Mayor Dave Announces New Climate Change Cabinet Committee

Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced the creation of the Bedford Borough Council Climate Change Committee, which will work on a cross-party basis to maintain and accelerate the Council's remarkable progress in tackling climate change.

Mayor Dave, who was re-elected last week for a fourth term, will invite representatives from all political groups on the council to join the new Executive Committee as non-Executive members. The move will help ensure those of all parties and of none can contribute to ongoing work on this priority area for the Council.

Under Mayor Dave, Bedford Borough Council has halved its carbon emissions, exceeding the ambitious target it set itself of a 40% reduction. In March, Mayor Dave's Executive declared a climate emergency and pledged to begin work towards zero carbon by 2030.

With this major challenge ahead, Mayor Dave is creating this new all-party body to bring added impetus to this vital work.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "Tackling climate change has always been a clear priority for us and we've made huge progress. This new all-party committee is intended to help us go even further in protecting our local and wider environment.'

"We're already committed to working towards zero carbon by 2030, and having already cut emissions in half we want to maintain the momentum as we take on this major challenge.'

"It's an ambitious aim, but we owe nothing less to current and future generations of Bedford Borough residents. I look forward to working with Councillors across all parties in this crucial task."

The membership of the Committee and its terms of reference will be announced in due course, as Mayor Dave continues in discussion with Councillors of all parties following his election victory last week and the election/re-election of Councillors across every ward.

The powers of the Elected Mayor include the ability to establish Committees of the Executive with decision-making powers, to which non-Executive Councillors can be appointed on a non-executive basis.