to Ed Cox re Greener Together Public Forum

Dear Ed and Bob

You are both responsible for these quarterly forums that are well worth doing and I would like to make these suggestions to you both.

1. I would like you, Ed to continue to Chair these meetings, with Bob as second in command.  You, Ed encouraged participation and specifically invited comments and questions from anyone out there.  Excellent!  Bob, our petition leader, is also an excellent Chair and must share it with you.
2. I see you, Ed as the liaison, the go-between, the access door to the decision-makers at TfWM/WMCA.  You are, therefore pretty useful - a VIP, in fact!
3. I do prefer online Teams or Zoom meetings rather than even hybrid gatherings.  It is so very convenient and lower impact on life support systems in not having to travel.  Online are much better attended, too.
4. Perhaps, next time at 7 pm and no limit on the numbers attending online.
5. I am anxious that top officers and councillors are present online to listen to those of us who wish to put an alternative point of view.  Especially, when topics, ideas and suggestions are relevant to their area or subject.  Please encourage them to attend.
6. It seems the forums are in place of the 'Ask Andy' public meetings.  Like you Ed, Andy also welcomed the public to have their say at those meetings.  It is so important that our VIPs understand that there is always another point of view and to understand and acknowledge it.  Please get them to attend, Ed!
7. I would like to suggest for presentations, discussion/debate at future forums, these ideas:

• every item on our petition, including HS2 because of the lessons we can all learn from it as regards these prestigious, massive, infrastructure spending projects in the light of national, regional and local governments all declaring climate emergencies but continuing with business as usual;
• training people in solar electricity for rollout of PV installations on every roof (thanks to our solar array and battery, my wife and I are not far off from being off-grid, except in December and January);
• climate scepticism - the science of climate change and the vocal opponents;
• what is happening to the West Midlands National Park?
• how can our farms and fields be used for growing our food rather than for horses and houses?
• why are eco-homes not being built?
• Why is retrofitting being so slow to get done?
• how to boost bus use and cut car commuting;
• why are the young and middle-aged being discriminated against when it comes to Fare-Free Public Transport?
• the one and only public open space due for the concrete treatment at Merry Hill Shopping Centre and, free car parking at shopping centres;
• the popularity of trams, aka light rail;
• why Sprint?
• how can canals and rivers be made cleaner and even restored as water features - and even for flood management?
• why are councillors so uninterested in public transport and leave it all to 16 Summer Lane?
• what role do they have in leading by example and being a model for the community rather than a mirror?
• why do officers involved in public transport use it so little, especially buses?
• public rights of way upgraded to make for better access to open country;
• restorative agriculture for the West Midlands;
• economics as if people and the future mattered on a planet not expanding to allow for our ever-increasing demands;
• farming in tune with nature;
• how can our remaining mothballed or half-used (freight only) railways in the W Mids be used to cut car use?
• Andy Street to explain his January 2020 plan to 2040, at £15 billion for underground and overground Metro lines;
• the 22 Kms Black Country Cycle-Walk Mudway for business, commuting and leisure use;
• urban bridleways upgraded for responsible shared use by non-fossil fuel travellers;
• the future of the 120 Kms Black Country Railway "of national strategic significance".