The meeting included a motion from Councillor Edie on improving social cohesion, a report on the Greenhithe & Knockhall by-election, and a report proposing the adoption of a new Net Zero strategy.

Motion submitted by Councillor Edie

Councillor Edie submitted a motion for debate that is about the role of councils in promoting diversity and tackling hate crime.

It begins by arguing that:

There is an unpleasant undertone on our streets. This year, the spread of misinformation led to civil unrest. Councils must take action in order to improve social cohesion and heal the division that is causing tensions in our communities.

It goes on to describe how Dartford Borough Council celebrates diversity by taking part in cultural and religious festivals like Christmas, Holi, Black History Month, and Diwali, and by being a collaborator in Dartford Pride. It also highlights the Equality Act 2010, which sets out the legal protections that exist around protected characteristics like race and religion.

The motion concludes by proposing the following:

• Sharing Kent Police's guidance on hate crime with residents, councillors, and council staff.
• That the Council expects its members to commit to promoting respect and tolerance, as per Dartford Council's Equalities and Diversity Framework.
• Supporting a Kent Inter-Faith Action group, based on the Medway Inter-Faith Action model, by nominating a lead member to be the point of contact for Dartford.

Results of the Greenhithe & Knockhall By-election on 21 November 2024

A report was provided on the results of the by-election that followed the death of Councillor Peter Harman. The by-election was held on 21 November 2024, and resulted in the election of Michael Brown of the Reform UK party.

Net Zero Strategy

The draft Net Zero Strategy & Action Plan was included in the reports pack. It sets out the Council's plans to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

It outlines the Council's commitment to reducing its own carbon emissions, to influencing residents, businesses, and other organisations to reduce their emissions, and to promoting the message of climate action in the community.

The strategy was informed by a public consultation that received over 300 responses, which showed strong support for the vision and aims of the strategy.

The strategy highlights the following eight priorities:

1. Dartford Borough Council Organisational Emissions - The Council will take steps to reduce the carbon emissions associated with its buildings, its fleet, and its activities.
2. Transport - The Council will promote the use of cleaner modes of transport such as walking, cycling, and electric vehicles.
3. Built Environment - The Council will promote sustainable construction practices and encourage the retrofitting of existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency.
4. Energy Generation - The Council will encourage the use of renewable energy by supporting businesses and community groups to install their own solar panels and other forms of renewable energy generation.
5. Waste - The Council will encourage recycling and composting and seek to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill.
6. Land Use & Biodiversity - The Council will protect and enhance green spaces, which will help to improve biodiversity and sequester carbon.
7. Governance and Finance - The Council will embed climate considerations into all of its policies and strategies. It will also explore new funding opportunities to support the delivery of the Net Zero Strategy.
8. Collaboration & Engagement - The Council will work with local businesses, community groups, and individuals to raise awareness of climate change and to encourage action. It will also work with other public sector bodies to achieve its targets.

This is only a summary of the topics that were scheduled to be discussed in the meeting. It does not tell us what was actually discussed, or whether any decisions were actually made.