Category Archives: Democratic deficit

Lack of transparency, honesty, trust etc.

Manchester City Council spends 30k on “green” strategy. Consults with… the consultants writing the report!

Posted on January 12, 2015 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Here’s the short version: Manchester City Council has spent 30k outsourcing the creation of a “Green Infrastructure”.  They “consulted” – but mostly with the consultants they hired! Manchester City Council promised a “Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy” would be in … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic deficit, Green spaces, Manchester City Council | 4 Comments

Scrutiny Week January 2015 #Manchester City Council

Posted on January 8, 2015 by manchesterclimatemonthly

As ever, there is no single official page where you can find out what items are being discussed at the six scrutiny committee meetings being held this week.  (Manchester City Council, with 95 of its 96 councillors belonging to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic deficit | 3 Comments

#Manchester Councillor proud of city’s record. Finds out emissions up. Still proud.

Posted on December 31, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

It began, as so many things do these days, with a tweet. Rebecca Moore, the newest councillor [Labour (of course)] for Withington, proclaimed that it was a Good Thing more people don’t vote Green. Just for laffs (or “shits and … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic deficit, Low Carbon Culture, Manchester City Council | 3 Comments

#Manchester City Council discusses the cuts…

Posted on December 20, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

I attended this week’s MCC Economy and Communities Scrutiny Committee meetings. I hope this report may be of use to some of you. I’m happy for material in it to be forwarded to other interested parties, with the proviso that … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic deficit, Manchester City Council | Leave a comment

Councillors fail to scrutinise the agenda, the #Manchester budget, themselves

Posted on December 18, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Manchester City Council is having to make very big cuts to its budget. Councillors on the Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Council wanted reports on different options, but will not get them. On Tuesday 16th November they kicked off at everyone – but … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic deficit, Manchester City Council | Leave a comment

It’s official: #climate is not “urgent business” for #Manchester City Council

Posted on December 17, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

You have a plan.  But it isn’t working.  Your carbon emissions are going UP, not down. The short report where that was admitted is not even in the papers for the meeting.  And the council’s carbon emissions are not on … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic deficit, Manchester City Council | Leave a comment

“Any urgent business?” Write to your Councillors about #Manchester Council’s #climate #denial

Posted on December 12, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Climate denial isn’t just something done by evil/stupid Australians and Americans who get funding from oil companies and billionaires. Denial is happening right here in Manchester.  By people in positions of responsibility who accept that climate change is real but … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change Action Plan, Democratic deficit | 1 Comment

#Manchester City Council fails to scrutinise its increasing emissions. Of course.

Posted on December 11, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

In February the Council (1) promised that it would start producing quarterly reports on the “progress” it was making with its Climate Change actions.  It didn’t do this, of course. Finally, in November, after a lot of pushing from citizens, … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic deficit, Manchester City Council | 8 Comments

Manchester Council Exec member promises quarterly climate reports. Doesn’t deliver.

Posted on December 1, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Three weeks ago the politician in charge of climate change for Manchester City Council promised that quarterly progress reports would finally start to be released, “by the end of November.” Nope. On November 13th, two weeks after Manchester Climate Monthly … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic deficit, Manchester City Council | 3 Comments

Will the promised quarterly #climate plans be any good? Don’tholdyourbreath #Manchester

Posted on November 26, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

A couple of weeks ago Manchester City Council finally agreed to keep a promise it had made in February – for quarterly reports on its climate plan “progress”. This came after a two week blitz of blog posts about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change Action Plan, Democratic deficit, Manchester City Council, quarterly reports | Leave a comment