A new group in Bracknell has been set up to tackle the ‘climate crisis’.

A group of Bracknell Forest councillors have set up a new panel to focus on the council’s response to climate change and advise on its policy going forward.

The group declared its aims are to consult community organisations, other councils and bodies such as the Bracknell Climate Change Action Group to determine the best ways to tackle climate change and have a sustainable future.

It is being chaired by Councillor Tony Virgo (Conservative).

READ MORE: Bracknell Extinction Rebellion's M4 protest over G7 summit

During its foundation meeting, Cllr Virgo said: “We should be a catalyst to unite and adopt the very best suggestions out there, and it’s only by working together that we will achieve the most progress.

“I really don’t want this committee, this panel to be a talking shop. This is a working panel and we expect results, and we will be assessed by the very success. We must remember above all that we meet to deliver for our residents, and of course, deliver for the children.”

Scrutiny of the council’s policy on climate was originally undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Commission.

But Cllr Virgo argued that the issue of climate change warranted its own panel. He said that oversight of the council’s policy was “a bit higgeldy piggledy."

“I felt if we are going to take it seriously we really need a separate body to look at it. We are mirroring various other councils. Our job is to see what the council is doing and see what our residents are doing.

“If we need to scrutinise anything we can pass things on to the overview and scrutiny committee.”

READ MORE: £4.6million Bracknell Commercial Centre shake-up approved

Although the panel has no official powers, it can make recommendations of policies to the council’s executive.

The following councillors are members of the panel:

Chairman Tony Virgo (CON), Winkfield & Cranbourne

Vice Chair Tina McKenzie-Boyle (CON), Crowthorne

Gaby Kennedy (CON), Central Sandhurst

Sandra Ingram (CON), Warfield Harvest Ride

Ian Leake (CON), Binfield with Warfield

Ray Mossom (CON), Owlsmoor

Malcolm Tullett (CON), Old Bracknell

Mary Temperton (Labour), Great Hollands North.

The panel was founded on Wednesday, June 9. Cllr Virgo said: “The members we have are interested in the issue and they represent most of the borough, and have contacts with the town and parish councils in our area.

“I hope it will be a conduit for good ideas for the council to adopt. We want to come up with quick and correct solutions.”

The inaugural meeting was attended by executive members Cllr Dorothy Hayes MBE, executive member for the environment, Cllr John Harrison, executive member for culture, delivery and public protection, and Cllr Chris Turrell, executive member for planning and transport. All of them are Conservatives.

Bracknell Forest Council is the only council in Berkshire to not declare a ‘climate emergency’. The council was criticised for its goal to eradicate its net contribution to climate change by 2050. Campaigners urged the council to set the goal for 2030 instead.