VICTORY: Council to come clean about Clean and “Green” City Fund #Manchester

Posted on September 1, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Manchester City Council will finally reveal how they have been spending the  £14.5m “Clean City” Fund. The scheme was set up last year to disperse an unexpected Manchester Airports Group dividend. The Council’s Finance Scrutiny Committee has been successfully lobbied, and is ‘inviting’ Deputy Leader Bernard Priest and Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, Rosa Battle, to appear at their Thurs 25th September meeting. They will be joined on the day (10am, Town Hall), by the chief officer in charge of communications, Sara Tomkins.

During the brief discussion about “Clean City” (transcript below) at the committee’s meeting on Thursday August 28th, Councillor Shelley Lanchbury also called on the Council’s communications team to release whatever information they could as soon as possible, and said she was “slightly annoyed” that it hadn’t already been done.

NB The sound drops out of this video from about 1min 30 to 1 min 55, so that you can read the email the Councillors received.

See also: Manchester City Council proclaims itself transparent. but if you want to know how clean city money is spent you gotta use the Freedom of Information Act (July 2014)

MCFly says: This isn’t actually how democracy is supposed to work, I think. Campaigners shouldn’t have to send emails to all the councillors on a committee and then also turn up to a day-time meeting with a video camera in order for unelected officers to do what they had been instructed to do two months previously by our elected representatives. Manchester’s democracy is not in the best of shape, imho.

If you want to learn new skills, meet interesting people and – via your example – lobby for the creation of a seventh scrutiny committee about environmental matters such as climate, biodiversity, disaster preparedness etc, then check out environmentalscrutiny.info. There are lots of ways of being involved without coming to any meetings. Inevitably though, there are monthly meetings …

Mon 22nd September, 7 to 8.30, Moss Side Community Allotment, cnr Bowes and Caythorpe St

Mon 20th October, 7 to 8.30pm, Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount St

TRANSCRIPT

– may not be entirely accurate – you can compare against the video. #didmybest

Cllr Ollerhead: Just before, actually … I also want to just address something … I’ve had – we’ve all had – an email from Marc who is sitting in the back. Hello Marc, waving the camera.

Marc sent an email , it’s a [unintelligible] email. We have asked for this previously, it is in the minutes of the last [meeting. So what I am proposing is that we put this onto next month’s meeting. I’ve spoken with Councillor Priest yesterday There wasn’t time to get all the details on there

Cllr Flanagan: Chair, I got the same email. I was going to email Marc, I don’t know if he’s received it yet. But as you know, the Clean City Fund has been reviewed. It isn’t Councillor Priest who’s taking the lead on this, it’s Councillor Rosa Battle. So I think we should invite her.

Cllr Ollerhead: I’ll have to invite Rosa. But it’s the communication element of this. I think what Marc’s getting at is – forgive me Marc if I’m getting this wrong – Marc wants to see exactly how we’ve responded to that

Cllr. Flanagan: Sorry chair, if I’m not mistaken the email also goes into where the fund was up to, and what decisions had been made and as well as the communication element. So if I’m not mistaken, so you’re probably right, both Bernard and Rosa should be here.

Cllr Ollerhead: Yeah, I’ll happily invite Rosa and Bernard as well. Marc, we’ll have something on next month’s meeting for you.

Cllr Lanchbury: Sorry, I was going to raise it too… I actually chaired for that particular meeting. And I remember having a look at the minutes and making sure that they too were very robust about the fact that we wanted – I think I made some changes to begin with (?) – to make sure it was robust about what we wanted in terms of the communication. And I do think that even with having this at the next meeting, we should still say to Communications that there is a point where they could now send out a list on the money that has already been allocated, particularly the small group money. Because we know that small groups that have had money. And I think that this list could be communicated BEFORE the next meeting, and a wider proper communications afterwards. There is stuff that can go out, including the fact that there’s the review going on, and things like that. I am slightly annoyed that it wasn’t done.

