Minutes of a meeting of Sustainable Penwith held on Monday 17th May 2004 at 7pm in Committee Room 2, Penwith District Council offices, St. Clare, Penzance.
Present:
Karen Clowes
Matt Trevaskis
Michele Cowmeadow
Justin Olosunde
Sioban Osborne
Beccy Trahair
Elaine Stammery
Lynne Gulliford
John Brailey
Raven Le Fay
Frances Truscott
Tim Williams
Tasha Mitchell
Hamish McCallum
Jayne Walker
Mike Orman
Julia Bradley
1. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from:
Ralph Openshaw
Cllr Caroline White
Lesley Bradley
Patsy Stevens
2. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The Minutes of the last meeting were accepted as a true record except it was noted that the references to a Mr David Rothwell should have been David Rutherford.
The Minutes of our meetings are achived on our internet website. It was agreed that a lot of information is contained within these minutes and that they can form a useful resource for reference.
It was confirmed that in order to vote at a meeting you need to be a registered member, and that there is no age limit for membership. Karen and Matt both have membership forms if anybody wishes to fill them in.
3. MATTERS ARISING
LOGO Apart from a Draft Logo drawn up by Matt, there have been no other submissions. It was suggested that Penwith Youth Forum members might like to try and come up with a logo. Jayne agreed that she would ask at their next meeting. ACTION: PENWITH YOUTH FORUM·
4. THE WORK OF WEST CORNWALL COMMUNITY NETWORK
Beccy and Sioban of West Cornwall Community Network outlined the work of the network and how it can help source funding for community groups. WCCN is a community empowerment network working directly with the Local Strategic Partnership (West Cornwall Together). By working together with private, public, community and voluntary groups, WCCN are helping to ensure that at the start of new schemes, projects, etc., it is not necessary to have to 'reinvent the wheel' and that everything gets done at the same time, they help to share out funding and identify funding gaps. In West Cornwall extra funding is available because we have some very deprived wards. Representatives from WCCN sit on the LSP and are therefore a direct link into the LSP for community and voluntary groups.
Beccy told the forum that in Penwith, WCCN currently have about 450 voluntary members. Every six to eight weeks Interlink Meetings are held in Hayle, St Ives, Penzance and St. Just. These meetings help to build up the Network by allowing members to discuss and give updates on recent activities, and for information sharing on training, funding opportunities, etc.
Notes from the local meetings are then collated into a bi-monthly newsletter and the quarterly WCCN newsletter.
A training needs survey is offered to all new members e.g. Computer skills, etc. The Network also gives advice on funding, in Kerrier, they run a grantfunder/funderfinder licensed database package, although they do not provide this service in Penwith as yet, Beccy will still help look for specific funding for those who need it.
The network also has six laptops available, which can be borrowed for up to five days at a time for community groups to use. You have to be a member of Interlink to take advantage of this service.
There is a website dedicated to the community and voluntary sector (www.wccn.org.uk) anyone who is a member can put information and contact details on this website. The network is presently collating membership directories and information packs, etc. They hold annual Penwith, Kerrier, and WCCN Conferences, as well as annual publicity days, and much, much more. WCCN is based at the Old Dairy at St Erth Industrial Estate, for more information phone Beccy on 01736 759012.
Beccy was asked how she saw an organisation such as ours that looks specifically at sustainability, fitting into Interlink. Beccy replied that WCCN are a way of letting people know about what who we are and what we do, and will help us further link into the LSP (even though we are already a member of the Environment, Culture and Heritage sub-group). WCCN will support us when we are seeking funding. Justin stated that we already have a Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chest application form, Beccy said that we should speak to Sarah Kind for information on how to complete it. Sioban explained that Community Chest funding is available up to 2006, for amounts ranging between £50 and £5000, for projects in excess of £5000 match funding can be used, which includes volunteer time.
As a Group we need to discuss what we would like to fund. Francis suggested the possibility of a newsletter, PEN would like to contribute to any newsletter as they no longer have their own. However Sioban, explained that Community Chest can not be used for long-term projects as the money has to spent within six months. You cannot apply more than once for the same project although you can put in for four different projects at the same time. John Brailey told the group that he funds OutReach a community magazine for Pendeen and Morvah through advertising and the use of volunteers, however he has used Community Chest for one off capital purchases. Jayne Walker stated that Community Chest have funded the Youth Forum attending conferences, and the purchase of laptops. Justin said that we now really do need to get together to discuss as a group what we wish to do, and then apply for funding.
Beccy and Sioban were thanked for attending. They then left the meeting.
5. THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES BILL
The New Economics Foundation have asked Penwith District Council to host a public meeting regarding this Bill. It will take a couple of years to get the Bill through Parliament and it is important to enable this to happen that members of the public are aware of the Bill and the powers it can give local communities to combat 'GhostTown Britain'. There will be three speakers at the talk; Ron Bailey of the New Economics Foundation, Charles Secrett former Director of Friends of the Earth, and Justin, who will give a talk on behalf of this Forum. Karen gave details of the date and venue, however please note the date has since changed its now Tuesday 29 th June at 7pm St John's Hall. Crystal said that she has outlined part of this Bill in the discussion document that was handed out. Karen has done a brief summary of the Bill in a Committee Report which went out to Councillors in October last year, she agreed that she would arrange for this summary to be posted on our website, and send out hard copies with the minutes she posts to those without access to a computer. Crystal stated that the local community sustainability bill needs to be used as indicators for what we are doing, it is now imperative that we start to focus our thinking. It was agreed that this will be addressed at the next meeting.
