A GROUP of town councillors have been tasked with defining what is meant by ‘climate emergency’.

The five-member task and finish group, led by the community committee chair, will also be required to assess what effect this will have on the borough and how Christchurch Town Council can act so that any malign effects may be mitigated.

Full council engaged in a lengthy debate on the subject at a meeting last week after Jumpers and St Catherine’s ward councillor Carol Gardiner put forward a petition for members to declare a ‘climate emergency’ in Christchurch.

The detailed proposal outlined potential risks to Christchurch from climate change and also offered some policies that could be taken up.

These suggestions included sustainable travel, housing measures and energy efficiency.

Councillors David Jones and Fred Neale attempted to amend the part of the proposal by adding “possibly” to a reference that “our climate is changing”.

This amendment was defeated, with draft minutes of meeting stating: “Members expressed concern with regards to word ‘possibly’ being included in the amendment as this indicated that the council was a climate change denier.”

A subsequent motion with “possibly” not included was approved, with 10 members voting in favour and five against.

Four councillors will join the community committee chair in taking the climate change focus forward at a town council level.