Greater focus on a more sustainable West Suffolk

13 Jun 2023

A new working group will bring more ambition and focus to West Suffolk Council’s drive to tackle climate change and environmental issues across the district.

One of the first decisions agreed by West Suffolk Council’s Cabinet since the election is the creation of the West Suffolk Environment and Sustainability Working Group.

The purpose will be to review the progress that West Suffolk Council has made in delivering its action plans to move to Net Zero. But it will also make recommendations to Cabinet on West Suffolk Council’s future role in protecting and enhancing the environment, and wider opportunities to support residents and businesses on their journey to net zero.

The working group, which was agreed by Cabinet today, Tuesday, 13 June, will be a non-decision making body and will consist of eight members.

Group Leaders will appoint to the working group, with five members (including the Chair and Vice Chair of the working group) from The West Suffolk Working Partnership, and three members from the Conservative Group.

The working group’s recommendations and the rationale behind them will be published when presented to subsequent publicly accessible Cabinet meetings.

Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “Climate change is a global issue affecting us all and we all must do our part to help tackle it. This decision to set up the new working group is part of our drive to make West Suffolk Council more ambitious in the actions we take and helping communities and businesses do what they can too. These may be small or large changes depending on the person or organisation but it all adds up and will lead to a better future for us all.

“Sustainability is one of our major priorities which is why this is one of the first challenges our new administration will be tackling. This is a cross party working group that will look at what we are currently doing to reach net zero and how we can work to protect and improve our environment and make West Suffolk as a whole more sustainable. West Suffolk Council cannot do this alone and everyone has a role to play in tackling climate change.”

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