A hard-hitting report criticising Birmingham's sustainability was kicked into touch by city councillors who refused to back a call for higher expenditure on promoting environmentally friendly lifestyles.

The council's main scrutiny committee poured cold water on an investigation into sustainability, refusing to support a call for a wide-ranging review of the amount spent on the green agenda.

The committee noted, rather than approved, a suggestion that the council appoint a cabinet member for sustainability and climate change.

Members repeatedly challenged the findings of the sustainability and climate change task and finish scrutiny committee, which questioned the council's commitment to sustainability and drew unflattering comparisons betwen Birmingham and other cities.

The inquiry, chaired by Labour councillor Steve Bedser, found the council approach to sustainability under-resourced, poorly-led and lagging behind other authorities. It criticised regeneration of Eastside and called for strict sustainability conditions on developers.

The interim report demanded stronger council leadership and was dismissive of Birmingham's sustainability team, run by one person.

Senior Tory Len Clark led criticism, describing sustainability as akin to a new religion.

Describing the report inappropriate and over ambitious, Coun Clark (Con Quinton) said: "This is in danger of becoming the new religion. It has risen in five years from a vague theory to become a requirement in every single report."

The inquiry's suggestion that the council form a virtuous circle of sustainability was a politically correct approach that would end in additional taxation, he added. The committee allowed the inquiry, under way for six months, to continue, although there was a call from Coun John Alden (Con Harborne) for Coun Bedser (Lab Longbridge) to be replaced.

Criticism was not confined to the Conservative and Liberal Democrat ranks.

Ian Ward, deputy Labour group leader, said the report concentrated too much on what the council could do and failed to look at the bigger picture. A suggestion that the council should not promote "gas-guzzling" 4x4 vehicles was described by Coun Ward (Lab Shard End) as being against the interests of Land Rover workers.

Members questioned whether the council needed more staff dedicated to sustainability.

Councillor Carl Rice (Lab Ladywood) said the inquiry had produced evidence from council officers who wanted to "build empires more than achieve things".

Councillor Jon Hunt (Lib Dem Perry Barr) believed the inquiry was wrong to earmark garden waste as a high-level recycling target. It would be better for people to compost waste.

John Hemming, Liberal Democrat MP for Yardley and a city councillor, said he could not support the inquiry's findings "in its present form".

Coun Bedser stood by his report, urging colleagues to raise the standard of sustainability to a level that other local authorities would want to copy.

He added: "We need to do some very hard thinking about what it is we do to bring about a process of leadership that reinforces virtuous behaviour, is supported by the council, and can take Birmingham forward to achieve our ambitions.

"We have highlighted a stark lack of resources in terms of the people the city employs to do the job of helping us with sustainability and climate change. The resource in Birmingham is, by any measure, low and needs to be increased."

*  Was the council right to hit back at criticism of their green policies? Tell us your opinion at the messageboards.

>> Post Comment