Peak Oil and Coventry

I recently wrote to Paul Jennings (Manager, Financial Strategy, Coventry City Council) on a number of matters:

- will the ward forum structure be used for financial/environmental consultation, e.g. if there was a design for a new Whoberley library that was more environmental (costing more now, saving more in the long-term), would that be put to consulation at the community level?
- does the council have an "take it off the shelf" plan to deal with a drastic rise in energy prices, i.e. the onset of peak oil disruption to the global economy
- do they reimburse council staff who use their bike for doing council business?
- would they consider putting department by department, building by building, reports on energy use to the council's relevant scrutiny committee? (scrutiny is where councillors grill other councillors, council staff, over performance/targets)

In a letter dated 17 November, Jennings provided 2 pages of answers, some nuggets:

- "given the very recent introduction of the ward forum structure, it is probably too early for any forthcoming projects to have been considered by such meetings ... I have forwarded a copy of your letter to the office responsible for co-ordinating ward forums"

- "it is fair to say that the council has no off-the-shelf plan specifically designed to tackle a drastic rise in energy costs ... this risk is not one that is currently included within our Risk Register ... we keep the risk register under regular review to ensure that it accurately reflects the risks that we face"

- "the Council's travel reimbursement scheme already allows staff who cycle on Council business to be reimbursed at 20p per mile ... we also have a car pool of 4 cars, two electric, two hybrid, administered through our sustainable transport team ... we are about to commence a pilot car-sharing scheme for staff who operate out of Whitley Depot"

- "feedback from our energy efficiency motivational campaign will be delivered through an officer forum, rather than through our scrutiny process"

I'm shocked at the lack of plan to deal with the possibility of peak oil.

The largest oil field in the world, Ghawar in Saudi Arabia, is now declining by 8% in output year on year. Burgan, in Kuwait, is the 2nd largest, and it had its peak of production in 2004. With increasing demand worldwide, something's gotta give, and the idea that global energy prices will be benign for the next 5 years is foolhardy.