Cheshire East has backed the call for a treaty to plan the end of fossil fuel expansion and production despite some councillors claiming it is just 'gesture politics'.

The environment and communities committee voted by seven to five in favour of formally endorsing the call for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty that would plan the end of new fossil fuel exploration and expansion and phase out existing production in line with the global commitment to limit warming to 1.5°C.

Sandbach councillor Sam Corcoran (Lab), who brought the motion to the council, told Thursday's (June 5) committee meeting: "The scientific consensus is clear that fossil fuels are primarily responsible for accelerating global climate change."

He said the reliance on fossil fuels exposes communities to public health risks and that 'the economic opportunities of the transition to clean energy far outweigh trying to cling on to fossil fuel use'.

"We need everyone globally to do their bit, that's why we need a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty," said Cllr Corcoran.

"One hundred and thirty-five cities and local governments including Birmingham, Manchester, Tuvalu, Mzuzu, London, Edinburgh, Turin, Athens have already done this. So please think globally, act locally and support this motion."

Knutsford councillor Tony Dean (Con) said he would support any action to mitigate and avoid climate change but endorsing this was simply 'gesture politics'.

"The fact that Cheshire East supports a non-proliferation of fossil fuel treaty worldwide, in my view, doesn't mean we actually do anything to handle climate change," he said.

He later added: "I just think it's a pointless gesture."

Cllr Becky Posnett (Bunbury, Con) said: "I'm conflicted about this, because I do recognise the challenges of climate change, but I also recognise what we have as council within our power.

"I would support that this motion be sent to central government, who do have the levers and mechanisms that allow us to make these changes and ask if they will support or endorse such a motion.

"Cheshire East doesn't own coal mines, gas supplies, or any fossil fuels, and there's actually no action, it doesn't cost us anything, so why are we doing it if it is just lip service?"

She added: "Cheshire East is predominantly a rural borough, and we have a lot of rural fuel poverty, and they have to rely on fossil fuels in order to power their homes and in order to keep warm.

"This council has no answer to that."

But Nantwich councillor Anna Burton (Lab) disagreed.

"I don't think it's a pointless gesture," she said.

"Fossil fuels are linked to public health because of poor air quality.

"So things like stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory disease, asthma, are all health conditions that come from that."

Cllr Heather Seddon (Congleton, Lab) said: "This is a really important motion, and it's actually in alignment with our current Cheshire East policies of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 for our own activities, and the whole borough carbon neutral by 2045.

"We know the science, we know that we've got to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere."