Banter 30: Programme Review, 31Jul24, Andrew Maliphant

Chat:

00:13:49 David Morgan-Jones: I also had significant problems logging in

00:46:24 Amanda Davis: so basically a gantt chart

00:47:14 Amanda Davis: Nature recovery

01:07:31 Amanda Davis: Playgrounds: Wetpour? Weed management? Natural grass? wild areas? tyres for play? siting next to roads (environmental perspective) Choice of materials for play equipment... from a circular economy (how were these materials sourced, manufactured, transported, energy, and then disposal) etc etc

01:08:14 Amanda Davis: Trees aren't allowed on our allotments, as future tenants may not want to inherit an orchard plot

01:08:34 Amanda Davis: Car clubs, etc

01:09:11 Amanda Davis: Our bookable bus service in Gloucestershire .. the Robin. NOT a community transport

01:09:18 David Morgan-Jones: Following this article the creation and ongoing activity of the Great Collaboration is even more important :-) https://wattsupwiththat.com/2024/07/28/desnz-has-net-zero-competence/

01:09:39 Amanda Davis: Swift and other bricks in all our new homes

01:10:05 Amanda Davis: Dark skies policies

01:10:29 Amanda Davis: All these issues I have contacts for or local experience of

01:11:59 Jacky Lawrence: things we're thinking of here - circular economy in relation to PCs, Rubbish Friends litter picking, repair cafes, overcoming apathy, turning footpaths into bridle paths so they can become cycle paths to nearest town, pre-fabricated buildings, community orchard, anti-idling campaign outside school gates, off-site construction,

01:12:13 Amanda Davis: Moreton in Marsh prefab off site and delivered to site, these homes were neutral homes and social rent too I think.... Cotswold District Council

Meeting Summary for Great Collaboration Banter session 31Jul24

Jul 31, 2024 11:46 AM London ID: 834 5460 8536Quick recap

The team discussed team attendance, the creation of a biosphere reserve, and the importance of sustainable lighting for sports associations. They also explored collaborations with the Allotment Society and the potential of local authority pension funds for green projects. Lastly, they discussed the need for a targeted approach to reducing CO2 emissions, the potential of vertical connections up through the districts and counties, and the importance of engaging with new government ministers.

Next steps

Andrew to circulate the list of upcoming topics to the Great Collaborations collective.

David to send his presentation slides to Andrew for sharing with the group.

Andrew to rewrite the lottery bid for Great Collaborations funding.

Content group to identify priority areas for developing methodologies and guidance.

Andrew to follow up with Liz Shaler about presenting on retrofitting village halls.

Andrew to contact Bob Sherman about potentially presenting on Harbury's community energy initiatives.

Summary

Team Attendance and Biosphere Reserve Discussion

Andrew, tristram, and Jacky discussed team member attendance. Jacky joined and left the meeting, while Amanda Davis's attendance was anticipated for her ideas. They noted the need to revisit topics due to new members and a Zoom sign-in issue that Andrew suggested examining. Chris, their Zoom manager, was absent due to a sailing trip. Andrew mentioned his role in setting up meeting invitations. He discussed creating a biosphere reserve in the Forest of Dean, with upcoming events including talks by Ed Gemel and Mike Ackles, and the involvement of Chris Mcflyne. The team considered applying the biosphere reserve concept to other areas. Andrew and Jacky discussed revisiting topics like parish councils, flood risk, allotments, and village halls. Andrew shared a case study about retrofitting a village hall, interesting Jacky. Jacky proposed parish councils creating mini forests, prompting Amanda to suggest discussing the process of acquiring and managing woodlands.

Sustainable Lighting for Sports Associations

The team discussed the importance of sustainable lighting for sports associations and its impact on the environment and wildlife. Amanda shared her expertise on lighting and planning issues, while Jacky highlighted the successful switch to LED lights by the Local Sports Association. David proposed creating checklists and toolkits to assist Parish Councils in navigating sustainable lighting complexities. Andrew agreed, suggesting the use of a template for recording good practices and the conversion of this template into a wiki for easy access and interlinking of information. The team also discussed the potential for anyone to edit the pages, with the responsibility falling to a designated adult to ensure accuracy and remove any inappropriate content.

Allotment Collaboration and Carbon Reduction Strategy

tristram and Andrew proposed a collaboration with the Allotment Society to enhance and promote allotments, with plans to secure funding from various sources. Amanda shared that her Parish Environment Committee was revising their allotment policies to be more inclusive and environmentally friendly, including the introduction of beekeeping. The group agreed to pursue these leads and continue discussions with relevant parties. Additionally, the involvement of community experts in parish councils, particularly in relation to biodiversity net gain and climate and environment initiatives, was discussed. Lastly, David presented a strategy to reduce carbon emissions, with a focus on major areas like transport and domestic generation, and Amanda sought clarification on its district council perspective and whether it included a food and drink component.

Targeted Approach for Reducing CO2 Emissions

David and tristram discussed the need for a targeted approach to reducing CO2 emissions, with a focus on key contributors at the district and parish levels. David introduced the concept of Campaign Planning from the military to simplify project planning and emphasized the importance of collaboration across different sectors. They agreed on the potential benefits of having a set of plans that could be adapted to meet individual towns and parishes, and the possibility of converting these into task lists. Both highlighted the need for a more structured approach to community energy projects and other initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, and the importance of leveraging existing collaboration and links to parishes and districts.

Project Direction and Collaboration Plans

David agreed to send over his presentation to Andrew, while Amanda expressed her appreciation for the structure and direction of the project. She suggested focusing on small, manageable steps to make a big difference at the local level, and proposed listing a series of potential topics for future discussions. David and tristram shared their experiences as parish councilors and emphasized the need for collaboration between the district and parish councils. The team also discussed the potential for vertical connections up through the districts and counties.

Green Investments and Community-Led Projects

Stuart proposed that local authority pension funds could be used to invest in green projects, with Andrew agreeing that such investments should ideally yield a decent return. Jacky introduced the successful renewable energy project of Harbory, a community group turned community interest company, as an example of how community-led efforts can thrive with the right support. Andrew discussed ongoing activities and the application for a lottery bid to cover costs, while tristram suggested identifying priority areas for methodology and guidance in the content group and the potential of using engineered wood for construction. Lastly, Andrew emphasized the importance of engaging with new government ministers to promote the interests of the Town Parish Council sector, which he felt had been marginalized.

Gloucestershire Association Lobbying for Government Support

Amanda discussed the motions passed by the Gloucestershire Association of Harris and Town Councils, which called for lobbying the government on issues related to new homes, estate management, and biodiversity net gain requirements. She highlighted the need for public ownership of ponds and flood management systems to ensure proper maintenance and prevent flooding. Andrew mentioned the new director of policy and external services at SLCC and the potential for SLCC to add weight to their campaigning and lobbying efforts. The conversation ended with plans to improve communication methods to reach the growing number of members and a report from Peterborough Environment and City Trust scheduled for the following week.

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