Mr. Tom Moylan:

Going back to the Chair's question, climate action is becoming the defining issue of our time. It is the defining issue at national Government and has now come through at local level. Sometimes change is difficult for members and a new way of thinking is needed. We see our role in trying to give that knowledge and skill set to our members and to make them aware of their responsibilities as members of their local authority to deal with issues of climate change and climate action at local level. I found the training really good in the sense that it was about the leadership quality needed from our elected members to bring their communities on board with them. That is hugely important because we have to bring the public on board. Hopefully, as that happens, we will see fewer instances where there is conflict at local level over new initiatives and getting a new way of thinking. We will continue to help with that.

Our development plan reviews with members over the past 12 or 18 months have been hugely important. All local development plans and county and city development plans are at some stage of the review process, some nearing completion. Addressing climate action as part of that review was a big part of the work of the elected members. Going through that process has empowered our members, as well as getting them a new way of thinking. As the objectives of the development plans are rolled out over the next six years, which is the lifetime of the plans, I hope they will deliver on their responsibilities on climate action.