Over the past few weeks we have been contacting candidates from Birmingham City Council to get their views on a number of environmental issues. We asked candidates how much they agreed or disagreed with 11 key environmental questions. The survey questions are as follows:
1. Birmingham City Council should introduce a sustainable food waste collection, rolled out to all households by 2019.
2. Birmingham City Council should aim for a recycling rate of at least 60% by 2020.
3. Birmingham’s waste must be dealt with as locally as possible through:
- a greater number of household recycling centres
- smaller waste management contracts with a preference for smaller companies
- local community composting schemes
- local anearobic digestion plants
4. Tyseley incinerator should be fully decomissioned by 2025.
5. Birmingham City Council should introduce solar panel installation scheme for schools across Birmingham, with dedicated funding and support for schools.
6. Birmingham City Council should divest from fossil fuels within 5 years.
7. Birmingham City Council should guarantee funding of £10 per head per year for cycling, irrespective of government grants.
8. I support a stronger local economy through the introduction of a Birmingham Pound.
9. Birmingham City Council should further support local biodiversity by reducing areas of ornamental grass on verges and in parks, and replace with wildflower meadows or food growing areas.
10. Planning guidance stating that green space designated for nature and/or food growing should be included in all new developments across Birmingham.
11. Birmingham City Council should introduce ‘Low Emission Zone’ to reduce unacceptable levels of air pollution, and act as a ring-fenced funding source for sustainable transport projects.
We contacted 96 council candidates in total and received 20 responses. Here are the number of responses by party:
| Party |
Number emailed |
Number of responses |
Percentage who responded |
| Conservative |
20 |
2 |
10% |
| Green |
11 |
5 |
45% |
| Labour |
35 |
5 |
14% |
| Liberal Democrat |
12 |
4 |
25% |
| Trade Union & Socialist Coalition |
4 |
0 |
0% |
| UKIP |
14 |
3 |
21% |
| Independent |
1 |
1 |
100% |
We’ve scored each candidate according to how much they agreed with the above survey questions. -2 for each strong disagreement, -1 for each disagreement, 0 for neither agreeing nor disagreeing, 1 for each agreement and 2 for each strong agreement. You can see the results by ward below:
Bartley Green
Billesley
Edgbaston
Harborne
Lozells & East Handsworth
Moseley & Kings Heath
Northfield
Oscott
Perry Barr
Selly Oak
Sheldon
Soho
Sutton Four Oaks
Sutton New Hall
Bartley Green
| Party |
Labour |
UKIP |
|
| Candidate |
Aaron Mansfield |
Grayhem Short |
|
| Points |
14 |
14 |
|
| Q1 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q2 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q3 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q4 |
Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q5 |
Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q6 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q7 |
Strongly Agree |
Disagree |
|
| Q8 |
Strongly Disagree |
Agree |
|
| Q9 |
Neither agree nor disagree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q10 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q11 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Comments |
Bartley Green is in urgent need of a good clean-up. Residents tell me their concerns are being ignored by their councillors. Fly-tipping is rife, and rubbish is strewn across roads and gardens. Bartley Green reservoir should be a prominent and attractive |
|
|
Billesley
| Party |
Green |
Conservative |
|
| Candidate |
Cheryl Buxton-Sait |
Steve Mee |
|
| Points |
22 |
20 |
|
| Q1 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q2 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q3 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q4 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q5 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q6 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q7 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q8 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q9 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q10 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q11 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Comments |
|
|
|
Edgbaston
| Party |
UKIP |
|
|
| Candidate |
Laura Brown |
|
|
| Points |
18 |
|
|
| Q1 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q2 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q3 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q4 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Q5 |
Disagree |
|
|
| Q6 |
Disagree |
|
|
| Q7 |
Disagree |
|
|
| Q8 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Q9 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q10 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q11 |
Disagree |
|
|
| Comments |
I think public transport is a key issue, we need to be making public transport cheaper and easier to use to reduce congestion on the roads. |
|
|
Harborne
| Party |
Green |
Labour |
Liberal Democrat |
| Candidate |
Phil Simpson |
James McKay |
Phil Banting |
| Points |
20 |
11 |
3 |
| Q1 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
Disagree |
| Q2 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
| Q3 |
Strongly Agree |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
Agree |
| Q4 |
Strongly Agree |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
Disagree |
| Q5 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
Strongly Agree |
| Q6 |
Strongly Agree |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
Disagree |
| Q7 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
| Q8 |
Agree |
Agree |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
| Q9 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
| Q10 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
| Q11 |
Agree |
Agree |
Agree |
| Comments |
|
|
Concerning food waste collection (Q1): I would rather see promotion of home composting. |
Lozells & East Handsworth
| Party |
Labour |
|
|
| Candidate |
Waseem Zaffar |
|
|
| Points |
12 |
|
|
| Q1 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q2 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q3 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q4 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Q5 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q6 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q7 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q8 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Q9 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q10 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q11 |
Agree |
|
|
| Comments |
|
|
|
Moseley & Kings Heath
| Party |
Independent |
|
|
| Candidate |
Luke Holland |
|
|
| Points |
20 |
|
|
