THE first steps to responding to a climate emergency are becoming clearer following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday night.

In July members of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council agreed to declare a climate emergency.

Now, cabinet members has begun work to help enhance the environment and reduce the impact of its buildings and services on the planet.

At the cabinet meeting on Tuesday night cabinet member for environment and enforcement at the borough council, councillor Hayley Eachus said: “This is just the being of what has to be done to make sure we address the current climate situation.

“We are blessed with a beautiful green borough, but we cannot be complacent. As a council we have collectively chosen to declare a climate emergency, and this means things need to change to minimise our impact on the environment.

“This starts with a desire to make a change and work together, and I look forward to working with councillors, officers, partners, communities and businesses to tackle this issue.”

However, even though steps are being made to take preventative measures, environmental group Basingstoke Transition believes there are some easy wins that the borough council should be taking into consideration.

At the meeting Martin Heath from the group said: “Thank you for listening to us and making the decision to declare a climate emergency, but this is just the first step.

“What we need now is action, we have until 2030 make this change.”

Mr Heath suggested that the borough council look at the options of installing solar panels on all new builds, implementing car clubs and looking at the idea of wind farms, which Cllr Eachus said the council would not dismiss.

Leader of the borough council, Cllr Ken Rhatigan welcomed the input from Basingstoke Transition, adding: “We extend out the hand of gratitude to you and help us get this right and welcome any input you have.”

The motion will now be put to the borough council’s community, environment and partnerships committee for the details to be clarified.