MINUTES OF A MEETING OF 'SUSTAINABLE PENWITH' A SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITIES FORUM FOR PENWITH HELD AT PENWITH DISTRICT COUNCIL,
ST CLARE ON MONDAY 8th DECEMBER 2003
1. Welcome by Chairman
Ralph Openshaw (this month's acting Chairman) welcomed all to
the meeting.
Present: Ralph Openshaw
Mike Orman
Matt Trevaskis
Linda Hazel
Peter M le Mare
Patsy Stevens
Michele Cowmeadow
Malcolm Lawrence
Karen Clowes
John Murphy
Frances Truscott
Caroline Astin
Adam Whaley
Rob Pickering
Ruth Browning
Apologies: Justin Osolunde
Andy Tanner
Crystal Wakefield
Neil Faradon
Jane Michell
John Brailey
2. Minutes of the last meeting The minutes of the last
meeting were read and accepted as an accurate reflection of the
last meeting.
3. Constitution
Ralph told the group that since the last meeting himself, Matt
and Jane had got together to look at drawing up a draft constitution.
They looked at three constitutions and using those drew up a draft,
copies of which were passed to everyone present. All were asked
to take this draft constitution away with them to read through.
When asked whether the original PLATO constitution was looked
at, Ralph replied that yes it was but it was felt to be a little
weak and that some of its aims were unclear.
Ralph stated that when compiling the draft constitution it was
felt that a number of important questions needed to be referred
back to the group these were:
(a) Should we use Agenda 21 as a point of reference -
The general concensus was that we do need to refer to LA21 in
the constitution, but that we should not incorporate LA21 in the
title for the group. LA21 is still extremely relevant, and indeed
is the basis for the group, and many of the items in the LA21
agreement still need to be realised. However, it was felt by the
majority that LA21 is being superceded by the term sustainability,
and also that the general public in the main do not know what
LA21 is, whilst at least sustainability is a word that can be
looked up in the dictionary. It was therefore requested that our
constitution should state in its first paragraph our commitment
(and that we adhere) to the principles of LA21 and that Sustainability
incorporates all the aims and objectives of LA21.
(b)What do we mean by the term Sustainability
This question was not discussed in any great detail by the group,
It was agreed that this forum must have a far wider remit than
just environmental matters and must also address socio-economic
factors. A definition outlining what we as a group mean by sustainability
must be incorporated into the constitution.
(c) Should we include such a broad range of areas of activity
to enable members to follow their interests or should we narrow
the scope to stop the group being spread too thinly?
It was very much felt that the group must not be seen to be purely
involved in environmental matters but that social and economic
matters must also be incorporated. Whilst recycling, renewable
energy and sustainable transport, etc., were felt to be very important
the group would have a much wider remit.
(d) Is the role to carry out and encourage projects and inform
within Penwith, or primarily to influence the activities of PDC
towards greater sustainability?
Most people felt that the group needs to work as a public forum,
which is open to all and anyone can come and express their views
and have an influence. This forum should have a real say and should
be recognised and should be the conduit through which the community
can get their needs and wants listened to and addressed by statutory
bodies such as district and county council. For this reason the
forum must be independent from statutory bodies. Karen's role
within the forum will be to feed back to Penwith Council the community's
views on issues and to liase with other officers and even invite
them to meetings of this Forum to comment on points that the forum/community
wish to adress and/or influence. It was recognised by the Forum
that whilst having an influence over the activities of PDC will
be an important role, we also need to have an influence on other
public bodies and agencies and the remit for the Forum needs to
be much wider in that we will also carry out and encourage projects
and inform/educate within Penwith.
(e) Should members pay a subscription?
This item was not discussed at the meeting.
4. Name of the Forum
Several suggestions for a name for the forum were written up on
a flipchart. A vote from those present decided that the Forum
will be known as 'Sustainable Penwith'.
