To be moved by Councillor Miro and seconded by Councillor A Carter
That this Council notes:
That planning approval was granted in December 2022 for a coal mine in Whitehaven, Cumbria. This is the first new coal mine to be approved in the UK for over 30 years and it will produce approximately 2.8 million tonnes of coal per year.
The U.K. Climate Change Committee estimates that the mine and the coal it will produce will result in annual emissions of approximately nine million tonnes.
Whilst recognising the historic economic benefits of the coal mining industry on the borough in the past. That Greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal to produce electricity and in industrial processes (for example, in the production of steel) are internationally recognised as the single biggest contributor to climate change, dwarfing the impact of other industries.
This Council Believes:
That opening new coal mines in the U.K. is not the answer to the problems faced by the country.
New coal mines should not be opened in the borough.
That the U.K. should be investing in greener technology in electricity generation and the steel industry.
This Council therefore Resolves:
To affirm its belief that opening new coal mines is wrong.
That council group leaders are requested to write to the Secretary of State, the Prime Minister and members of parliament representing the Borough of Rotherham asking them to bring forward legislation for a permanent ban on the opening of new coal mines in the U.K.
Minutes:
Notice of Motion – Coal Mines
It was moved by Councillor Miro and seconded by Councillor A. Carter that:
This Council notes:
That planning approval was granted in December 2022 for a coal mine in Whitehaven, Cumbria. This is the first new coal mine to be approved in the UK for over 30 years and it will produce approximately 2.8 million tonnes of coal per year.
The U.K. Climate Change Committee estimates that the mine and the coal it will produce will result in annual emissions of approximately nine million tonnes.
Whilst recognising the historic economic benefits of the coal mining industry on the borough in the past. That Greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal to produce electricity and in industrial processes (for example, in the production of steel) are internationally recognised as the single biggest contributor to climate change, dwarfing the impact of other industries.
This Council Believes:
That opening new coal mines in the U.K. is not the answer to the problems faced by the country.
New coal mines should not be opened in the borough.
That the U.K. should be investing in greener technology in electricity generation and the steel industry.
This Council therefore Resolves:
To affirm its belief that opening new coal mines is wrong.
That council group leaders are requested to write to the Secretary of State, the Prime Minister and members of parliament representing the Borough of Rotherham asking them to bring forward legislation for a permanent ban on the opening of new coal mines in the U.K.
In accordance with Rule of Procedure 19 (2) Councillor Mills requested that a recorded vote should be taken on the proposed motion.
In accordance with the Rule of Procedure 5 Members stood to show their support for a recorded vote to be taken on the motion.
In accordance with Rule of Procedure 19 (1) a recorded vote was taken on the motion as follows:
For: Councillors Alam, Allen, Andrews, Atkin, Aveyard, Baker-Rodgers, Beck, Bennett-Sylvester, Bird, Brookes, Browne, A. Carter, C. Carter, Clark, Cooksey, Cowen, Cusworth, Ellis, Griffin, Haleem, Havard, Hoddinott, Hughes, Keenan, Khan, Lelliott, McNeely, Miro, Monk, Pitchley, Read, Roche, Sansome, Sheppard, Tarmey, Taylor, Wyatt, and Yasseen.
Against: Councillors Bacon, Ball, Barley, Burnett, T. Collingham, Z. Collingham, Elliott, Fisher, Hunter, Jones, Mills, Reynolds, Thompson, Tinsley, Whomersley, and Wilson.
Abstentions: None.