Although the local elections are in the distant past, one element of Labour's manifesto is now taking shape. The Labour group, who have control of Manchester City Council, aims to make Manchester "The Greenest City in Britain" (see http://www.manchesterlabour.org.uk/manifesto.html#greenest).
Manchester City Council's new Executive Member for Planning and Environment, Councillor Neil Swannick, has started to gather views and evidence about what this might mean and how it might be achieved. He recently met academics from the universities and environmental campaigners from Manchester Friends of the Earth, Environment Network for Manchester, MERCi and Manchester Environment Education Network to discuss the green aims.
Neil said, "If we are committed to making Manchester a city of the future, sustainability is of major importance. The last year has seen a doubling in recycling performance and strategies are being developed for biodiversity, waterways and energy. I don't see why Manchester can't lead the way on the environment in the same way that Manchester has been a leader in so many other fields." Neil can be contacted at cllr.n.swannick@notes.manchester.gov.uk and he will be attending the GM SERA meeting on Weds 20 October (report to follow shortly).
The Networking Newsletter has picked up from various green groups in the city that while they support these sentiments there is a degree of scepticism - not surprising given the Council's past record of all talk & consultation but little action, otherwise we'd already be the greenest city wouldn't we?
The Networking Newsletter therefore invites local environmental groups to let us know what you think of Manchester City Council's current environmental record, particularly in comparison to other local authorities in the region, and to suggest measures by which their progress can be measured. We'll summarise your replies to throw down the "green gauntlet" to the Council and will be watching them closely over the coming months.
Michael, Networking Newsletter ([pls use email], gauntlet@networkingnewsletter.org.uk)
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