to Cllr Peter Dobb

Dear Peter

ELECTED CLLRS TRUMP OFFICERS; TRAINS TRUMP TRAMS ON TRAIN LINES!

There was no officer presentation at our last meeting.  That was excellent, made for a pleasant change and, with the FoE contingent, meant it was absolutely right to be more informal with the public making helpful comments about the importance of all of us having carbon literacy, climate/nature crisis training, etc.

I would like to suggest Peter, that you and your colleagues maintain the importance of council members, properly and fairly elected, having the upper hand over the professional officers.  In other words, rather than the officers telling the councillors what is best and it must continue, you councillors must exercise the upper hand and, through votes after a full discussion, must tell the officers what they are to do.  And, with a majority vote, insist on it.  The Cabinet can then consider and endorse the decision.

Now, the committee is called a select committee, echoing the House of Commons select committees.  Therefore, we really must have, I think, meetings with occasional top decision makers.  In many years, I have only seen, fleetingly, our Chief Executive once, soon after he was appointed.  I would like him to attend next time to answer my questions over the Dudley Tram.  There is no other way to get him to speak to me or, to obtain the courtesy of a reply to my emails.  Would you invite him, please Peter?

Again, I would like to suggest that members of the committee should be invited to speak about their expertise.  The two observers should be allowed to talk about their climate knowledge, too.  Rob Clinton knows about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and related topics from his time as a University of Brum lecturer.  Damian Corfield knows about the more efficient use of HGV diesel fuel to cut greenhouse gas emissions.  Their expertise is so valuable and must be heard.

Cat Eccles knows about the risky and, indeed, totally unnecessary use of glyphosate when Wilko is selling a harmless, cheaper and equally effective alternative.  As I said to the committee, I saw a resident of Mount Street, Halesowen using it on roadside weeds a few weeks ago.  A full discussion and then vote amongst you members should decide the matter of glyphosate use.

Megan Wakefield did the climate change presentation at her quite brilliant, mix and match, Sunday talks in Mary Stevens Park last summer.  I would like her to do another presentation to the committee.  Other members of the public who were present have climate knowledge, too.  They need to be involved, I think, as part of carbon literacy training for us all.

Chris Barnett and Andrew Tromans also have subjects of concern they want to talk about.  Your committee member, Cathy Bayton is a senior member of the WMCA, Chair of their Overview and Scrutiny Committee who, I think, must also report back to this committee on what the CA is up to and how it can help Dudley.

There are other members of the council on your committee and members of the public who have a vital contribution to make.  Give them priority over officers, please but make sure officers attend, to be able to respond.

Have a full discussion and votes on these vital climate matters, perhaps:

1. Dangerous glyphosate or effective white vinegar, washing up liquid, salt in Wilko's red bottle?
2. Full scale mowing or margins mown to maintain sight lines?
3. More wild flowers or tarmac, concrete, brick on roundabouts?
4. More trams or commuter trains for Dudley's railway "of national strategic significance"?
5. Resurrect the Black Country Urban Forest at Merry Hill to capture carbon?
6. Housing on 100% at High Plateau or the present intention?
7. Daniels Land designated for housing or nature?
8. Council House upgrade to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and resource shortages to come?
9. Urgent retrofitting for the most badly housed or, laid back retrofitting?
10. Major Mudway forever or, cycle-walkway at long last?

MORE DETAILS on my top  issues for attention by officers are: 

1. The public open space on the Dudley No 1 Canal embankment to be formally designated.  It is still due to have a 400 metre, concrete and steel tramway viaduct for the Dudley Tram project.  Right here! :-
   
     6 glorious white trees.jpg
2. The massive 23,000 sq m of housing land at Merry Hill, called High Plateau, that is partly taken by the tram.  See the official plan
   
     WBHE plan for Merry Hill.jpeg
   Nothing has been done about it for decades yet, we are in the midst of a housing crisis.
3. The Black Country Urban Forest that was started, I believe, in the 1990s but was soon heard of no more.  I am suggesting it be resurrected for the other two grassy areas at Merry Hill, as an obvious positive measure since Dudley Council declared a climate emergency in 2020, I believe.
4. The possible SSSI is Daniels Land at Merry Hill.  It is untouched by we humans for decades, fenced off on all four sides, right next to the important Dudley No 1 Canal and, hence a paradise for nature.  The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, we keep on being told.  The pond and wetland area might have great crested newts that give Pensnett Nature Reserve its Triple SI status a mile north of Daniels Land.  I am trying to get a qualified person to do the ecological survey that is the first and, rather essential, first step.  No one is interested and I'm getting nowhere.  Not even the Brum and Black Country Wildlife Trust will help.
5. The UK's only urban-rural-urban cycle-walk Mudway and, it is OURS, around the W side of the W Midlands.  Neglected and forgotten for decades but, a vital business, leisure, commuter and leisure route that MUST get upgraded for fossil fuel free use to slow the runaway greenhouse effect that must now be with us.

Best wishes