A SENIOR councillor claimed US President Donald Trump will ‘eventually change his mind’ on climate change after the council declared a climate emergency.

Labour’s motion, proposed by Cllr Judith Guthrie and seconded by Cllr Tom Jennings, received cross-party support in the chamber during Monday’s full council meeting.

It notes the authority declares a climate emergency and will become carbon neutral in its own activities by 2030.

A working group will be set up before reporting back to the council in December with an action plan.

But Cllr Guthrie, cabinet member for environment and public protection, took the opportunity to have a dig at President Trump.

She said: “Climate change is an issue that will not go away.

“Some people have decided it doesn’t exist. President Trump, for example, but he will eventually change his mind.

“This is not a council problem, it is an issue for every resident in Warrington.”

Cllr Jennings told members climate change is an issue ‘we must all take seriously and work together on’.

He said: “Residents have made this clear, particularly our youngest, who have engaged in direct action, perhaps for the first time in their lives, on this issue.”

A Liberal Democrat motion on climate change, proposed by Cllr Bob Barr and seconded by Cllr Brian Axcell, also received cross-party support.

It called on the cabinet to declare a climate emergency, update the 2013 Warrington declaration on climate change by pledging to make the borough carbon neutral by 2030 and ask Westminster to provide ‘powers and resources’ to make the 2030 target possible.

Cllr Barr said both the local plan and local transport plan pay ‘considerable attention’ to carbon reduction targets.

He added: “Both our plans are based on the concept of Warrington as a green eco city – something we are well placed to become but only if we commit ourselves to encouraging and enforcing our green policies.”

The declaration of the climate emergency comes after the council said it was not ‘taking steps’ to declare one earlier this month – despite calls from both of the town’s MPs, Helen Jones and Faisal Rashid.