A climate change champion has spoken of the need to "unite as a nation" on the issue after staging a walk out during the garden waste collection debate at a full borough council meeting in Atherstone.

Tory Councillor Shelly Lebrun told Nub News today her highly-visible exit came as a result of vote being called on the green bin charge before members on the local authority were able to compare budgets proposals.

She departed mid debate before the go-ahead was given to charge a £40 annual fee for a green bin service for those wish to use it.

Cllr Lebrun said it was a matter of fact that North Warwickshire Borough Council is an "under-funded authority", insisting: "We need to remain confident that budgets are managed with sustainability."

Only elected in May last year, the Curdworth ward representative added: "I arrived to full council with open ears ready to work together to find the best solutions on matters of climate change.

"That was not possible when that vote was called.

"As the optioned climate change champion I need to see a full council united on issues of climate change. "In order for the elected councillors to move forward to achieve that, I saw my role should step aside from this vote. "I aim to unite both parties to form a cross party action group to achieve that united front." The council is actively lobbying central government for fairer funding for the North Warwickshire authority. And Cllr Lebrun pointed to the fact that if the Environmental Bill, currently sitting in parliament, goes through – then it will call for local authorities to receive funding to cover the green bin service. In a statement to Nub News, she added: "Let my voice and focus be a strong statement to ensure that central government takes note that we must unite as a nation on matters of climate change. "This bill needs to go through and North Warwickshire is calling out for it."

At the end of the meeting last night, councilors seemed very relaxed after the Tory member's sudden departure so early into the three-hour meeting.

One Conservative told Nub News: "I thought she left because she had an emergency at home."