Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has scrapped its climate emergency declaration and ended its Net Zero 2030 strategy with immediate effect. The newly elected Reform UK-led administration has cancelled the Sustainable Environment Strategy and will formally withdraw the original 2019 climate emergency declaration at July's Full Council meeting.
Leader Jonathan Gullis has described the climate emergency declaration as "little more than political virtue signalling" that failed to deliver results for residents. He stated the declaration did not cut council tax, improve services, or help working people. Gullis has ordered a comprehensive review of every pound spent on Net Zero initiatives across Newcastle Under Lyme.
The council intends to stop, save, or redirect uncommitted funding from climate-related projects. Cabinet member Ben Simpson says the administration's focus will shift to practical priorities residents actually care about: collecting bins on time, cleaning streets, and tackling litter and fly-tipping with hefty fines and public shaming.