Cllr Ollerhead: … okay, so we’ll add that on for next month and invite Sara (Tomkins) back for that as well. So we’ll get Rosa, Bernard and Sara (Tomkins) back for that. So, moving on to…

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

Master of all they survey – #Manchester #climate questions unasked…

Posted on August 31, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Don’t know if you’ve had the “satisfaction” survey from t’Council?

http://www.enventure.co.uk/Manchestersummerautumn2014/mccresidentperceptionsurveyspring2014.htm

There was even a bit on climate change. Which is progress, of a sort.

citycouncilclimatechangesurvey

But of course, even though they claim they are trying to

“engage all individuals, neighbourhoods and organisations in Manchester in a process of cultural change that embeds ‘low carbon thinking’ into the lifestyles and operations of the city.”

they did NOT ask “have you heard of the ‘Manchester A Certain Future’ document – you know, the one that has been around for 5 years, and was promoted during most of that time by experts in communication?”, or “do you think we are doing a good job on climate change.”  Gee, can’t think why they didn’t ask those questions. Can anyone suggest reasons?

Posted in Climate Change Action Plan, Low Carbon Culture, Manchester City Council | Leave a comment

What does the word “community” mean? Applying the same scepticism that MCFly uses for t’Council in #Manchester

Posted on August 30, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

mossgardensThe “MossGardens” people have put out a glossy flyer which you can see to your right. After months during which not much appears to have happened at the site, (the far end of the old Stagecoach bus depot), they are having an action day, on Sunday 31st August. The Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Committee of the City Council is visiting the site soon. In fact, on Sunday 31st August.

With luck the members of the Committee, who did a pretty good job on the climate report last Tuesday, will ask whoever turns up a few obvious questions;

  • How often have you come down in the last month? Or is this in fact your first time here?

  • What have you got out of being involved?

  • When will you next be coming down?

We shall see.

MCFly says: I (Marc Hudson) thought seriously about not writing this. I know that it will be perceived as some sort of partisan attack because I am involved in the Moss Side Community Allotment. (And to be clear EVERYTHING I have said here is my own personal view and in NO WAY claims to represent the opinion of any other people involved in MSCA.)

So why write? Well, because the word community is being steadily leached of its meaning. That sows cynicism, not flowering plants, and should be challenged.  The same scepticism that is applied to the rhetoric that Manchester City Council spews out should also be applied to “civil society”.  Or am I missing something?

Posted in Unsolicited advice, Upcoming Events | Leave a comment

How many leaf-blowers does #Manchester Council have? #answerisblowinginthewind

Posted on August 30, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

[Update 22nd September 2014. We have answers.]

Dear Councillor Battle,

this morning while walking around Alexandra Park I noticed a workman with a loud leafblower, clearing leaves away from the tennis courts’ fence. Presumably this is in preparation for the weekend’s launch events, which I look forward to as much as you.

The roar of the blower got me to thinking, as so many things do, about “what is a low carbon culture”, and is Manchester engaging “all individuals, neighbourhoods and organisations in Manchester in a process of cultural change that embeds ‘low carbon thinking’ into the lifestyles and operations of the city.”

But those are big questions.  I have some more specific ones;

a) How many leaf blowers does Manchester City Council own and operate, as of August 29th 2014?

b) How many leaf blowers did Manchester City Council own and operate as of August 29th 2013?

c) Has any audit been done on the carbon emissions impact of using leaf blowers as opposed to some people using good old-fashioned rakes?  (if there has been, I would like a copy)

I know that there is a 10% “sustainability” criterion for council contracts (and congratulations – that’s a very good thing).

d) Is there any provision in contracts issued for parks maintenance to encourage contractors not to use leaf-blowers?

I would have preferred to avoid the delay associated with going through formal processes, but since my previous attempts to get information have met with considerable silence, please consider this a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Marc Hudson
[address]

I sent this to Councillor Battle (cllr.r.battle@manchester.gov.uk) on Friday 29th August, and included informationcompliance@manchester.gov.uk

Councillor Battle has kindly replied to acknowledge receipt. Information Compliance will doubtless soon be sending me a reference number.  Watch this space in about 20 working days (i.e. end of September).