| Q1 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q2 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q3 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q4 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Q5 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q6 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q7 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q8 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q9 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q10 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q11 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Comments |
|
|
|
Northfield
| Party |
Green |
Labour |
|
| Candidate |
Anna Masters |
Robbie Lea Trengrouse |
|
| Points |
22 |
14 |
|
| Q1 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q2 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q3 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q4 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q5 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q6 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q7 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q8 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q9 |
Strongly Agree |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Q10 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Q11 |
Strongly Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
| Comments |
|
|
|
Oscott
| Party |
Labour |
|
|
| Candidate |
Keith Linnecor |
|
|
| Points |
9 |
|
|
| Q1 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Q2 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q3 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Q4 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Q5 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q6 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Q7 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q8 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q9 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q10 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q11 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Comments |
I am currently attempting to get the BCC to agree to introcuce solar panels on a local sealed off open space former tip. I would have agreed with some of the other issues but for the time frames involved. I wish
you luck with your campaigns. |
|
|
Perry Barr
| Party |
UKIP |
|
|
| Candidate |
Charles Douglas |
|
|
| Points |
6 |
|
|
| Q1 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q2 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Q3 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q4 |
Disagree |
|
|
| Q5 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q6 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q7 |
Disagree |
|
|
| Q8 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q9 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q10 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Q11 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
|
| Comments |
Issues of regionalisation trouble me, as I believe there is an increasing trend in this regard. I find it bureaucratic and i believe this kind of initiative direcly leads to the break down of the overall national unity. There seems to be a blatant desire |
|
|
Selly Oak
| Party |
|
Liberal Democrat |
|
| Candidate |
|
Colin Green |
|
| Points |
|
3 |
|
| Q1 |
|
Agree |
|
| Q2 |
|
Agree |
|
| Q3 |
|
Agree |
|
| Q4 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Q5 |
|
Agree |
|
| Q6 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Q7 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Q8 |
|
Disagree |
|
| Q9 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Q10 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Q11 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Comments |
|
|
|
Sheldon
| Party |
|
Liberal Democrat |
|
| Candidate |
|
Paul Tilsley |
|
| Points |
|
5 |
|
| Q1 |
|
Agree |
|
| Q2 |
|
Agree |
|
| Q3 |
|
Agree |
|
| Q4 |
|
Disagree |
|
| Q5 |
|
Agree |
|
| Q6 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Q7 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Q8 |
|
Agree |
|
| Q9 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Q10 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Q11 |
|
Agree |
|
| Comments |
|
Target of reduction of 60% in his council |
|
Soho
| Party |
Green |
|
|
| Candidate |
Margaret Okole |
|
|
| Points |
18 |
|
|
| Q1 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q2 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q3 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q4 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q5 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q6 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q7 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q8 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q9 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q10 |
Agree |
|
|
| Q11 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Comments |
|
|
|
Sutton Four Oaks
| Party |
Green |
|
|
| Candidate |
David Ratcliff |
|
|
| Points |
22 |
|
|
| Q1 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q2 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q3 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q4 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q5 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q6 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q7 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q8 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q9 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q10 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Q11 |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
| Comments |
Contiue programme of external insulation of council properties |
|
|
Sutton New Hall
| Party |
Liberal Democrat |
Conservative |
|
| Candidate |
Gareth Hardey |
Alex Yip |
|
| Points |
1 |
-3 |
|
| Q1 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Q2 |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q3 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
Agree |
|
| Q4 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
Disagree |
|
| Q5 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
|
| Q6 |
Agree |
Agree |
|
| Q7 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
Disagree |
|
| Q8 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
Disagree |
|
| Q9 |
Disagree |
Strongly Disagree |
|
| Q10 |
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
Strongly Disagree |
|
| Q11 |
Disagree |
Agree |
|
| Comments |
Divesting from fossil fuels is the main aim. This cannot be done by one council alone, but working together with other councils could create better buying and investment power. |
I broadly agree with the main intent of your questions that more needs to be done in an increasing age of unsustainable and inconsiderate development, but accept that there are other issues also in play. I was a School Governor for example at a school that considered Solar Panels through a scheme but found that the panels themselves would not be owned by the school, and the cost/ reward, potential dangers outweighed the schools environmental concerns. Also in Sutton, I am very strongly against the building on the Green Belt land although accept the need for more affordable housing. |
|