ACTION : KAREN TO SEND SUMMARY OF SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES BILL TO MATT TO PUT ON WEBSITE
6. FORTHCOMING FESTIVALS
Mazey Day 26th June The Group agreed that we will have a stall at this event. We will be selling books, magazines, toys, etc., in order to start raising some funds, so all donations will be gratefully received. Justin agreed to co-ordinate the stall, if you have any items and/or can volunteer a few hours on the stall please phone him on 01736 711504 (note Justin is on holiday until 11th June).
The stall will promote and raise awareness of Sustainable Penwith, and will include displays outlining who and what we are. We will also display waste minimisation/recycling information. We will also publicise the Sustainable Communities Bill Public Meeting. Penwith Youth Forum members, Justin, Matt, Karen and Crystal all offered their services to help with co-ordination and running of the stall, however we desperately need more volunteers, if you can spare some time, even just one hour to work on the stall itself on the day, please contact Justin.
LaFrowda Day 17th July It was agreed that because we are such a small group at present, we would not have a stall at LaFrowda this year. Karen stated that she will be at LaFrowda with Mike Toms promoting recycling (since the meeting it has been decided that Karen will not only be displaying and informing on recycling she will also have a display board on sustainability issues, so will be able to help promote Sustainable Penwith too, if anyone from the Forum would like to join her on the day she would be grateful for their support, please contact her on 01736 369237)
7. PENZANCE TOWN CENTRE PROPOSALS
TRAFFIC CONSULTATION Matt told the Forum that he came away with the feeling that Cornwall County Council had already decided on what they were going to do and that it was not a consultation process at all, rather it was County Council keeping the public informed on their proposals. He stated that the focus of the consultation was on the one-way traffic flow and loading bays. Feedback forms were available which had to be given in last week, quite a few people have responded but he is unsure whether County Council will actually take these viewpoints on board. It was felt that the feedback forms were too leading and biased and the questions only asked for yes or no answers.
1. Lesley had spent a lot of time last month researching at the library and her draft letter to the Council was discussed. Karen felt that we need to be careful because the response should stick to the parameters of Market Jew Street. Park and Ride is of course extremely important, it is not an issue that is being ignored, the tender for a parking feasibility study for the main towns of Penzance, St.Ives and Hayle is about to be advertised in the press, and this will be addressing Park and Ride. She feels that our letter must show that we are aware of this study. It was agreed that the letter should respond to Market Jew Street proposals in particular and Matt agreed to work with Lesley to help re-draft our letter. It was also agreed that disability access was an important issue and this will be addressed in the letter. Karen also stated that it was important that we keep Penzance Area Forum informed of our actions, as they are also looking at the Market Jew Street proposals and the consultation process. It was suggested that one of our training needs might be on effective letter writing, Matt said he would find out from Beccy of WCCN whether this type of training is available.
Karen said that now the parking solutions tender had been approved by committee, the Forum can view the scope of the brief. She will send a copy to Matt so he can distribute it.
ACTION: MATT AND LESLEY TO REDRAFT LETTER TO COUNTY
KAREN TO SEND PARKING SOLUTIONS BRIEF TO MATT
MATT TO CONTACT WCCN REGARDING LETTER WRITING TRAINING
8. HOME HEALTH PROJECT
Crystal gave an update on the homehealth project. CEP funding is now in place and the roll-out of the project is currently focused on Penwith. The project offers free energy efficiency measures into homes, it also incorporates a survey of benefits checklist which is linked up with other agencies and helps to identify people who are not claiming all the benefits they are entitled too. Heamoor is the next area to benefit, then its will be rolled out to St Just, Hayle and the Lizard. The project is restricted to certain identified areas, she asked the group to be aware of the project, help spread the word and encourage our friends and neighbours to take part.
9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Friday 4th June FOE are holding a public meeting on Dolphin Deaths which will be held at Queens Hotel at 7pm.
DISCUSSION PAPER Crystal has produced a discussion paper which we must all look at before the next meeting. It was agreed that we need to start thinking more constructively on our way forward. For example how are we going to address equal opportunities, diversity, etc. It was agreed that we should arrange a workshop to discuss these issues and how we can ensure we receive informed information from other groups. It was agreed that this will be an Agenda item for next month. ACTION : A WAY FORWARD WORKSHOP TO BE AN ITEM ON THE NEXT AGENDA
PENWITH YOUTH FORUM Hamish told the group that members of Penwith Youth Forum have signed up as International Peace Ambassadors they go into schools and talk about sustainability. The Youth Forum have 18 members throughout the district and hold monthly meetings.
CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION Crystal asked whether it would be possible to get a list of the new candidates for the Council Elections, the Group could then ask them their views on and what they know about Sustainability.·
NEXT LIBRARY DISPLAY Matt said we must start thinking about what we would like to put on the next library display, he would like to see information on the DDA, including information on how it will affect service providers, employers and disabled people themselves.
10.DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held at Penwith Council Offices, St Clare, Committee Room 2 at 7pm on Monday 21st June.