The Cabinet meeting last night at Ebley Mill started with a 15 minute presentation by Professor Richard Heinberg - hopefully this will be archived with the rest of the meeting here so people can catch it on the webcast - it is well worth viewing as he covers the issue of oil depletion theory very comprehensively - and it is great that one of the worlds leading experts was able to speak on this issue - all credit to Chas Fellows, leader of the Council and especially Aunghous Gordon from Ruskin Mill for making it possible.Photo: one of Heinberg's slides showing declining Saudi production.
A sound credible voice of reason so that no one can or should ignore this issue. Greens of course having been saying it for a while but it takes the rest of the world a wee while to catch up!
As noted I will also add here some details of the day I spent yesterday with Richard Heinberg and others looking at steps we can take to prepare for a world with much, much less oil. Anyhow the Cabinet had a full programme including the Play Strategy (see blog 25th April), Stratford Park and more. Of particular interest were the item on the Council's submission re the Climate Change Bill - I have had various correspondence on this with Officers and councillors - very pleased to see most recommendations being taken on - it will be sent off by the Council very soon - so I'll post more on that when it does go.
The other key item was the "Provisional Gloucestershire Urban Economic Strategy (UES)" - you will see my email below sent very early yesterday morning - I have to say I am not happy with this strategy and can only hope that we can get significant changes. I did ask at Cabinet this evening as to whether the promised Environmental Assessment would be able to take account of the issues raised by Heinberg. I didn't get the most helpful answer - a comment from the Cabinet member about 'my script writer', the time I sent the email and more - see it on the webcast - what is he on about?
Anyhow that aside I do think the issue re oil depletion is set to be taken more seriously by the Council - and I hope that further consultation will allow more comments and sanity to prevail - although I fear that in some the mantra of evermore economic growth is too deep in their bones to change - but change they will have to - I only hope it is not the scenarios suggested by Heinberg if we don't act - 'Mad Max' or 'Easter Island'.
Re: Provisional Gloucestershire Urban Economic Strategy
I accept this is a draft strategy and that no decision is being made regarding the final report but even in my brief consideration of this report I have very serious concerns. In it's current form this strategy, while having some very good parts, would nevertheless be seriously damaging to our local economy and environment.
I applaud the Councils call for a comprehensive environmental assessment. The version of the report that I have seen appears to play little more than lip service to climate change and long term sustainable development. I enclose some initial comments below that maybe useful - all the best - Philip
Cllr Philip Booth
1. Strategic Objective 1: To create and sustain successful and competitive businesses that can take advantage of urban Gloucestershire's strength to compete globally, nationally and regionally. Why is this the objective? Even conventional economists are now addressing the happiness agenda, i.e. maximising well-being rather than going for maximising profit. Why should the primary objective of an economic policy for the citizens of Gloucester privilege the interests of business like this?
2. Strategic Objective 2: To deliver strong social cohesion in urban Gloucestershire in which the maximum number possible contribute to and benefit from the economy. This could be interpreted to support localisation ie more local production for local use: Farmers' market as an excellent example. However I would welcome this being spelt out more clearly. Northumberland County Council for example increased the amount of money circulating in their area by 400 per cent by examining how they spend their money, and fostering links with local suppliers: a ten per cent increase in their council's annual procurement spent locally meant £34 million extra circulating in the local economy each year. Stroud has also made some good moves towards this but County-wide this has huge potential.
3. Strategic Objective 3: To provide a quality of life in urban Gloucestershire that attracts and retains a highly skilled and entrepreneurial workforce. This relates back to point 1, except that the emphasis seems to be on keeping people in the area who will make more money, rather than looking at quality of life.
4. Cross Cutting Theme 1: Deliver the Urban Economic Strategy in a sustainable manner and within a stable ecological footprint. Many economists now question how the commitment to competitive business model is consistent with stable ecological footprint. What is meant by competitive businesses? How can businesses compete without out-sourcing to China, which obviously generates more CO2? And surely we should be looking at reducing our footprint significantly?
5. Cross Cutting Theme 2: Provide strong, collaborative and consistent leadership that embraces the whole of urban Gloucestershire. This is surely our chance to show the green leadership that is being demonstrated increasingly in Stroud? Where are the targets to tackle climate change in this report? Indeed the only suggestion I can see to reduce our ecological footprint (section 66) is "by the use of technology". Technology has it's very important part to play but there is so much more that is needed if we are to really develop a sustainable economy - transport policies, energy efficiency measures, public awareness and more - but also we need to have as a part of the strategy how we will adapt to the changing climate which is forecast to bring more weather extremes and other effects. Plus we need to take account of the issues that will be arise this evening re oil depletion theory.
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