MINUTES OF A MEETING OF A PENWITH SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES FORUM
(AS YET UNNAMED) HELD AT PENWITH DISTRICT COUNCIL OFFICES, COMMITTEE
ROOM 1 ON MONDAY 10th NOVEMBER AT 7.00pm
1. Welcome by Acting Chairman Matthew Trevaskis
Matthew explained that he had set up an on-line discussion group
for the Forum . Whilst this may not allow us to discuss all issues,
and is of course only available to those with access to a computer,
he feels that it will serve as a handy tool to discuss matters
ahead of meetings. To join you need to give yourself a Yahoo ID
address, which is reasonably straightforward if you follow the
on-line instructions but should anybody have any problems please
contact Matt by e-mail on (deleted) or phone (deleted).
You can look up the site on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/penwithsustainability.
Matt expressed his appreciation for such a great turn out for
this, the second meeting of the as yet unnamed group. He asked
that we respect each other and that if anybody wishes to speak
they should raise their hand.
2. Sandra Rothwell West Cornwall Together
Sandra Rothwell (Co-ordinator of West Cornwall Together our local
strategic partnership) gave the group an introduction to WCT and
how we could fit within it. WCT covers the districts of both Penwith
and Kerrier. The WCT local strategic partnership (LSP) is a Government
initiative bringing together key partners including the public
sector, private sector, and voluntary community sector as well
as residents. It is, of course, only the residents who know what
they want in their area and for this reason WCT particularly welcome
community involvement.
Neighbourhood Renewal gives extra injection funding into West
Cornwall. Neighbourhood Renewal helps local strategic partnerships
to work more quickly in the most deprived and needy areas. All
LSP's are designed to deliver the local community strategy. Community
strategies are written after consulting with communities and asking
them what they want. WCT delivers Penwith, Kerrier and Cornwall
County Council's Community Strategies. WCT has amalgamated all
these strategies into 'Delivering Together' which will launched
early next year.
The Penwith Community Strategy Vision for the future can be found
on Penwith District Council's website at http://www.penwith.gov.uk.
West Cornwall Together has found six key themes which emerge across
all these strategies, these being West Cornwall Community Safety
Partnership, Health and wellbeing, Housing, Children,youth and
education, Employment, enterprise and economy, and the Environment.
Each of these themes has a strong element in all the community
strategies.
Each sub group contains a cross section of members from voluntary,
private and public sector groups as well as residents. Whilst
the sub-groups are reasonably strategic, training and information
is given to all members sitting on them.
Sandra informed the group that a potential way in which we could
become involved and have some influence on the LSP is to have
one or two representatives from our group sitting on the Environmental
Sub-Group.
When asked about how WCT can serve the community if its all about
differing sub groups Sandra responded that whilst the sub-groups
cannot be separated out what the partnership aims to do is to
create mechanisms for communities to challenge the decision makers.
She suggested that Penwith WCCN (West Cornwall Community Network)
could give a talk to this group to inform on how they are able
to input into WCT.
It was asked what influence we would have should we nominate representatives
to sit on the WCT environment sub-group and how frequent the WCT
meetings would be. Sandra explained that we would be able to input
on specific issues we wish to take forward and potential local
issues to help ensure that sustainability is integrated into our
community. The frequency of sub-group meetings ranges but most
groups meet 6 weekly.
It was also asked what 'teeth' WCT will have. Sandra told us that
LSP's are seen as the way forward in local decision making they
have strong support from Government Office South West to ensure
that they are not a lobby group but are the drivers helping to
ensure the right people are around the table.
Once this group is formalised a decision will be made on whether
to elect one or two members to sit on the Environment sub-group
of the LSP.
3. Don Holmes Chairman Kerrier OAK (LA21 Group)
Don kindly came along to our meeting to give us a brief introduction
to the Kerrier Group and to discuss ways in which we could perhaps
work together.
