The Green Bottom Line starts to show

Some Sobering or encouraging numbers depending on your viewpoint

At FODDC we have some fabulous and brilliant hard-working officers.

In all areas, they are diligent and care about the council.

But did you know that since the Greens and Labour took the administration the number of Environmental/climate change and biodiversity-linked officers has gone through the roof compared to other departments

We now have more officers dealing with Climate Change and the environment than you can shake an organic moss-covered stick at.

It is a bit astonishing and you may wish to sit down before you read

As far as climate change goes we have

2 Full-time or Full-time equivalent officers  costing £108,167 directly funded by FODDC

And

5.6 Full-time or Full-time equivalent ( some work par time causing the fraction ) officers costing t£258,444 funded by various Grants

As for Biodiversity ( which we think means pretty much everything else environment), there are,

5.3 FTE Officers at a cost of £256,490 directly funded by FODDC.

So our bid to save the world is costing FODDC or rather you,

£364,657 directly

Which added to the Grant Spending comes to

£623101 in total with 12.9 Full-time officers the FODDC is spending a year on climate officers.

Compare that to something like Regeneration, which can when utilised well and allowed to work, bring jobs, and opportunity and also see key projects through. (Lydney Harbour for example)

Well in Regeneration we have

3.5 officers directly FODDC funded at a cost of £176,953

Expensive The Forest of Dean saving the planet isn't it ?

Now this is nothing against the officers who work in these roles, it is about those who keep throwing money at this subject. They want to add another officer next year to deal with Rivers and Seas for another £50,000.!!

Meanwhile, social media is full of people asking why Five Acres hasn't been started, why planing applications take an age, or why housing advisors are fully booked with appointments.

It's about priorities and balance

Still and at least we will tick all those environmental boxes.

Some of those FODDC environmental boxes have been examined on a new web page compiled by a reader and Forest Resident, it may well be worth you taking a look at https://cw50b.wordpress.com/fodnetzero/