The leader of Basildon Council has slammed a suggestion the local authority should consider encouraging its residents to eat less meat, fish and dairy .

The suggestion is contained in a document that is part of a project urging the adoption of a refreshed climate strategy and action plan that says Basildon Council's aim is to reach net-zero carbon emissions across the borough by 2050.

Council leader Cllr Andrew Baggott said that it would be "wrong" for the council to promote a reduced consumption of animal products by the borough's residents as part of schemes such as Veganuary.

The 31-day not-for-profit challenge began in 2014, with more than 2.5 million people signing up to participate. For the full month of January, participants are tasked with following a vegan diet in order to raise awareness of its health and environmental benefits and its compassion for animals.

Cllr Craig Rimmer told those attending a cabinet meeting that while in the work group assigned to updating the council's climate change policy in 2021, one of his actions was to participate in Veganuary.

He raised the challenge for other councillors to take part in 2024.

He said: "One small change can make a difference."

In response, Cllr Baggott said: "I'm going to sound very deviant… I really have an issue with eating less meat, fish and dairy.

"I think that if you were a Native American Indian, going out, hunting… only sourcing the food you want to eat in the right amounts for the people you're feeding, no one would have ever said Native Americans were leaders in causing climate change and the melting of the ice caps.

"It's not the eating of (animal products), it's how they are either farmed, produced or packaged.

"Personally, I think it's wrong of the council to go all vegan-esque and start telling the public what they should eat.

"The one thing that winds me up, I'm afraid, is the vegans that go out there telling everybody else, and preaching to them, why they shouldn't eat meat.

"You never hear a meat-eater say: "You must eat meat; we will force this upon you."

"I do think we need to be very careful in the way we approach climate change… eating meat is good, and it's healthy."

Cllr Rimmer responded that he is "certainly nowhere near the vegan camp", admitting that he had eaten "a big steak" the previous evening. However, he added that following a vegan diet often presents people with healthier choices, and Mediterranean-style nutrition can promote a longer life.

Referencing the suggestion of eating fewer animal products when presenting the refreshed strategy for adoption, Councillor Kevin Blake (Con., Burstead) said: "I will do my best, and I encourage everybody else to do so."