Greenprint Steering Group Meeting Minutes Greenprint Steering Group Meeting Q1

Location: Blyth Room, East Suffolk House

Date: Tuesday 23 January 2023

Time: 10:00-12:00

Invited: Betsy Reid, Chris Ryde, Daniel Wareing, Emily Knock, Jamie Bretton, Jane Healey, Laurence Moss, Luke Bennett, Paul Mackie, Rachel Smith Lyte, Susan Harvey

In attendance in person: Betsy Reid, Daniel Wareing, Emily Knock, Jane Healey, Laurence Moss, Luke Bennett, Rachel Smith Lyte, Paul Mackie (from 10:35), Amy Duran (from 10:35)

Apologies: Susan Harvey

Agenda

  1. Welcome
  2. Update on next evening Forum Farming best practice to be held February 2024 – DW
  3. Position of Vice Chair (vacant)
  4. Update on Communities Partnerships and Board – LB
  5. Proposed guided tour for membership to SWT reserve in north of district – DW
  6. Presence at key events spring and summer 2024 e.g:
    • Transition Woodbridge rewilding stall, Community Partnership 3 February
    • Food and Farming Forum 28 February
    • Community Partnerships Annual Forum 22 March
    • Suffolk Show 29 and 30 May
    • Lowestoft Environmental Fair 15 June
    • First Light Festival 22 and 23 June
  7. Updates from Steerers – all
  8. Updates on ESC Green Agenda – PM
  9. Any other business
  10. Dates of next meetings, then 23 April. 30 July 2024; 5 November 2024; 18 February 2025

1. Welcome

2. Update on next evening Forum Farming best practice to be held February 2024 – DW.

Topics of subsequent Forums were agreed at last meeting to be Climate Anxiety, then Planning, in that order.

Add Otley college to the list – suggestion from LB. ACTION: DW to approach Otley College and follow up with LB.

Additional stakeholders were suggested; ACTION: DW to follow up:

  • Julian Cusack, Nonsuch Farm Kelsale, agroforestry with redpoll cattle
  • Geoff Mayhew, local farmer who is speaking at an event in Waldringfield on 2 December
  • Mariah Ballam connecting Suffolk WT as a farming advisor

Subsequent topics of Climate Anxiety, and Planning, reaffirmed for subsequent Forum events.

ACTION: All members of Steering Group planning to attend to assist with running of the event.

3. Position of Vice Chair (vacant)

JH anticipates an absence of unknown timing which could coincide with the event. Laurence Moss nominated as Vice Chair by LB.

ACTION: DW to invite LB to the discussion with JH, AD, Anna Beames, and John Pawsey to plan event.

4. Update on Community Partnerships and Board

Fram & Wickham Market CP now has environment as a priority under leadership of Sally Noble; event on 2 February.

Woodbridge CP are also interested in Environmental Care as a priority.

All CPs will review their priorities annually, basing decisions on published data. However meaningful data at communities level on green agenda that would be useful is hard to obtain; LB and PM working on this. BR pointed out that the Waldringfield workshop on nature recovery last October identified the need for good surveys. SWT, SCC etc may have bio survey data for their reserves. SBIS have the updated data on hedgerows available at parish level on request.

Going forward, there remains a place for Greenprint on the Board should the Steering Group wish to nominate a representative.

CP Annual Forum will include workshops on

  • Active Travel
  • Demand Responsive Transport
  • Rewilding the Public Realm

All connecting with the health and wellbeing.

5. Proposed guided tour for membership to SWT reserve in north of district – DW

Proposal to accept invitation from SWT to organise a tour supported unanimously.

6. Presence at key events spring and summer 2024 e.g:

  • Wild About Wickham 3 February
  • Community Partnerships Annual Forum 22 March
  • Suffolk Show 29 and 30 May
  • Lowestoft Environmental Fair 15 June
  • First Light Festival 22 and 23 June

ACTION: JH to represent Greenprint at event in Wickham Market on Saturday 3 February.

ACTION: ALL to advise DW if available and willing to represent Greenprint at the other events listed above.

7. Updates from Steerers

BR follow up to workshop to take place and would like to involve the statutory bodies.

LM is hub for thermal camera project for Greener Peasenhall, but less engagement than previous year.

JH – TW on 28 March debrief on bat survey of summer 2023. Number of posts increased from 80 to 200 the year before with expanded geographical presence including other side of river in Sutton and Nethersgate, also Hasketon. Data has been going to the BCO. Project has received national coverage. Open wild gardens session following on 18 May. Food project leaflet compiled and published listing local food and drinks producers within 21 mile radius and also local eateries that make use of the local project. 20 April Earth Day event at Whisstocks inviting project. TW had thermal imaging camera over the Christmas, targeted a particular roads in Melton and Woodbridge, selected according to perceived eligibility for support from WHS.

ACTION: DW to enquire with Claire Ling whether reduced engagement with Thermal Cameras was across the board. Concerns raised by RSL that lack of engagement may reflect insecurity of tenure that many tenants in the public sector feel.

RSL suggests thermal camera project make contact with Dora Brown (dorabrown.com) who provides furniture to families in need. Organisation could serve as a connection to families who could benefit from reduced energy prices.

8. Updates on ESC Green Agenda

Planning for domestic food waste collection pegged for 2026.

ACTION: DW to enquire about a visit for Greenprint Members to Biogen at Lackford to see the processing of green waste from East Suffolk (suggested by LM).

ESC corporate AGHG report for 2022/23 published.

RSL suggested community composting; BR advised this has been attempted in Waldringfield and proved too volunteer intensive and insufficient buy in to be viable, and felt best approach to promote home composting and letting gardens be untidy during the autumn and winter.

BNG commences this month with 10% net gain required for relevant developments. Connects with SCC Local Nature Recovery Strategy including habitat opportunities map to help target attention and investment.

SCCP

  • New comms officer and district heating officer being recruited.
  • Matchfunder has been relaunched - £400,000 over 2 years.
  • Continuation of the thermal imaging camera project.
  • 1000 discounted home energy retrofit assessments carried out.
  • E bike trials.
  • Extending net zero advice hub.

Plug in Suffolk seeking more community interest in EV charging points due to scheme under subscribed. ACTION: PM to enquire to confirm deadline for expressions of interest.

ESC Walking & Cycling working group set up to develop the strategy.

ACTION: DW to contact Sizewell C to confirm availability of funding from EdF for community projects for circulation.

9. Any other business

RSL advised that ESC recently awarded funding to Green Light Trust to enable completion of build of learning centre at Castan Wood in Martlesham. Potential for Steering Group to use venue for a future meeting.

BR mentioned the programme of events from Deben Climate Action Centre; suggestion that if members of group are available and wish to attend there may be opportunities to inform and complement the subsequent Greenprint Forum event on 28 Feb.

10. Dates of next meetings

  • 23 April 2024, 30 July 2024; 5 November 2024; 18 February 2025

Future meetings to be held in hybrid form (in person with facility for others to tune in via Zoom if needed) if held at ESC offices, unless held at a community venue with or without a site visit combined in which case it would be in person only.