Conservative councillors in Wokingham Borough are urging the Government to scrap VAT on green products to help tackle climate change.
Removing the tax from items such as solar panels and battery storage would reduce costs and incentivise residents, businesses and other organisations to go green.
The call is being led by Cllr Gregor Murray, the Council’s Executive Member responsible for the climate emergency. Cllr Murray will ask for the backing of other political parties at the Borough’s Full Council meeting on 24th March 2022.
A motion will be proposed asking councillors to back the Leader of the Council in rallying support among the Borough’s four MPs. John Redwood, Theresa May, James Sunderland and Matt Rodda are all being urged to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to seek change.
The move reflects the leading role the Conservative administration of Wokingham Borough Council has taken in responding to climate change. The Council was one of the first local authorities in the country to declare a Climate Emergency.
More recently, the Council adopted a comprehensive Climate Emergency Action Plan to create a wide-ranging approach to bringing about change. Its plan was recently judged by an independent charity to be eighth-best of all single-tier councils in the UK.
Cllr Murray said: “Wokingham Borough Council, led by the Conservatives, has been far ahead of other authorities in recognising and responding to climate change.
“At a time where everyone is feeling the pinch, it can be hard for residents, businesses and charities to put money towards going green. That’s why we want to see the Government reduce taxes on green products to make it that bit easier to become more sustainable.”