Standard response to FoIA request, received on 1st Sept:

Dear Marc Hudson

Re: Request for Information – Reference No: GAN/9NKGCG

Thank you for your request for information received by Manchester City
Council on 29th August 2014.

Please note that it may take up to 20 working days (approximately 4 weeks)
for the Council to consider your request and to provide a formal response.

If this timescale needs to be extended to consider an exemption you will be
notified and kept informed.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

[Information Compliance Officer]

Posted in Low Carbon Culture, Manchester City Council | 12 Comments

Good news from #Manchester Town Hall. (not #climate, but Living Wage)

Posted on August 29, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Manchester City Council wants to throw its weight around for the greater good – in the form of a Living Wage. Following a resolution by the Council in March to “introduce a Living Wage for all of the Council’s directly and indirectly employed staff and to promote its introduction across the city”, they’re setting up a “Task and Finish” group.

The group, which will be chaired by Councillor Luke Raikes (see video below), will meet four times before reporting back to both the Economy and Finance Scrutiny Committees. The meetings are open to the public, and will happen in September, October, November and January. The other members of the group Councillors Rebecca Moore and Andrew Simcock Sarah Russell, Mark Hackett and Nigel Murphy.

The key objectives of the group are

  • To determine how the Council as an employer and procurer of services can maximise the number of people in the city earning the Living Wage.
  • To develop an understanding of how other authorities have introduced a Living Wage and identify the best model for introducing a Living Wage in Manchester.
  • To develop a step by step plan to implement the Living Wage in all of Manchester’s schools, the Council’s contractors and sub-contractors as soon as is practicable.
  • To establish a strong social and economic case of the benefits that introducing a Living Wage will bring to the city, which links to the Council’s strategic priorities.
  • To ensure that the introduction of a Living Wage will continue to be meaningful in the long term and resilient to changes in national policy and legislation.

You can find out more here:


MCFly explains

Task and Finish groups are sub-groups of councillors (usually from one or two of the six scrutiny committees, but other keen councillors can be a part of ’em). They tend to form to discuss a specific problem that is too unwieldy for any single committee, and which needs further investigation.

A cynic might say that councillors put themselves forward so they have something to put on their next election leaflet, to Show That They Care. But actually, there aren’t that many Alan B’stard councillors – most are doing it because they want to make a difference or because they want to get ahead. And they tend to actually be interested/care about the issue (I know, call me naïve).

The T and F groups tend to have three “investigatory” meetings where witnesses are called, discussions held. These witnesses won’t just be Town Hall officers, but the great unwashed from the wider world too. There’s a final meeting to stitch things together, and then the Task and Finish group reports back to the committee(s) it came from.

Recommendations are heard, usually accepted and then, theoretically can become enacted. Officers prepare an “action” “plan.” Occasionally – as is happening currently with the Environmental Sustainability Subgroup that came from a suggestion by a former member of the Economy Scrutiny Committee in mid-2013 – the members ask for the economyscrutinyjune2014implementation plan to have more detail. (“Following endorsement of the final report of the Environmental Sustainability Subgroup its March 2014 meeting, the Committee asked for a report proposing how the recommendations would be measured. This was submitted to the June meeting of the Committee, which asked for a further more detailed version to be provided. ”)

Being the Chair of a Task and Finish is a good way to show the rest of the Labour group whether you have the makings of a potential “Doer” (can you run good meetings, ask the right questions, get on with officers of all qualities etc etc).  Kate Chappell chaired the above-mentioned Environmental Sustainability Sub-group, but had to relinquish the role for the final meeting because… she had catapulted to the role of Executive Member for the Environment.

