The Sleeping 6,000

The last paragraph in the reply to my letter on accountability is here with my comments below.

That I should have had to raise this before anything is done says a lot about the slackness in the council and in the wildlife trust, though as a private outfit they may think it’s up to the public body to know its job. Right back at the beginning of the handover we were promised that SCC would be keeping their eye on what went on. This was left for a while to unsupervised officers rather than those with a remit to see that democratic essentials were complied with. Then it ceased altogether. As charitable trustees of the land you might think that role would be taken seriously. 20 years ago there would be an annual report to a council committee. I’ve seen minutes to show that. Even after I raised the deficit some six years ago this was only addressed in one year and from then on lapsed. Nobody is taking responsibility to ensure that proper standards are being followed. If this is looked upon as being the likely scenario for future leasings and outsourcings then we have been warned.

In the absence of this some might want to claim there’s public scrutiny via the RAG. That has been shown to be fraudulent. Are local councillors following this up? No. Are Cabinet Members? No.

As for SWT’s 6,000 members having some scrutinising role that is even more of a joke. Where do these members come from, from where are they recruited and how much do they know? 6,000 sounds good but observation tells us that they are approached at supermarket doors and part with their subscriptions on the spot. Or at their own front door. Twice I've had them at my door. They may be deficient on the ground in their 'reserves' but they put plenty of energy into recruiting members and public relations.

My next door neighbour wanted to know where I went for my regular walk. Blacka Moor, I said. Where’s that, he asked. I told him and went on to describe it. He was interested and asked more questions. Sheffield Wildlife Trust was mentioned and he remembered that he was a member, having been recruited by a personable young man who rang his doorbell some years back. He’s a lively minded person with a fair knowledge of wildlife but had never heard of Blacka Moor even less got involved in activities or scrutinising what the management got up to. Should he have more of an influence on what happens than those of us who walk there and observe every day? (After this he found out more, read and met George Monbiot and resigned from SWT.) The 6,000 story is no substitute for proper processes on public land. How accountable are they?  I suspect very few of them know anything at all about the issues. They are being used as some kind of undefined bargaining chip.

As for suddenly now deciding something has to be done about the RAG and having more frequent meetings that is just window dressing. The Higher Level Stewardship agreement has been signed a year ago with no examination of the issues and not a single question answered. Even in Sheffield there has never been a more contemptuous or contemptible attitude to consultation.