Re: your report on the Marlbrook Tip last month: I’m afraid the information from Coun Cooper is not really correct. The following outlines where I think we are with the formation of this group.
Following the decision from the Conservative administration at Bromsgrove to avoid a public enquiry into the Marlbrook tip fiasco, but instead to establish a working group to look at the issues, it became clear that the proposed make-up of the group was not acceptable to the majority of local residents and community groups.
The initial proposed make-up of this group included just three resident/parish representatives as against five councillors and numerous council officers.
Residents raised concerns with the Labour opposition at the Council and these in turn were passed on to Coun Kit Taylor, whose proposal the working group had been in the first place.
Labour had been offered two places on the group and immediately offered to drop this number in order to make space for more resident representation on the group.
The Labour opposition has always been clear that without proper resident representation the groups will not be answering the concerns of the local community.
If this group is to have real teeth and to get underneath the issues and failings of our council in its management of the tip issues, we need more local residents and community representatives and fewer district councillors and officers. This is why we wanted a public inquiry in the first place.
My understanding is that there is no impasse on this issue. Coun Taylor, as the portfolio holder, agreed to go away and look at the group composition.
He tells me he is according to the wishes of residents and myself regarding the make-up of the group and having proper community representation.
In fact he agreed some time ago to reduce the number of councillors and officers on the group and increase the spaces available to the residents and parishes.
I know that at least 12 interested parties from the community have put their names forward. So, in my view, we are all just waiting for Coun Taylor to call the first meeting and get the ball rolling – this group was Coun Taylor’s idea and the community quite rightly want to know what is happening.
Coun Luke Mallett, opposition leader
at Bromsgrove District Council