OAK has been running for about 3 years, they see themselves as
mainly concerned with conservation of the countryside and wildlife.
There are about 40 members on their mailing list, although they
have found that attendance at meetings has been flagging recently.
OAK consists of members from LETS, The Sustainable Trust, Charles
Green Centre, FOE, Camborne Produce Association and Kerrier Conservation
Crew.
Matt Trevaskis asked Don how much influence OAK has had on other
groups, Don replied that OAK has been involved in recycling in
Helston, tree planting in schools, and actively helped in the
nature reserve at RedRiver and Tuckingmill Valley Park.
When asked why he thought attendance at meetings was falling Don
stated that he felt that not everybody likes to meet in the council
chambers, and that he would like to go around the district but
the cost of hall hire and insurance is making this difficult.
Asked whether OAK has a direct input into Kerrier Council and
whether they are getting decisions into the council, Don replied
that Phil Walsh of Kerricr DC helped set up OAK but it is completely
independent from the Council.
Don would like it if OAK could join up and form an alliance with
our Penwith Group. It was felt that whilst links to other District
Groups are useful, it is important that we stay separate but link
together when issues call for it and that we keep each other up
to date of progress, this could involve attending each other's
meetings and putting information on each other's newsletters,
etc.
Don Holmes said that the next meeting of OAK is being held on
the 18th November at Kerrier District Council Offices
at 7pm and that all are welcome to attend.
4. The Way Forward
Copies of the constitution for PLATO (the original LA21 group
for Penwith that dissolved about 3 years ago) were passed around,
it was felt that this could be a basis for formalising a constitution.
It was decided that we needed four or five volunteers who were
willing to get together to help come up with a couple of draft
constitutions in time for the next meeting.
Matt suggested that we all create a wish list of what issues we
would like to see a sustainable group to focus on, and that we
have all prepared this before the next meeting, you can send your
wish list to Matt's e-mail or home address and he will from that
be able to create common links and perhaps formalise hubs so we
can encourage those with similar interests to work together. Matt
can be contacted at (deleted) or by post (deleted)
It was agreed that we need to come up with a title for this forum
and a mission statement. It was also felt that we need to identify
our key objectives and also declare our independence from PDC.
Ralph felt 'Penwith Area Environmental Network Forum' might be
a good name.
It was discussed whether meetings should continue to be held at
PDC or whether they should go out and around the district. It
was felt important that this group is open to all, however, the
general consensus was that until such time as we are well established
it might be best to keep the meetings at St Clare. After that
we would trial holding meetings at different venues, and encourage
car-sharing even more than we do at present.
5. Penwith District Council's support for the group
Karen explained that PDC are in full support of a Penwith Sustainable
Community Group and that these council committee rooms will be
available free of charge to the group. They will be able to help
with stationery, photocopying facilities, etc., and once the group
is established they may be able to help fund and support particular
projects. She felt that whilst it is important that this group
is not seen to be council led and that they need to be independent,
she is worried that if they have no contact with the council they
will lose an opportunity to help input into local decision making.
She would like to feel that the group can become involved in Council
making decision processes, in that she can act as a link between
the community and the Council, and that she will be able to bring
the right people along to the meetings to discuss local sustainability
issues. She also stated that a couple of councillors including
Simon Reed (Mayor of Penzance) have expressed a keen interest
in attending meetings and receiving the minutes of this group
and that can only be a good thing as it will also help to ensure
that your voices are heard and opinions considered at meetings
of the Council.
6. Any Other Business
It was felt that we still need to try and make ourselves known
to the wider community, Karen said that WCCN meetings are a good
way to raise awareness of community groups. It was suggested that
we put monthly updates in 'down your way' in the Cornishman. This
will be looked at in more detail at the next meeting.
Ralph offered to act as Chairman for the next meeting.
The next meeting will be held at 7pm Penwith District Council
Committee Room 1 on Monday 8th December.