Environment Forum Minutes (April 2010)

Sherborne Environment Forum: Thursday 22^nd April 2010

2:30pm at Council Chamber, the Manor House, Newland, Sherborne

Attendance List

Chairman – Kevin Waterfall

Secretary – Steve Holdway

Thornhacket Parish Council -Stuart Black

SAP – Nigel Engert

Gryphon School – Lizzie Kingsbury

Linkin Rural Communication – Elaine Spencer-White

Local Residents – Marg Gibson, Yaron Reuveny, Carmen Smith

Transition Sherborne – Joanna Lowndes,

Western Gazette – Tom Knight

• Apologies – Sue Greene, Mervyn Smith, Sue Farrant, Jo Witherden, Cllr. Peter Shorland, Ruth Cook, Mary Brodie.
• Minutes of meetings 25^th February 2010 – approved.
• Matters Arising
  • Supermarkets waste Management. Rob Bygrave is contacting Sainsbury’s and Somerfields for a follow up discussion
  • Work will be started on the Forum’s website.

Renewable Energy projects

1. The Do-able Renewable Energy Fair held on Saturday 10^th April was a great success. From the £2700 funding. £1500 remains, and it is suggested this is used in feasibility studies for schools. A condition of the grant was for Stuart Black to report back to West Dorset Partnership. All of the invited exhibitors were respectable companies and the Environment Forum can help with advice if required. We briefly discussed lessons learnt:

• 450 people attended, which was excellent
• Advertising was spot on
• Most people came before lunch (50% in first 90 minutes), with only 10% after 4pm. i.e. the event ran slightly too long.
• Only one presentation room was needed, which would have reduced need for technical support, chairpersons and equipment, and eased the schedule for the presenters
• Lots of people attended from outside Sherborne (5-10 mile radius)
• Quite a few farmers attended
• Possibly not enough children for circus skills (though perhaps the weather accounted for this)
• Mighty Bite was excellent in serving the free tea and coffee.
• Website now remains a useful post-event resource.
  • Action 1a: Stuart Black to write report for West Dorset Partnership.
  • Action 1b: Nigel Engert to identify grants for helping schools with renewable energy projects.
  • Action 1c: Jo Lowndes to provide Stuart with contact details for Lovely Jugglies.

1. Community Solar PV Scheme. Yaron Reuveny kindly agreed to lead the Community Solar PV Scheme, the idea being to obtain a bulk discount from suppliers for solar PV installations. There was a sign-up sheet at the fair with over ten names and more may be added through these minutes/Transition Sherborne discussion group. There are two similar schemes in the region: Bridport and Totnes. Bridport have formed a Community Interest company, which gives them a vehicle for renewable energy projects in the future. They’re currently in the awareness-raising stage. Totnes somehow managed to attract a £650,000 grant, which has partly been spent on PV, partly on insulation. Transition Totnes are behind the scheme, and have setup Transition Totnes Streets where houses wish to participate in the scheme. The Sherborne scheme could do well to attract a similar grant (via for example Chalk and Cheese), and all installations would of course be eligible for the Feed-In Tariff. Yaron wishes to arrange the local group, approach local installers who can save on marketing, etc. He is an energy surveyor so can do surveys for the project and negotiate a better deal.

• Action 2a: Kevin Waterfall to collate contacts and send to Yaron
• Action 2b: Kevin Waterfall to contact chalk and cheese re grant opportunities
• Action 2c: Nigel Engert to contact Christine Stone re grant applications
• Action 2d: Yaron Reuveny to act as contact point for scheme and contact those who have put their names down.

1. Renewables Projects – West Mill Lane Mill is owned by Wessex Water, who would like to find a valuable use for the building – there is a possibility for a micro hydro scheme, as long as it is technically viable and there are people to organise it (currently have 5 signatures from Do-able Renewable) Tetrapack can provide engineering labour, and Wessex Water are particularly interested in making an educational facility.

1. The Science Café would like a good presenter in renewable energy or similar for next-year’s programme.

• Action 4a: Stuart Black to Contact science café with details of renewable energy presenter for their next year’s schedule.

1. Sherborne in Bloom: Caz Rowland from SAP gave a short presentation about this year’s competition, with an environmental focus. Environment makes up 25% of this year’s marks and this is where Sherborne is weak. Caz is interested in active and exciting ideas, and would love to hear from people who have, or know people with, wildlife, green or eco gardens. There is also a Sherborne in Bloom competition to enter – wildlife and green categories! Transition Sherborne are interested in various schemes which go hand-in-hand with the environmental aspect of the competition, including growing productive plants and a community orchard. The problem is people and spaces. Funding suggestions were Magna Housing. Location suggestions were St Paul’s Green. There was also suggestion of using Jubilee Garden, which would be great, but probably unlikely. The In-bloom judges visit for two hours in July, and Caz would love to hear from volunteers to help with the event

• Action 5a: Lizzie Kingsbury to Contact Ken Bodicum regarding ownership of St Pauls Green

1. Allotments/ Gardens: The Allotment and Garden Share scheme is progressing well. Jo Lowndes of Transition Sherborne is happy to co-ordinate both projects. 21 have given their names so far. The next stage is a meeting with the Town Clark and Castle Estates to see how to move forward. For reference, Thornford Allotments took 9 months from this stage to completion. Sherborne has 183 allotments, owned and administered by the council. The new allotments have the advantage that an allotment association can be formed from the outset.

• Action 6a: Kevin Waterfall to arrange meeting of interested parties to discuss contracts and arrangements
• Action 6b: Jo Lowndes Check in front office with Sherborne Town Council who is on the current waiting list for allotments (check for duplications)

1. Transition Sherborne are continuing their awareness raising programme. The next event is Money Talks on Wednesday 5^th May 7pm at Cheap Steet Church Hall, Cheap Street, Sherborne. With the general election the following day perhaps it is a good time to discuss our present system of banking, the failure of the economy and its lack of resilience, and explore other more local alternatives. We will be showing a short film or two and then opening the room up to general discussion. There will as ever be free tea, coffee and cake! Entry is free but donations are more than welcome.

1. Nigel Engert presented the latest on the Sherborne Area Community Plan, which has been updated post Do-able Renewable. Final comments must be received by the end of May.

• Action 8a: All to review and comment on the Sherborne Area Plan. Available on the Sherborne SAP web site.

1. Elaine Spencer White distributed some marketing info, and gave an update on the Yeovil Local Food project, which ends on 7^th May. Data is still being collated but the project is nearly finished.

• Action 9a: Nigel Engert to follow up with Tourism Forum to see if we can have a similar project in Sherborne

1. The Volunteer Centre is producing a film highlighting the enthusiasm for volunteering across Dorset. Filming is ASAP and we are looking for groups that would like to feature in it. The short film will include small shots form a small variety of groups in art, culture, sport, environment and care and will also include interviews from volunteers. We hope it will be shown on social networking sites and community channels.

• Action 10a: All to add your name to the list of prospective groups please contact ether Craig or Shaun at the head office on 01305 269214. If your group is interested

Date of next meeting – 2.30pm on Thursday 22^nd July in the Council Chamber.

Action Items summary listing is on the next page.

Action Items summary listing.