Reform-led South Tyneside Council is voting this week on a proposal to rescind its Climate Emergency declaration.

The proposals are set to be discussed in a committee meeting this Thursday, which will see members review the declaration that was made on July 18 in 2019.

A meeting report states that the local authority believes it can ‘continue to improve the local environment without maintaining a Climate Emergency declaration’, arguing that it must ensure services are delivered with good value for money.

‘Core services, economic growth and the cost of living should take priority over climate targets that are not statutory requirements’, the report reads.

As part of the resolutions listed in the report, the council states its intentions to rescind the Climate Emergency Declaration, as well as calling for officers to review policies and spending commitments that were introduced because of it, and suggesting that implications of the move are reported back to the council.

It also emphasises that future environmental initiatives should be adopted only ‘where they are practical, affordable, evidence-based and deliver clear benefits’, while proposing that the council should reaffirm its commitment to clean streets, parks, recycling, flood protection, and further local environmental services.

The move has been disputed by a former South Tyneside councillor, who argued that the move would destroy years of progress and does not support public interest, urging that councillors seek instead to protect South Tyneside in the meeting on Thursday.

South Tyneside is the fourth Reform-led council to propose scrapping its climate declaration in recent weeks, with Wakefield Council having decided to abandon its 2030 net zero target in a meeting last Tuesday, and Thurrock Council following suit on Wednesday.