MINUTES OF A MEETING OF SUSTAINABLE PENWITH HELD AT PENWITH
DISTRICT COUNCIL, ST CLARE ON THURSDAY 15th JANUARY
2004
1. Welcome by Chairperson
Crystal Wakefield, this month's acting Chairperson welcomed
all to the meeting.
2. Apologies for absence
Apologies were received from:
Michelle Cowmeadow
John Murphy
Patsy Stevens
Francis Truscott
Neil Farrington
Peter le Mare
Julia Bradley
Gina Aylward
Present:
Karen Clowes
Matt Trevaskis
John Bradley
Glynne Gulliford
Lesley Bradley
Rob Pickering
Mike Orman
Jane Michell
Monique Schneider
Philippa Collet
Crystal Wakefield
Ralph Openshaw
3. Introduction to CoaST Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project
An Introduction by Philippa Collet.
CoaST is a new initiative, they work with the community, private
and public sector. Tourism has an impact on everybody's lives
in Cornwall, sustainable tourism is not just about Green Tourism.
CoaST are helping to ensure that the tourism industry is sustainable
throughout its core. CoaST is a free network and welcome input
from individuals as much as everyone else. CoaST has its own website
and newsletter and is a forum for information sharing and informing
on good practice. CoaST also provide training for businesses and
are looking to provide qualifications for communities. They are
also involved in ensuring businesses have a balanced view on current
themes e.g. windfarms. Philippa said that CoaST would very much
like individuals to join their network as they would very much
like to promote the sustainable aspect of tourism, she passed
around leaflets on the CoaST project.
Phillipa was asked whether conventional tourism industries see
CoaST as a threat. Philippa replied that this did not seem to
be the case, and that many in the private sector are welcoming
the initiative as they very much care for Cornwall, and have a
social conscience. CoaST currently have about 140 members and
more than a third of these are private businesses. CoaST want
tourism to become a bigger contributor to our local economy and
are encouraging private companies to consider local supply and
procurement.
Philippa was asked about transport in relation to tourism especially
with regard to CoaST's view on the A30 widening project, and that
surely just widening the road will only lead to an ever increasing
number of car journeys. Philippa agreed that widening roads is
likely to cause increased traffic on our roads and stated that
CoaST recognise that public transport and effective rail networks
are a key part of sustainable tourism and that CoaST is working
with the Cornwall Rural Transport Partnership to help achieve
this.
When asked what steps CoaST are taking to involve the community,
Philippa replied that they come along to meetings like this one,
plus they attend interlink meetings, are involved with CSEP and
talk to local council sustainability officers. CoaST are always
happy to talk to anyone and would welcome ideas on other ways
in which they can involve the community. Karen mentioned that
Penwith District Council now have a sustainable tourism officer
(David Rutherford) who is in the process of writing a sustainable
tourism strategy for the district, unfortunately he was unable
to attend this meeting, but will attend these meetings whenever
he can. Karen passed around some information David had prepared
outlining the aims of the sustainable tourism strategy, she said
that David would like to use this group as one way of involving
the community and allowing them to influence the strategy.
Crystal thanked Philippa for attending the meeting.
4. Minutes of Previous Meeting
The minutes of last month's reading were approved as an accurate
record, however Karen reported that she had omitted to mention
that it was agreed at the last meeting that the Forum write a
letter to Penwith District Council regarding accessibility/facilities
for disabled people at all its public buildings. Matt agreed that
this letter would be written and that it was an issue that the
group would like to persue.
6. Constitution of the Group
Ralph explained to the group that 3 volunteers had recently
got together to look at different consitutions and to come up
with a draft constitution for this group. They came up with five
points that they found difficult to answer themselves and these
were all discussed at the last meeting except for the point regarding
subscription fees.
Crystal gave everybody a chance to read through the draft constitution,
before going through the whole document in detail as a group.
1. Aims
Point 2 it was asked that 'development' needs to be clarified.
It was agreed this line should read 'planning development, tourism
and anything else'.
Point 4 LA21 to be incorporated into this sentence.
2. Objectives
Point 5 to be deleted
Point 6 should have 'and develop local indicators' added.
3. Membership
Point 2 - It was agreed that there should be no subscription fee,
although donations would be appreciated.
Point 3 'who have paid their current subscription' to be deleted
and replaced with 'who have completed their application forms'.
To become a member you would need to fill out a membership form,
this needs to be done annually so we also require an annual renewal
form. Justin agreed to compile a membership form . Karen/Matt
will maintain a membership database which will be used for mailshots,
membership renewal and sending minutes.
'Members may only vote the month after their membership has been
approved'. To also be inserted.
Point 4 It was agreed that there will only be one vote per individual
and one per organisation. The organisation themselves are responsible
for who has that vote. A person can only have one vote at a meeting
therefore if voting on behalf of an organisation you cannot have
an individual vote as well. This needs to be written into the
constitution.
4. AGM
Point 2 a to now read ' to receive and adopt the annual report
of the officers'.