5. Appointment of Officers
Ralph asked for volunteers to become officers for Sustainable
Penwith he outlined the roles of the officers required which included
Secretary, Treasurer, and Chairperson.
Karen was asked if she would like to be Secretary but she stated
that she felt that it might look as though there is a bias towards
Penwith Council should she do this, she agreed however that she
would be happy to be minute secretary which would allow the Forum
to use PDC resources for sending out minutes, agendas, etc.
Matt Trevaskis was appointed Secretary Proposed by Ruth Seconded
by Karen
Rob Pickering was appointed Treasurer Proposed by Peter Seconded
by Patsy
The role of Chairperson was unfilled. However it was decided that
for the time being it would be carried out on a rotating basis.
Although it was felt that this should not go on for too long as
we would need a named Chairperson in order to be recognised and
also because an important responsibility of the Chair is to be
able to make a casting vote when required. Ralph asked for a group
of volunteers willing to rotate the Chairmanship:
Volunteers for Rotating Chair were: Matt, Michelle, Peter, Malcolm,
Ralph and Caroline.
It was agreed that this will form the interim board until the
first AGM (a date for which needs to be decided on).
At the AGM we would also need to vote for a Vice-Chair. It was
also decided that we would need area representatives as the Forum
grows and that it needs to be written into the constitution that
we will in future be looking for extra officers for this purpose.
Patsy Stevens said she would be willing to become involved in
some press relations work in order to promote the group , this
was supported by Peter and Frances.
Michelle Cowmeadow volunteered to act as Chair at the next meeting.
6. Creating an information resource at public libraries
Matt informed the group that he had contacted the Cornish library
service regarding keepin a lever arch folder at all libraries
in Penwith. The folders will contain information about this Forum
e.g. Agendas, Minutes and issues we are involved in. We will have
to approach each library seperately to see if they will allow
us to do this. Matt has already spoken to the manager at Penzance
Library and he was very enthusiastic. He is also looking into
displays and leaflets at libraries as well and we have the opportunity
of putting up a display early in the new year. Michelle asked
if she could put information on Millenium Woodland on this and
it was agreed that this would be a good idea.
Matt also mentioned that he was looking into getting a link to
the forum on the County Hall website.
7. Recycling
Due to time constraints it was decided that a full discussion
on recycling would have to wait until the next meeting. However
Karen mentioned recent bids for recyling initiatives that Penwith
and County have been involved with. Penwith District Council have
put a bid into DEFRA for a kerbside green waste collection service
to complement their kerbside green box recyclate collection. If
successful this will involve collecting garden waste and taking
it for composting at Splattenridden Farm in St Erth. Whilst at
present all compost is used on Splattenridden's land they are
applying for permission to sell the finished compost to the general
public.
Ralph is waiting to hear whether a CRED bid that Only Connect
have put in will be successful. This is for a countywide door
knocking campaign to encourage the general public to recycle and
make use of the facilities available.
8. Any Other Business
It was suggested that we could publish a monthly newsletter outlining
the issues we are getting involved with and to help raise awareness
of the Forum and to encourage more people to join and it was agreed
that the possibility of doing this needs to be looked into.
Rob told the group that we could apply for up to £5000 through
WCCN to help start up the group and allow us to take issues forward.
Ruth and Matt agreed to start thinking about some small projects
we can start to work on which we could perhaps get funded through
WCCN.
Matt said he was going to Kerrier OAK's next meeting. The School
Meals Service will be giving a talk at this meeting and if anybody
has any specific questions they would like Matt to ask about the
service to get in contact with him.
Peter handed out leaflets on his new project the 'Little Peace
Boat'.
Karen told the group that Philippa Collett from CoaST (Cornwall
Sustainable Tourism Project) has asked if she can attend the next
meeting and give a talk.
9. Date of next meeting
The proposed date for the next meeting on 12th January has been
moved to Thursday 15th January. The reason for this being that
the 12th is the date of the Penwith Environment Network's AGM.
10. Ralph thanked everyone for attending.