Activists set to stage Leamington demonstration tonight ahead of vote for referendum into council tax rise to tackle climate change emergency

Warwick District Council will meet tonight and vote on whether the referendum into supporting a council tax rise of £1 for an average band D household should go ahead.

This extra income will be used by the authority to tackle the climate change emergency.

Members of the Warwick district branch of the Extinction Rebellion international movement will be leading the demonstration.

The branch has said: "It's great to see ambitious plans from our local council.

"The climate crisis has reached a stage where we need to see urgent action by policy-makers at all levels and hopefully these developments will serve as inspiration for others across the country.

"Of course, ambitious plans are one thing and making them happen is another.

"If we're going to tackle the catastrophic collapse of our climate we will need to come together as a community and turn plans into reality.

"We also welcome the fact that Warwick DC have discussed plans for a public consultation event in the form of a People's Assembly , which aligns with one of XR's demands, and it's fantastic to see political parties joining together to cooperate on this programme - the climate crisis is an existential issue for us all, it's something that goes beyond party politics."

Plans for a £3 million climate action fund have been drawn up by an alliance of Warwick district's political leaders in a bid to make the district carbon neutral in just five years and make the district carbon neutral by 2030.

Councillors hope that the new fund will come from an increase in council tax of £1 per week on an average band D property but government rules mean that they will need to hold a referendum across the district to see if the public agrees.

The council said that the revised charge will be implemented from April and if the outcome of the referendum is against the increase Council tax payers will be rebilled.

In a joint statement issued by the leaders, they say that the money raised would be ring-fenced and could only be used to deal with the current climate emergency.

The statement read: “Together, we believe that the time has now come to take practical action to deal with the climate emergency.

“Warwick District Council's officers and a cross-party group of councillors have developed a plan - The Climate Emergency Action Programme - that advocates strong local leadership and significant investment to change our future for the better.

This plan will enable the council to be carbon neutral by 2025 and help the district to also be carbon neutral by 2030, plus make necessary local preparations for climate disasters such as flooding. Investment today will help our communities face the future with confidence.

“Councillors believe that the fairest way to raise the money locally is through our Council tax. We will therefore be considering at the council meeting on February 26, asking residents for an increase of £1 per week (for a Band D property) at a referendum to be held on May 7. This would put £3m per year into a ‘ring-fenced’ Climate Action Fund. “

As well as the ambitious plan to make the council carbon neutral within five years, the statement, signed by the leaders of the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Labour and Whitnash Residents parties, outlined some of the major benefits for residents. These include reduced congestion, improved air quality, enhanced biodiversity and more energy efficient homes and public buildings.

The statement continued: “Last summer, your councillors put aside political differences and came together to unanimously declare a Climate Emergency. A far-reaching plan has since been developed to reduce the council’s carbon emissions to zero and lead further climate change efforts across the district.

“The Climate Emergency Action Programme is a positive programme that, over the next decade, will bring social, environmental and economic benefits to all our residents and businesses.”

During a press briefing to coincide with the statement, council leader Cllr Andrew Day explained that the referendum, which will be held on the same day as voting for Warwickshire’s police and crime commissioner, will cost £300,000 with the money coming from the council’s New Homes Bonus Scheme.