A motion to declare a climate emergency will be re-run at a full meeting of Powys Council this week.

The authority is currently seeking legal advice after it emerged that a vote for a motion at the end of July should not have been held – because the outcome of a vote beforehand to defer the ballot was miscounted.

The online voting system for the July 30 vote on whether to refer the motion to a working group of councillors six months later caused confusion, and broadband connectivity issues meant some members had to vote verbally in the original meeting.

It should have seen the vote on a climate emergency put off – but instead the vote took place, leading to questions over the validity of its outcome.

Now, however, the vote it so be held again at Thursday's full council meeting, after it was put forward by Liberal Democrat councillors Jake Berriman and Jackie Charlton.

Llandrindod representative Cllr Berriman said: “Let’s hope that we can come together now in common cause and deal with this for everyone’s benefit.”

In preparation for the meeting, Cllr Charlton has provided her own answers to five of the issues which had led to calls for the motion to be deferred, as set out by cabinet member Cllr James Evans.

She said declaring a climate emergency is zero-cost, that supporting moves to make Powys a "zero carbon" authority by 2030 could realise "substantial savings", and that helping encourage MPs to support the Local Electricity Bill to allow for the local supply of electricity could produce large economic benefits.

She said the other aspect, assigning roles in the cabinet to lead on climate change mitigation, had already been established, as a had a Powys-wide group aimed at bringing forward a sustainability strategy.

The motion to be put forward on Thursday reads:  “This Council notes the IPPC Panel report on global warming predicts severe impacts to health, home and environment, with the severe floods of October 2019 and February 2020 endangering Powys communities, clearly demonstrating that we are ill prepared for the challenges we face as a council.

“This council notes that by declaring a climate emergency, councils are demonstrating their collective leadership and signifying the urgency which, as a publicly accountable body, they place on tackling climate change and de-carbonising the economy."