Dear Cathy
You are a correctly paid member of the WMCA, I believe, as Chair of the two Scrutiny committees. I am writing, yet again, because of your importance and vital work in looking after the public purse in getting value for money, with your scrutiny role. This email is why I believe we are not. Please correct me over anything I have written, here or, in the broken Nolan principles, attached.
I am very concerned about the state of the nation's finances - at the bottom of the G20 and G7 table of nations, I saw from Simon Jack's report on BBC TV, last week. Too much overspending and spending on the wrong things - like funding an avoidable, proxy war against Russia and a useless HS2 that is so fast it can't stop to take on and drop off passengers, apart from at either end and two airports. Even Brum and Crewe get bypassed by some HS2 trains!
The state of the WMCA's finances are in an equally parlous state, it seems. Is that right? Far too many extravagant, prestigious transport projects while the basics, like bus drivers, bus services and bus use, are all declining. Far too much money is spent to impress and wow visitors, instead of on basic matters like retrofitting our leaky and energy hungry buildings. Is the Brum Council House refurbishment also including insulation and solar power? Is anything at all being done about the homes of the poorest in the region? Only for 300 homes, if the householders agree, in Brierley Hill. WMCA Metro extension money and staff must go to these far finer and important projects. And, in convincing people of the urgent need to cut back on gas/electricity use.
On Friday, lights were blazing away in the enormous Banqueting Suite opposite the Council Chamber where we were. Great Victorian radiators were covered in wooden panelling that was absorbing the heat and energy and not letting it out - apart from a metal grill at the front.
On Friday, there was a correct concern from Mark Smith about inquorate meetings. Why are our elected representatives not showing greater interest? If a councillor misses two consecutive meetings when there has been no sickness or bereavement, he/she should be replaced by a council member who can attend. And participate! There is too little concern and, certainly, no alarm at so many things not being done, as here from the W Mids Climate Coalition
My writings get ignored and never corrected or addressed or put right. Neither support, encouragement or condemnation from a single person! My
don't even get a scintilla of interest and the individual paper copy gets left behind where Board members sat or, were not accepted from me in the first place. No-one is disturbed or woken up. There is just total apathy, acquiescence and an attitude of 'Oh, I just can't be bothered'. Even from journalists who show not one ounce of courageous, investigative spark.
At Friday's meeting Board members were not speaking into their microphones. Andy was the best at using his mike. My 75 year old hearing and eyesight are both failing and people must speak into the red light of the switched on microphone right in front of their very eyes. Ian Ward, Mark Smith and Mike Bird also spoke up well so that I could hear them.
This, below, is from Chris Packham about his and his colleagues audit re HS2
"3,707 views 8 Feb 2023
HS2 Ltd, the company responsible for the HS2 railway, had promised to make up for the damage the route would cause to nature.
Concerned by the huge risk to wildlife that the current route poses, we've spent almost a year looking into the official HS2 nature loss calculations. And the numbers don't add up. No-one has checked the detail. Until now.
During our audit we found seriously flawed and out-of-date methodologies and a long list of errors - including habitats wrongly identified or undervalued by the company, and new planting overvalued. (my emphasis)
The evidence shows that far more nature will be lost along the route than anyone ever expected.
We're asking supporters to sign an open letter to Defra and Department for Transport to call an immediate stop to HS2 whilst these issues are rectified: www.wildlifetrusts.org/hs2-
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