Southampton City Council (SCC) has put out a call for residents to help inform what its forthcoming ‘Southampton Citizens’ Climate Assembly’ will look like.
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The assembly itself will “discuss climate change and the road to net zero with local residents and businesses”, the authority explained in March.
“Citizen’s Assemblies bring an inclusive and diverse set of people together, engage them in informed, and safe deliberation, and provide recommendations to decision-makers on controversial topics,” it added.
Cllr John Savage (Lab) stressed the importance of the assembly being “truly cross-party”.
“The intention is that whatever comes out of the process should not be influenced by any political or environmental grouping,” he said.
“It is a way of determining the direction of travel regarding net-zero and that this should reflect the wishes of the people of Southampton, and that ultimately this should lead to policies being developed irrespective of who is in power.”
In its latest e-newsletter ‘City news’, SCC said that it’s been working with the University of Southampton and public participation charity Involve on the assembly’s early stages, and is now looking for people to help in the planning process.
Participants don’t need to know anything about climate assemblies, said the council; just “some knowledge of Southampton, our communities and want to help us deliver positive change”.
Various sessions are available, as follows, including at St Denys Church Hall on July 8. Book via the links.
In person, Woolston Library, 1 July 1pm-2.30pm
Online (Zoom), 4 July 4:30pm-6pm
In person, St Denys Church Hall, 8 July 2pm-3.30pm 4pm-5.30pm
Online (Zoom), 11 July 4.30pm-6pm
In person, Coxford, Coxford Community Centre 18 July 4.30pm-6pm
28/6/23 updated the time of the St Denys session to reflect that on the booking page