Owen Temple

It was a proud, and somewhat surprising night at Council last night. Seconded by my colleague, Councillor Keith English, I had put down a motion for debate which backed a Private Member’s Bill to require all new-build Public Sector buildings to be constructed within the top 25% for energy performance.

The bill is being sponsored by a Labour MP, Ann Snelgrove, and has the support of 258 MPs from all parties who have signed an early day motion of support. Disappointingly, that number does not include Hilary Armstrong MP or Kevan Jones MP, the two MPs whose constituencies include Derwentside.

I asked the council to back the motion, which included writing to the two MPs to urge them to support the bill and attend its second reading on April 25th.

I really didn’t know which way it would go. There’s a broad measure of support on the issue, but sometimes you feel that a motion will be shot down just because its Lib Dems who are putting it.

 To my delight Council Leader, Alex Watson, and portfolio holder for the environment, Councillor Ossie Johnson, both piled in enthusiastically behind the motion. I never expected to hear the words “Owen is right” in the chamber - and I’m still wondering where the pay-back will be! - but the upshot is that Derwentside is now officially supporting the bill, and our two MPs are getting chased to do what I’m confident you want them to be doing - supporting sensible measures to preseve our planet.