Climate crisis protesters maintain pressure on civic chiefs in Winchester

Climate groups from across the county spoke at the monthly conference, asking the council to add teeth to their declaration by setting dates and deadlines.

The council were asked to say when net zero carbon will be achieved, and to give council officers a deadline to set an action plan showing how this would be done.

Responding to the decision, a spokesperson from Extinction Rebellion Winchester said: "Two cheers for the County Councillors because they recognised the urgent need for action, and set aside party politics to agree a way forward.

"But we’ll wait to give three cheers till we see the action plan. It must include immediate and specific actions.

"We don't want weasel words like "look into this" or "explore that". And whatever it says must be included in the council’s budget for 2020 and after."

A rally was held outside the council chamber as the meeting took place, with protestors from Alton, Petersfield and the New Forest holding banners.

Schoolchildren sang 'SOS From the Kids' – a song composed by 11-year old Simeon Macauley from Petersfield SOS Choir.

Several of those who made deputations to the meeting, including the University of Winchester, offered to work with the county council to develop an action plan.

The spokesperson from Extinction Rebellion Winchester added: "We have many good ideas – two we expect to see in the action plan are to replace all street lights with LEDS, and to revoke the County Council policy not to permit wind turbines on Council land.

"Extinction Rebellion argues for a Citizens Assembly to decide what must be done, drawing on representatives from all perspectives to examine evidence and make binding recommendations for urgent action."

There was so much interest that Councillor Mans had to stop discussion, but promised that it would be resumed at the next meeting, when the county council will consider the report of their Commission into Hampshire in 2050.