Marc Hudson
mcmonthly@gmail.com

Posted in Manchester City Council | Leave a comment

Sponsor pollution monitoring in Trafford

Posted on August 29, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

from the Breathe Clean Air Group.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

As you already know, the Breathe Clean Air Group is undertaking a programme of AIR POLLUTION MONITORING in Davyhulme and Urmston. The purpose is to see how bad air pollution is already and to establish a base line, if/when the Davyhulme Incinerator becomes operational.
Currently, we are focussing on the detection of nitrogen dioxide near the M60 motorway, using diffusion tubes. The tubes are sent to an accredited Laboratory for analysis. So far we have been shocked to find that in most cases, the results have been ABOVE the European safety limit.
Now, BCAG is proposing to extend this monitoring to cover as many areas as we can.
In order to fund this vital work, we are giving the opportunity to individuals and local businesses to sponsor part of the air pollution monitoring programme. We are looking for donations to our air testing scheme. All sponsor’s names will be included in a roll of honour (if they wish) on our website.

Here’s the different ways that you can contribute:

  • Send a cheque payable to “The Breathe Clean Air Group” to 16 Blinco Road, Urmston, Manchester, M41 9NF.
  • Email us at info@breathecleanairgroup.co.uk asking for our bank details and we will send them to you to transfer money directly to our account.
We look forward to your generous support in order to protect the air we breathe.
Posted in Campaign Update | Leave a comment

Environmental Dashboards + #Manchester Strategy = I heart Richard Leese

Posted on August 29, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

You can now film Council meetings (1). At Finance Scrutiny (one of the 6 committees that attempts to hold the bosses’ feet to the fire) the Leader of the Council, Richard Leese, spoke briefly about the Manchester Strategy 2015-2024. This will replace the existing “community strategy”, and will be consulted on next year.
He makes mention (starting at about 1 min 40) of three “dashboards” which monitor how things are going on the economy, social policy and the environment.These are updated monthly.

I distinctly remember being told a year or so ago that a monthly environmental dashboard would be difficult/impossible and only a long-term possibility. It’s all very intriguing.

So, I’ve just written to a the Head of Policy, Partnerships and Research and to the Environmental Strategy Manager to find out more.

Dear Mr Sadler and Ms Bowles,

yesterday I attended Finance Scrutiny Committee. During the discussion of the Manchester Strategy, the Council Leader, Richard Leese, mentioned that there are three dashboards that are maintained, and that these are “an economic one, a social policy one and an environmental one” that are “updated on a monthly basis” and that these are “real-time” dashboards.

Where on the Manchester City Council website can I find the Environmental Dashboards for the months of May, June and July 2014?

I note that the Economy Scrutiny Committee receives Real Time Economy Dashboard in its Overview Reports.

I also wonder if the members of the Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Committee already receive the equivalent? From the discussions on Tuesday 26th and looking at the Overview Report for that committee, it seemed they do not.

Many thanks in advance for your reply

Marc Hudson

Watch this space!

Marc Hudson
mcmonthly@gmail.com

(1) This is, potentially, a game changer, imho. Or part of changing the game, at least.

Posted in Manchester City Council | Leave a comment

#Manchester councillors scrutinise #climate “progress” – video

Posted on August 28, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

There were three key questions. They didn’t get answered, but nonetheless, there is scope for optimism about the way Manchester’s councillors look at the performance of the council.

The Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Committee, which looks at many other things as well as climate change, met on Tuesday 26th August. The climate portion of the meeting was filmed by MCFly (you can see it further down this post)

In order of importance:
a) The question of quarterly progress reports. Two councillors requested these in July 2013. (Shone and Peel). They were fobbed off. In February this year the Executive Member for the Environment, Kate Chappell (currently on maternity leave) wrote “I intend to ensure that quarterly progress reports on the Climate Plan 2014-7 are presented to Neighbourhoods Scrutiny as standard and to the Economy Scrutiny Committee and others on request.”

