MINUTES OF A MEETING OF SUSTAINABLE PENWITH HELD ON 21 JUNE 2004 AT PENWITH DISTRICT COUNCIL, ST CLARE, COMMITTEE ROOM 2.
Present:
Karen Clowes
Matt Trevaskis
Justin Osolunde
Crystal Wakefield
Ruth Browning
Hilary Binns
John Thomas
Barnaby Flynn
Graham Waldren
Mat Kraft
Peter le Mare
Apologies were received from:
Frances Truscott
Ralph Openshaw
Julia Bradley
Raven LeFay
Julia Bradley
Gina Aylward
Penwith Tourism Forum
Matt met with David Rutherford, Sustainable Tourism Officer
at Penwith DC.
David has invited Sustainable Penwith to join the Forum. The first
meeting
is on 8th July, it was agreed that Matt should attend this first
meeting on
our behalf. Matt stated that the draft sustainable tourism document
has been
posted on our website. Tourism makes up 47% of the gdp of West
Cornwall. The
new strategy will be based on the VICE Model. David has been talking
about
ways in which we can lessen the negative effects of tourism, the
strategy is
not just green/eco-tourism. David has also been working closely
with CoAST.
The future of CoAST was questioned, Matt will find out what their
status is
regarding funding and the fact that Philippa is now with Objective
1.
Crystal's discussion document
This group has now been going for eight months, we now need
to define where
we are going and how we are going to get there, who is willing
to do things
and carry them through. It was agreed that we hold a workshop
day to address
these issues. WCCN suggested that this Forum write a Mission Statement,
and
it was agreed that the workshop would be a good opportunity to
make progress
with this. Crystal's document contains ideas that this Group could
focus on,
she stressed that we must not reinvent the wheel, where other
groups/individuals are already doing great work we must instead
support them
rather than duplicate. It was also suggested that this workshop
day should
also address whether we should split into sub-groups specialising
in
different areas. A venue for the workshop was discussed whilst
St Paul's
School was considered it would cost £7 per hour, it was
therefore decided
that Committee Room 1 at St Clare would be the best venue as we
can also use
video/presentation equipment there free of charge. The workshop
will take
place on a Saturday during late August/early September. Karen
will let the
group know which Saturdays the room is available at the next meeting.
Crystal agreed to look into the possibility of engaging facilitators
for the
workshop. Matt said that it would be good if we can get lots of
Councillors
to come along to the workshop.
Crystal is currently working on a Community Renewable Energy
Project in
Pendeen which will complement Pendeen's regeneration strategy
by creating
energy which can be sold to the national grid. Funding for this
type of
project is particularly difficult because most projects rely on
grants and
because the excess energy will be sold to the national grid it
is not
considered to be a sustainable funding source. She has also found
that lots
of policies contradict each other for example DEFRA departments
do not seem
to know what each other does. As a Group we need to wise up on
policies in
order for us to know how to access funding sources and to get
things done.
Crystal also suggested that we can put together a package for
those
contemplating drawing up a Parish Plan, this could be used as
a guideline to
ensure that sustainability is integrated into all such plans.
Matt stated that he recently went to Bodmin with the Cornwall
Disability
Forum. Also, Penwith Housing Association asked if we would like
to sit on
their Modification Plans Stakeholder's Panel.
Mat K wondered whether we have the capacity to sit on Council
Committee
meetings. This is an issue which will be addressed at the workshop.
It was
agreed that we need to get Councillors to come to our meetings.
Justin commented that there was an awful lot in Crystal's discussion
document. Peter stated that he feels that the ideas Crystal has
outlined are
an excellent start for the Group, however he feels the most important
thing
is that we cannot continue consuming indefinitely and we all need
to work
towards ways of reducing our consumption. It was agreed that the
reduction
in the use of natural resources could be a focus point for the
group.
Matt stated on behalf of Raven (who was unable to make this
meeting) that
she feels a one day workshop would be an excellent idea, she also
thinks
that we should look at the work similar groups elsewhere have
done for
example the Sustainable Seattle Organisation.
Crystal suggested that we look into the possibility of having
a room or
office where people can drop in and collect information on sustainability.
Ruth said she would look into the possibility of whether we could
have
information available at the Penwith Credit Union Offices. Karen
said that
whilst she did not know of any office space available at the moment
she
would look into the possibility of the group being able to place
an
information rack at St Johns Hall entrance. John stated that
whilst that
was all well and good at the end of the day we would need office
space.
Barnaby suggested St Paul's old school, Crystal felt that this
would not be
a good venue because it has to be somewhere that is open and accessible
to
as many members of the public as possible.Matt stated that St
Johns Hall is
probably one of the most inaccessible buildings in Penzance. Karen
said that
she would ask in the regeneration department whether they know
of any
community office space that might be available in the near future.
Planning Applications
Crystal told the group that all planning applications are now
available on
the Penwith District Council website. It was discussed whether
as a group we
should monitor such applications and support those we as a group
believe to
be sustainable. It was noted that Penwith District Council received
70
letters of support with regard to the windmill application at
St Just, lots
of these were probably generated through Sustainable Penwith.
Matt, Mat K
and Graham agreed that they would monitor the website for planning
applications that we could support. Matt also agreed to draft
a standard
letter that we could send to planning applicants. Karen said that
Penwith
District Council are preparing a leaflet and website page promoting
sustainable building techniques and this leaflet will also advise
on where
to find further information e.g. Cornwall Sustainable Building
Trust.
Mazey Day Stall
The group will have a stall on Mazey Day opposite Woolworths.
Crystal has
been working hard to obtain prizes for a raffle. So far she has
managed to
obtain free entrance tickets for Trengwainton, Geevor, St Michael's
Mount,
and the Pilchard Works, she has also been promised prizes from
Cornwall
Mead, Archie Browns and the National Soap Company.
Matt will sort out the display board information.
Crystal and Frances were thanked for all the hard work they
have put in
collecting bric-abrac to be sold on the day. Anything left over
will be
given to OXFAM.
A leaflet on Sustainable Penwith and the Sustainable Communities
Bill public
meeting will be handed out on the day.
Any Other Business
John stated that the Investment Co-operative will be up and
running in about
two months. The Co-op will be open to all. It will be run on a
subscription
basis of just £1 per week. The aim of the Co-op is to gather
sufficient
money to further increase membership and then address problems
in
housing/energy, etc. He said that this Eco-homes Co-op is a practical
example of the Simultaneous Policy that Barnaby is promoting.
Barnaby asked
that we all consider donating and help spread the word about the
Co-op.
Karen said that she has started working on a climate change
strategy for the
Council. The aim of this strategy is to look at ways the Council
(and its
partners) can help adapt to and mitigate the effects climate change
will
have on the district. Another key part of the strategy is to help
raise
public awareness on the issue of climate change.
The Sustainable Communities Bill public meeting will be held
on Tuesday 29th
June at 7pm in St Johns Hall. Everyone was asked to help spread
the word and
to attend if they possibly can.
Date of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on 19th July at 7pm.