Just how green is the Isle of Wight Council? That was the question posed by budding politicians from Barton Primary School’s school council on a visit to County Hall last week.
As well as meeting senior Cabinet members and the chairman of the council, the Newport school group attended a meeting of the Full Council — but not merely to observe.
They took public question time as an opportunity to quiz councillors on how the local authority is tackling climate change at a local level in light of the devastating bushfires in Australia.
Head boy Rory May-Cunningham and head girl Kaitlyn Large asked the question from the public gallery in the council chamber.
Council leader Dave Stewart was able to respond that the local authority had declared a climate emergency and was already playing its part in helping to reduce carbon emissions by increasing waste recycling and using green energy providers to power its buildings.
He said the council was also looking to buy more electric vehicles and encourage residents to follow suit with incentives such as free parking for zero-emission, electric cars and vans.
Year 3/4 teacher Margaret Young said:
“The children found their visit very interesting and were excited to share their experience with other children.”
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The school council is a democratically elected body of pupils who represent the voice of the children within the school. The representatives stand for a year and are led by the head boy and girl.
Over the years this has included raising funds for new climbing equipment, choosing the current school uniform and community projects such as buying fruit trees for the Church on the Roundabout.
The fascinating visit was organised by their local ward member, Councillor Geoff Brodie, who said:
“I always try to work with Barton school council as I consider it important for children to engage with democracy at an early stage.
“This was a successful visit and I thank all involved in helping me with the arrangements.”
I presume therefore all due diligence has been applied before adopting ‘Green Eneregy Providers’ to ensure that ALL of the power they supply comes from 100% renewable sources..
Also, how long before the Council have a change of heart and realise that the motorist parking charge ‘Cash Cow’ fund is falling-off with free parking for electric vehicles?
As each person by just normal living adds to the worlds carbon footprint, surely it is time we limited the amount of those coming here?
Many ethnics in their own countries are carbon neutral, NOT because they are ‘nicer’ than us, but, because of the way they HAVE to live. Cooking on a dung fire, instead of using gas or electricity, living in a straw and mud hut, instead of living in a brick and concrete Co2 creating western home, and riding on a Donkey instead of having a car each, ploughing by hand or an Ox instead of a Massey Ferguson.
But when the West allows such here, clearly the then ‘do as the Romans do’ and not only are as bad as us, but worse as they normally have far more offspring adding greatly to the problems.
Not P.C, so most officials are ‘afraid’ to say it how it is. But it is a Fact, and a growing one at that.
You are a shameful human being with views that presume endless negatives about all people from other countries, which yes by very definition is racist and xenophobic. You use terms like, “such,” to describe humans and you propose they are worse than “us” because they have more children!
This is such ill informed, offensive nonsense. Here’s an idea, how about you open your eyes and your heart, stop trying to blame foreign people for an issue as universal as carbon emissions, and also realise the hypocrisy in your own point. So, you don’t want to challenge the issue or change things, you merely want to limit other people enjoying a quality of life such as you.
A frightening perspective from a selfish human. Well done. Get a grip. Nasty.
I was Rory May Cunnigham head boy of Barton a d it is true it was very fascinating to see the council of the Isle of Wight is compared to our school council and thank you councilor Geoff brodi for arranging it all