Town councillors vote on going vegan

Shropshire Star

01/10/2024

Transcript

00:00Some people want to eat plant-based food for whatever reason.

00:08And it's also based on how this council is representing itself within the town.

00:16Mainly the impression to residents that we are saying that you are wrong for eating meat.

00:22You will only count it as plant-based meat or plant-based food.

00:27And therefore I would expect that we have an instruction to this from our restaurants and shops.

00:35And from farmers particularly in the area.

00:38Because we are expressing the principle and philosophy in doing this as it stands.

00:47Nothing against providing plant-based food.

00:52And the amendment said that we should provide an option for that.

00:57Nothing against the Climate Emergency Committee looking at how we can develop the benefits.

01:02And show the benefits of plant-based eating to the local community.

01:06But it's this extreme prohibition of plant-based food.

01:13The many opportunities that we have.

01:21But I feel that it's too big a step at this time.

01:26And it's not representative of how the general public would wish it to represent at any time.

01:39Could you read out as you remember?

01:44The council recognises that there can be adverse effects of some animal products for climate change.

01:56In this respect we are sure that all our catering provided will offer plant-based food.

02:05This is deleting the first item.

02:14And retaining the second.

02:20Can I have a seconder please?

02:23One second.

02:32Do we have a councillor who wishes to speak?

02:50I think that amendment is already redundant.

02:53Because the council already offers a plant-based option for catering events as far as I know.

02:58So I don't think there's any point in putting that to the vote to tell you the truth.

03:04It completely changes the meaning behind the motion.

03:10And the motion isn't making the survey of plant-based food mandatory.

03:17It's saying it's not prescriptive.

03:19It's saying it's by default.

03:21If anybody wants or requires to meet their council functions, then all they have to do is request it.

03:27And any invite to council functions can include that prescription with it.

03:32So I really do not see a point to the amendment.

03:37I think the amendment improves it, but that's really all I can expect from it.

03:41I'm probably not going to be able to pay for it without the amendment.

03:45I just think as a third-party thing all farmers want to see, it's important to not look at it as a money framework.

03:52It's about what message it's sending out.

03:55Actually, we have an incredible amount of time for farmers in Shropshire and York.

04:01We have all trade deals and options for keeping farming payments.

04:05That's what we may look at.

04:08Sort of pay-to-view arrangements.

04:10Whilst there are issues in the industry, I think a lot of it is actually due to the reverse incentives in that macro-level regulation.

04:17I don't think it's actually to do with what town council might want to do.

04:22So if this motion says, I just send a message, I would say, I'd like to send a different message.

04:27We're actually back to the local pieces.

04:32We do have a well-being environment as standard.

04:35We can improve that.

04:37But actually, this is sending a message that we shouldn't be supporting labour producers, which essentially it is.

04:43Let's ensure there are macro-policy about reducing the impact of farming that would be helpful.

04:48I don't think it's appropriate for a town council to be doing this.

Town councillors vote on going vegan

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