Greenprint Forum constitution summary

The East Suffolk Greenprint Forum: Who we are and what we do

Our purpose is to connect and support community, organisational and youth champions and elected representatives to enable them to help the people of east Suffolk work together to improve our quality of life and living standards, whilst reducing our environmental impact.

We will do this by facilitating discussions, providing training, organising events and linking research to need and where need is identified helping to draw in resources to enable action. These will be specifically related to taking forward our nine goals.

  • Active travel - Walking and cycling are improving our physical and mental health and enhancing quality of life and the environment. Low emissions travel dominates.
  • Eco-friendly development - Designed to limit environmental harm, meet changing needs of occupants, cope with changes to the climate and feel part of the wider natural environment.
  • Energy generating homes - Existing buildings are retrofitted to be part of a smart energy system, they are net generators with very little under occupancy.
  • Environmentally beneficial employment - Decent work and an economy that works for all. Organisations recognise local sense of place and how a healthy environment benefits employers and employees.
  • Healthy humanity - People are connected with their community and supported by functioning education and care systems which are free at point of use.
  • Nature first - Nature’s value is recognised by the majority, visitors are attracted because of it and everyone actively cares for it.
  • Pollution free environment - Use of plastics is tightly controlled and everyone takes responsibility to reduce the impact of their activities on the environment.
  • Quality food - People can access good quality, healthy, tasty food. Food that is grown and farmed in ways that minimise negative impacts and maximise positive impacts on natural resources.
  • Upcycling culture - People are borrowing, repairing, reusing and buying wisely to limit environmental harm. Products are designed to circular economy principles.

We are facilitated by East Suffolk Council as part of their enabling community and environmental action agendas. We are a non-statutory network. Our overall focus and activities are steered by our Steering Group.

Our People

The Chair: A person from the community or business sector with an established past and passion for environmental action. A person who can see the big picture and unites others to take forward discussions and actions that will lead to positive change towards our goals. A person who keeps meetings to time and achieving their purpose, represents us at key events and keeps us connected to those who can help us take our goals forward. A person who reviews funding bids put forward on our behalf and signs them off once agreed.

The Vice Chair: Chair in training. A person with the same qualities as the Chair who shadows and supports the Chair in their activities with the view of one day becoming the Chair.

The Secretary: provided by the key funding body is the person who, with the steer and support of the Steering Group, attempts to turn ideas of members that will take us towards our goals into events and action. A person who is passionate about each goal and willing to put hard work into developing understanding, making the right connections and initiating, supporting or in some cases delivering action towards each one.

The budget holders: the elected member(s) with responsibility for the Green Environment and the senior officer who hold the budget and make strategic decisions on behalf of the key funding body.

Steering Group Members: people who listen to and feed back to their community groups or organisations and who also see the needs and opportunities across the whole of East Suffolk and are willing to shape the work of the Forum and work with anyone to move us towards our goals. They are invited to join the group by the main funding body with the agreement of Steering Group members. Decisions on admitting new members to or on members leaving the Board will take account of the value they bring, their influence, resources, expertise and knowledge.

Full Forum Members: anyone 16 years or older who lives, trades or works in or for the benefit of East Suffolk and supports the goals of the Greenprint Forum can become a full voting member. This enables you to receive monthly e-newsletters and have access to forums and events. In addition you will have the opportunity to put forward ideas to take forward goals and to input into policy and vote when required.

Associate Forum Members: anyone can become an associate. This enables you to receive the monthly e-newsletter and gain access to all Forums and events. Greenprint Forum members are expected to actively pursue and promote action towards the goals of the forum in their personal lives and where possible within their community and organisation. All members are to be selfless, open, honest and have integrity and objectivity. We are to be transparent and fair in our dealings with others whilst able to keep confidential those things that are of a personal or commercially sensitive nature. If we have criticisms with the way things are or seem not to be working we contact the secretary or the Chair first to try to get them resolved.

Date Agreed: 19 September 2018