Leader urges Leeds to combat climate change

2.03.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 3rd Jun 2008

Extra funding, equalling almost one million pounds, could be given to all areas of the city in an attempt to improve the quality of council properties and assets.

Provision has been made in plans going before the next Executive Board for a Ward Based Initiative scheme, providing each Leeds city councillor with a discretionary £10,000 this financial year, that can be used towards works on council properties.

The money can be spent on improving a council owned property or asset, and it is hoped many councillors will embrace the opportunity to focus on the environment, using it to help tackle climate change.

Leader of Leeds City Council, Cllr Richard Brett (Lib Dem, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill) called on all councillors:

"This extra funding, that will be given to each ward in Leeds, shows our commitment to funding positive change on a local level.

"I am calling on officers and councillors to identify schemes in each ward where this money can be used to help tackle climate change.

"Small steps, such as extra insulation, double glazing, or perhaps more ambitiously, projects such as heating hot water through solar power, can all help Leeds become a greener city.

"The schemes offer the prospect of saving significant amounts of money in the future; money that can then be redirected to frontline services elsewhere."