Swaffham councillor Lindsey Beech insists on seeing what impact Net Zero Norfolk scheme will have on reisdents

A councillor has insisted on finding out what impact any net zero plans will have on her town before giving them the seal of approval.

At Swaffham Town Council’s full meeting last Wednesday, Cllr John Zielinski said he has been in discussions via Zoom regarding the Norfolk Net Zero Communities project.

This project, led by the Norfolk Climate Change Partnership, has a total budget of £300,000.

The town was chosen to lead Breckland in the Norfolk Climate Change Partnership’s (NCCP) Fast Followers project scheme last year.

Cllr Zielinski said the figures running the scheme would like to have one point of contact in Swaffham, who does not necessarily need to be on the town council.

He added: “They do want our endorsement of what they are trying to do.

“They want to study the town and what barriers people have to attaining net zero targets.”

However, Cllr Lindsey Beech pointed out that as part of the competition the group entered in order to attain the funding, it had to provide a “clear vision of how they would implement that plan”.

Cllr Beech told last week’s meeting: “I would like to see the delivery plan as they have written it, so I am able to assess the impact it is going to have on Swaffham residents.

“Unless I can see that, I can’t possibly endorse it.”

Cllr Stewart Bell, the Swaffham mayor, said the matter would be added to the council’s next full meeting agenda.

“Hopefully,” Cllr Beech replied.

Cllr Zielinski said those behind the scheme hope to engage with community groups such as the Swaffham Men’s Shed and the town’s Rotary Club when it draws up its aims.

In October when the funding was announced, David Wickerson, who represents Swaffham on Breckland Council, said it was an opportunity for the town to “lead the way with climate change”.