Point 2 b delete 'and confirm subscription level'
Point 3 delete 'of the paid up'
6. EGM
delete 'paid up'
9. Financial Matters
Point 4 replace 'audited' with 'inspected'
11. Winding Down
Point 1 replace CWSN with 'Sustainable Penwith'
It was agreed that once these changes are implemented the constitution
will be adopted by the Group.
6. Election of remaining Officer Posts
Patsy Stevens was nominated as press officer by John and this
was seconded by Jane.
Rotating Chair, is to remain at present, Crystal Wakefield and
Leslie Bradley asked for their names to be added to the list.
It was agreed that we did need an appointed AGM/EGM Chairperson,
Justin agreed to fill this role, voting was unanimous.
It was agreed that the first AGM of the group should take place
in October.
7. Library Display Events
Matt told the group that he has booked display boards in Penzance
Library for the whole of February. There is sufficient room for
Michelle to display information on Millennium Woodland on one
side and for the other side to have information on Recycling and
Green Energy. Ralph told Matt that he had some good display stuff
on recycling that can be used. Matt said that the recycling part
would also help promote PDC's green box scheme and help raise
awareness and clarify what can and cant be put into the greenboxes.
Matt is also arranging for displays to go up in St Just and St
Ives Libraries.
Matt has booked the display boards at Penzance for May and at
the next meeting the Agenda will include a discussion on what
topics the next displays will cover. It was decided that Matt
should start to draw up an events calendar.
Justin offered to help transport the display boards to different
venues.
Volunteers will be required to help set up the displays on Saturday
31st January. Leslie volunteered to help on the day,
but all additional help will be welcomed.
Karen will give Matt mail preference leaflets and information
on PDC Recycling Scheme. Ralph will order some Rethink Rubbish
Stickers and Crystal will arrange to get some community energy
plus leaflets.
It was decided that the display should also give highly visible
information on this Group, who we are and what we are trying to
achieve.
Penzance Green Fair
Penwith Green Fair will be held on Easter Saturday (10th
April) at St Johns Hall. Ralph told the group that PEN will ask
FOE whether it could be run between three organisations this year,
ourselves being the third group. If we were to be involved in
this we would need volunteers to help with supplying cakes, cooked
food, etc., and to help staff the catering stall. If you are around
over Easter Saturday and can offer your services please let us
know.
8. Recycling
Matt quickly spoke about recycling of plastics. He stated that
we need to help reinforce the fact that the plastic recycling
banks do not just take milk cartons but all HDPE plastic and that
Cornwall Paper Company will also accept PET bottles. Ralph stated
that Cornwall Paper Company's sorting system is not yet up to
taking any other types of plastic.
The recycling banks currently only accept PET bottles and not
punnets, etc., made from PET. This may be because it is too labour
intensive to sort those made from PET from other materials such
as PP which are visually very similar. Matt will draft a letter
to local supermarkets and fruit and vegetable retailers asking
to only use PET containers since these could then easily be recycled.
Matt mentioned that Kerrier DC's kerbside is now taking plastics
and cardboard, whilst he appreciates that their scheme is different
to Penwith's and has been running for longer than Penwith's he
wonders why plastics and cardboard are not being collected at
present. Karen said that Penwith would love to do all of these
things but at present its a question of what we can afford. She
said that Mike Toms the Recycling and Refuse Manager will be asked
to attend our next meeting so that he can answer our questions
directly.
It was agreed that white goods recycling would also be on the
Agenda for the next meeting.
9. Any Other Business
Sustainable Communities Bill
Karen told the group that she had been approached by the New
Economics Foundation asking if she could spread the word about
the Sustainable Communities Bill and help to ensure the public
understand what it is about and how it can help rural districts.
She felt that Sustainable Penwith would be a good medium to help
publicise the Bill and raise support for it. The New Economics
Foundation will be holding a public meeting in the District during
March in order to raise awareness of the proposed bill, and to
drum up local support for lobbying our MP to ensure it becomes
law.
http://www.neweconomics.org (click on local economic renewal
then local works)
Waste Awareness Campaign
Ralph told the group that he now has the written report on
the findings of a waste awareness project undertaken by FOE in
the Kerrier District, should anyone wish to view it. He stated
that Only Connect were extremely disappointed that their recent
CRED bid which was to undertake a door stepping waste awareness
campaign throughout the county was unsuccessful. Ralph asked anyone
who would like one to help themselves to a copy of the latest
Only Connect Newsletter.
Bank Account
It was agreed that a bank account needs to set up before the
next meeting, the bank to be chosen must have green credentials.
The signatories for the account will be the elected officials
of the group. Karen will find out whether Penwith can help with
a small amount of money to help the group get off the ground.
Letter to Planning
Matt has drafted a letter to Roger Harnett, PDC's head of
planning, the letter introduces the group to the Planning Department
and encourages them to help promote renewable energies and energy
efficiency. It was agreed that this letter should be sent to PDC.
Finally, for those who do not yet use our on line meeting site,
it can be found by typing in:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/penwithsustainability.
10. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Monday 9th February
2004 at 7pm at Penwith District Council Offices. At present this
meeting will be held in Committee Room 1, but Karen will try and
change this to Committee Room 2 which is smaller and is more amenable
to those with hearing difficulties.
Michelle Cowmeadow will be asked to chair the next meeting.