Scrap net zero target and improve social care plea
LDRSA county council's net zero target could be revoked and social care prioritised.
A motion has been put forward by Durham County Council's deputy leader and Reform councillor Darren Grimes "to rescind a climate emergency" declared in 2019.
The local authority had hoped to achieve net zero emissions across the county by 2045 to tackle climate change.
However, Grimes said the Reform-led council should declare a county-wide emergency to tackle the "critical and escalating crisis" in children's social care, including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision.
County Durham Liberal Democrats are to stage a protest opposing the proposed move, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
Lib Dem Councillor Mark Wilkes said: "Councillor Grimes thinks net zero is the cause of the council's financial problems.
"It's absolute nonsense. Indeed work we have been doing has actually saved the council money."
He also said the "massive increases" in adult and social care costs had been caused by inflation, societal changes and under-funding of councils.
'Urgent threat'
Grimes, who represents the Annfield Plain and Tanfield area, warned that the ongoing children's social care crisis was the "most urgent threat to the well-being of our children and the financial stability" of the county.
Earlier this year, the local authority said it was struggling to cope with rising demand and called for major changes to provision.
Grimes said he wanted to see investment in early intervention services to support children within their families, as well as expanding provision for children in care and those with SEND.
Councillors will vote on the motion at a full council meeting on Wednesday.
The local authority's current climate emergency response plan will run until 2027.