Manchester City Council set a target (after being prodded by activists) of 60 of its 96 Councillors being “carbon literate” by the end of 2014. They awarded a £13k contract to Manchester Metropolitan University to deliver this training (which was also aimed at council employees)

And the outcome?  Do I hear 60?  50?  40?  Going once, going twice… 23. Fifty of the 96 councillors had by December 31st done neither the online nor the face-to-face component.  We asked for names, and were ignored.  That’s “democracy.”

And the report about the successes and failures of carbon literacy?  Didn’t happen.

So, we asked the Press team for a statement about the missed targets.  It’s printed below in full. It’s the sort of thing that would make the North Korean Propagandists Association blush and squirm with shame.

Cllr Kate Chappell, Manchester City Council’s executive member for the environment, said: “This is a unique and high quality package which has been developed specifically for the City Council, and I’m glad that so many members have taken time out of their busy schedules to complete the full day’s training required and to learn more about how they can work with residents and partners to help people live more environmentally friendly, low carbon lifestyles.

“Many of those members who have completed the training will now begin working in their communities to pass on the lessons they have learned to residents.”

Two things

a) this is why MCFly rarely bothers to seek comment from the Council.  It always takes weeks, and it is never worth the wait

b) why do they persist in shredding the shreds of their credibility?  Who do they think they are fooling?  Really?