Despite being the public commitment of one of our democratically-elected leaders, it seems it still isn’t going to happen. Unelected people seem to not like the idea. The officers managed to answer a different question and to keep it in the long grass. But for how much longer? There are encouraging signs of councillors waking up and smelling the coffee.

b) The question of carbon literacy training.
There were some quite extraordinary outbursts of controlled exasperation here. Many councillors have encountered MAJOR difficulties doing the training, both in signing on to the e-learning and getting booked to do the face-to-face. There was a session on Tuesday morning that several members of the Committee (including the chair!) were not aware of, and would have gone to if they had known. (See video interview with Councillor Mark Hackett)
This saga has been going on for months and months. Leaving aside the proverbial whelk stalls, it raises the question – if the officers can’t even get the basics right, what confidence should anyone have in their ability to deliver a much larger and trickier agenda?

Finally, c), the question of having to buy in external expertise to do core functions (the writing of a Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy; see “Manchester Council to spend up to £30k on Green Strategy that in-house bureaucrats were supposed to do“)
The key question was – why didn’t the inconvenient fact that the environmental “strategy” “team” is spending £30k on external consultants to help them write a policy they promised to deliver years ago get mentioned in the report?
This question never got answered.

Still, there were other excellent questions raised, about aviation emissions (Cllr Veronica Kirkpatrick), street-lighting (Cllr Mick Loughman) and so on. It was one of the least dispiriting performances by the Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Committee in a long time (the 2012 effort drove me to the Samaritans).

Of note
* Councillor Mary Watson (Whalley Range) expressing disbelief about the difficulty in people undertaking the training (joined in this by Councillors Daniel Gillard, Emily Rowles and the chair, Councillor Basil Curley). She also pointed out this isn’t a tickbox exercise and should feed into ward plans. Not that there are many ward plans.
* Councillors Carmine Grimshaw and Matt Strong both picking up on the fact that the “17%” reduction is in the context of a much SMALLER council (in terms of number of buildings, staff) than it was 4 years ago. (they didn’t say it, but the question is – how much of these savings are frankly illusory?)
* The fact that the meeting went on for three hours. As one of the members pointed out, it’s a very big committee, with a very big remit, and it’s not at all clear that environmental scrutiny is being performed adequately

Absent – Cllrs Anna Trotman, Shaukut Ali and Tina Hewitson (her second consecutive absence, but with apologies on both occasions. Could it be that relentless day time meetings make life difficult not just for members of the public, but also councillors?)
Absent without apologies being sent (or at least, received and read out by the officer): Kevin Peel and Abdul Abid Latif Chohan. (apologies for getting Cllr Chohan’s first name wrong.)

Posted in Climate Change Action Plan, Democratic deficit, Manchester City Council | 2 Comments

#Manchester People’s Environmental Scrutiny – meeting report, video, next steps

Posted on August 27, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

A meeting where you leave with more energy than you went in? Really? Is such a thing possible? Well, with luck, willpower and preparation, maybe.

pescgoalsiconLast night, 16 people (1) gathered to share skills, ideas and donate their brainpower. In exchange they got to meet interesting people and contribute to a much-needed new network. The People’s Environmental Scrutiny Committee has two goals – nurturing links between concerned citizens, and getting Manchester City Council to set up its own Environmental Scrutiny Committee.

In order to “walk the talk” we

  • had a chat with the person next to us
  • wrote down something we were good at on a white piece of paper and something we would like to be good at on a blue piece, then held ’em up and walked around. Matches were made, emails exchanged. Of such things do networks grow, capacity is released (2)
  • paired off and went round improving the “bluffer’s” guides on all the skills that members of the PESC can develop – social media, lobbying councillors, blogging, video-making, report-writing etc.
  • filled in individual “skills audits” (Please fill in one – here)
  • had a look through the first “Things You Need to Know About Manchester City Council” (August 2014) document – 8 A4 pages you can see here, and suggested a number of improvements for any future editions.
  • Got copies of “The Case for an Environmental Scrutiny Committee” document (12 pages)
  • Heard from the authors of the next report, which will look at the “Total Carbon Footprint” approach to measuring carbon emissions. This is a radical scheme that Manchester City Council promised and then rapidly backed away from.
  • Heard three announcements (see below)
  • Finished earlier than scheduled (!) and then spoke to someone we hadn’t yet spoken to.

All in all, not a bad 80 minutes work.
Here’s a video about the evening, less than a minute long.

