrs Mayor opened the substantive motion up for debate.

Councillor Yeulett highlighted that during his travels, he has experienced the effects of global warming across the world. He said anything the Council can do to help the environment is worth supporting. He highlighted that whilst the UK should be proud that they are ahead of other countries in tackling global warming, more can always be done.

Councillor Mrs Mayor asked for a vote to be taken on the substantive motion.

The motion was passed.

(Councillor Mason left the Council Chamber at 6.15pm)