Galway Bay fm newsroom - County councillors have voted to develop a strategic policy committee dedicated to climate change, while also expanding the scope of the existing environment committee to include agriculture.
These committees allow both elected representatives and local sectoral interests the opportunity to become more involved in policy formulation.
The new focus areas of climate change and agriculture created division in the chamber and heated debate at county hall this week.
The motion to create an additional SPC for climate change was proposed by Loughrea area councillor Joe Byrne and led to considerable debate at county hall with concerns raised over the additional cost and need for a sixth committee.
Many argued other areas should be considered ahead of climate change such as roads and other local services.
Councillor Byrne, who received the support of 19 members, said the move could be ground breaking for Galway and the county cannot afford to wait any longer to address climate change.
Fianna Fail councillor Donagh Killilea was one of many to question the need for a sixth SPC on climate change and said he has been calling for a committee dedicated to agriculture for many years.
He later proposed that the grouping consider an SPC dedicated to agriculture .
This led to further debate with many questioning whether the council could have 7 strategic policy committees.
CEO Kevin Kelly explained that while a maximum number of SPCs is not prescribed, there would generally be four and more for bigger local authorities.
Independent councillor James Charity suggested an amendment to councillor Killilea's motion proposing that the environment SPC be expanded to include agriculture.
CEO Kevin Kelly told the meeting a draft of the SPC scheme would be brought back before members for approval at the September meeting.
The county chief said a future report on a proposal to retrofit public lighting could cost in the region of €6m.
He told the chamber the budget for the next year will have to include some degree of additional revenue raising to address climate change issues.