The next meeting of the PESC is on Monday 22nd September
In the meantime, it would be great if you could;
a) fill in the skills audit online Please fill in one – here
b) have a look at the “jobs list” (which will steadily expand).

Best wishes
Marc Hudson

(1) Not a bad turn out, the day after a Bank Holiday)
(2) Not “built” – thanks to Rhetta for the very astute help with that!

Next meetings;
Mon 22nd September from 7pm at the Moss Side Community Allotment, corner of Bowes St and Caythorpe St. Main report is on “Total Carbon Footprint – time for a second step?”
Mon 20th October from 7pm at the Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount St. Main report to be confirmed, but may be on community-based resilience/resourcefulness.

Announcements

  • Manchester Abolitionist Vegans meeting on Weds 3rd September from 6.30pm at Earth Cafe, at Manchester Buddhist Centre. 16-20 Turner Street M4 1DZ

  • Friends of Chorlton Meadows events See their website

  • Petition to get parks as statutory obligation

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARKS AND GREEN SPACES
The umbrella organisation for the UK’s Friends of Parks Forums and the Friends Groups movement
www.natfedparks.org.uk

Appeal to all concerned organisations – FAO the relevant officer or representative

Please support the UK Parks Petition
Please forward this link, encouraging all your members and contacts to sign: http://chn.ge/TXdqhj
Help prevent the slide into crisis of the UK’s green spaces – please fill in the Questionnaire below or attached

Our local public green spaces are an essential resource and service, vital to every community, and serving important needs for people of all ages and interests. However, as a number of recent ‘Parks Crisis’ reports have demonstrated, there are serious and growing risks to parks throughout the UK caused by chronic underfunding, projected to get even worse over the next few years. Parks could be threatened by dereliction, and many even sold off. This necessitates immediate and effective national action if we are to avoid severe long-term decline. We are now at a tipping point. Our green spaces need the recognition, protection and resources they deserve, and now is the time for everyone to speak out!

The inspirational rise of the Friends Groups movement over the last 15 years (with now over 5,000 groups), and the hard work and expertise of green space staff, managers and professionals, has proven the commitment of the public and all those who love parks. We believe that there must now be an equivalent commitment from the political parties and the next Government in 2015. Let’s make this an election issue!

The National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces recently launched the ‘Save Our Parks’ petition, supported by the Love Parks campaign. It aims to help raise the political profile and make parks an election issue. We are asking all key organisations, such as yours, to help promote it widely over the coming weeks and months. Please complete the questionnaire overleaf to indicate your support.

Please support and publicise to everyone in the UK in the build up to World Parks Day, September 20th!

Over 1,500 have already signed following the initial call. The petition has begun to stimulate publicity and debate. There’s been a feature in the Daily Mirror, and national organisations – like Groundwork (the green space volunteering charity) and UNISON (the local Government workers Union) – have already agreed to back the call.

An initial response from a representative of the Department for Communities and Local Government stated: ‘It’s good to see that friends groups across the country have support for the valuable work they do preserving good quality local parks’, and offered to meet with the National Federation to discuss ‘community rights’. But there’s been no response yet to the central issue of what the Government plans to do to ensure ‘good quality local parks’, so we now have to step up the pressure. Let’s all get the word out to everyone we know and get thousands more to sign!

Please help get as many signatures as you can. Please spread the word far and wide!

1. Sign the petition: http://chn.ge/TXdqhj
2. Spread the news via Twitter: @LoveParks_Week #LoveParks
3. Spread the news via Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukparkspetition – and: www.facebook.com/LoveParksWeek
4. Refer to the Parks Petition webpage: www.natfedparks.org.uk/parks-petition.html
– the page includes a Sign Up Sheet and leaflets to distribute

Posted in Campaign Update, Democratic deficit | Leave a comment

Upcoming Event: “Nanas at #Manchester High Court” Thurs 28th August

Posted on August 27, 2014 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Nanas at High Court

Posted in Campaign Update | Leave a comment