The silence from Manchester City Council gets ever more deafening, as it persists in NOT endorsing the city council’s latest Climate Action Plan. In July the 2013-4 “Annual Carbon Reduction Plan” of the Council went to a scrutiny committee. After questioning, it was conceded that the press released “reduction” of 7% was in fact a 1.8% increase in the council’s own emissions (the reduction claimed was simply an accounting exercise).

Previous Annual Carbon Reduction Plans were sent straight on to Executive to be endorsed. This plan did not go to the July Executive. It did not go to the September Executive. And it will not go to the October Executive (see our speculation that it might here).

Manchester Climate Monthly has been asking, repeatedly, for a reason. We have received nothing substantive so far, other than – after a few weeks – a promise to get back to us.

Where is the democracy? Where is the urgency? Where is the credibility? For all of these, the term “Missing inaction” seems most appropriate.

Will councillors who sit on the Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Committee raise it as an issue? How about councillors on the Environmental Sustainability Subgroup? Don’t go holding your breath.

If you want to find out more, perhaps you can contact your local councillors (find them here). As well, you might even drop the Executive Member for the Environment a line – cllr.n.murphy@manchester.gov.uk

Here below, for the record, is what they will be talking about, next Weds, 23rd October, 10am at Manchester Town Hall.
Executive meeting Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Download the Agenda (Download Agenda. 28.33 KB)

Item 4 – Manchester International Festival (Download Report. 107.09 KB)
Item 5 – Network Rail (Ordsall Chord) Order Application to the Secretary of State for a Transport (Download Report. 88.3 KB)
Item 6 – Revisions to Manchester’s Local Funding Formula for Schools for Implementation in 2014 -15 (Download Report. 49.03 KB)
Item 7 – National Non-Domestic Rates Policy document – areas of local discretion (Download Report. 79.38 KB)
Item 9 – Global Revenue Monitoring (Download Report. 74.26 KB)
Item 10 – Capital Programme – Proposed Increases (Download Report. 31.5 KB)
Item 11 – Capital Programme Monitoring 2013/14 (Download Report. 126.38 KB)
Item 12 – New Smithfield Market: Development Strategy (Download Report. 305.86 KB)
Item 17 – Greater Manchester Combined Authority 27 September (Download Report. 31.06 KB)
Item 18 – AGMA Executive Board 27 September (Download Report. 14.03 KB)