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STRATEGY MEETING was held on Thursday 19th July 2007 in the Golden Valley Community Centre, Peterchurch at 7:30 pm. Present: Maurice Church, Peter Gunn-Wilkinson, Manu Song, Charlie Westhead, Freer Spreckley, Edie Hamilton, Greg Warwick, Alex Thompson, Dan Dixon, Sarah Morgan, Ruth Morgan, Vanessa Hembling, Jane and John Neville The purpose of the meeting was to find ways to move forward with the Environment Group into the next year. Discussion items were as follows: WEBSITE This was being organised by Patrick Dyke, who is now too busy to continue with it. Sarah Morgan has offered to take it on and make some changes. It was decided that we need a Frontpage or Noticeboard that would be easily accessible for current info, actions, meetings, etc. Then links to other stuff, information,shopping etc etc. Sarah will get in touch with Patrick and get feedback from the group for updates. Action: Sarah GREEN ACTION CIC AND GVEG Freer Spreckley explained the relationship between the CIC and GVEG with a handout to detail how it will work. The Community Interest Company (CIC) acts as an umbrella for GVEG (and any other appropriate group that may wish to join). There are very particular rules for CICs requiring accounts and a report of community activities every year. There is hopefully some possibility of grants in the near future if we can put together some proposals for action. Action: Freer to investigate grant opportunities when requested members have sent him brief details on proposals / ideas which follow. POLITICAL LOBBYING After the last meeting with Lawrence Matthews there was a feeling that we ought to be doing more political lobbying of our MPs and local councillors (see next item!) Jane Neville suggested a Green Supper where people would bring along a plate of local food and a friend. Political ideas can be discussed, resulting in a letter or petition be drawn up, signed and submitted to our MPs. Membership can be extended to new members. It would be a social evening with a serious intent. The first Green Supper is scheduled in the Autumn on the Thursday, 20th Sept 2007. If the Green Supper is well received, each of us could then host a similar event in our own homes and invite neighbours and friends, who then in turn would do the same - like a chain letter. The group can then decide if we want to schedule regularly occurring suppers throughout the calendar year or perhaps just once a year, to start the GVEG 'season'. Action: Jane to organise with Vanessa and Edie(?) GVEG meetings will normally be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month. COMPOSTING FACILITIES LOCALLY We discussed the fact that the green bag collection in Peterchurch goes in with the main rubbish and does not get composted. Brief discussion about doing this ourselves but this might be counter productive as it would be more carbon producing in collection. We should lobby the council to do its duty and recycle properly. This could be the first item for the Green Supper group. Action: Maurice Church to coordinate with Jane Neville as he is a parish councillor. COMMUNITY GREEN ENERGY PROJECTS Greg Warwick and Dan Dixon have discussed the possibility of a local hydro electric scheme or a community windmill. Peterchurch Water Company may be interested as there might be a site on Stockley Hill. Action: Dan and Greg to investigate further. CYCLE PATHS Freer Spreckley is interested in engaging SUSTRANS to look at Cycle Paths in Herefordshire. There are very few at present and no long distance at all. Freer thought about raising money for a feasibility study. He thinks that the local council would be supportive. A meeting based on the idea might encourage more interest. There is interest locally in electric bikes which are low energy. Pete Mustill from Broad Sheep magazine is keen to promote them and may bring his bike along to give a demo. Action: Freer to organise a meeting with Charlie Westhead's help. COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE This is a system whereby people work on and engage with food production in return for the goods produced. This is not an allotment system but something more communal and involving. Edie Hamilton and Manu Song have acquired some land with this in mind. It is a system that has worked elsewhere (Earthshare in Findhorn Scotland) and is backed by the Soil Association.Edie and Manu will have more details by November and may give a talk or schedule a meeting to share their ideas. Action: Edie and Manu COMMUNITY WOODLAND AS CARBON OFFSET Vanessa thought this could be a possibility at Snodhill but Edie and Manu have already a possible plan to extend the woodland that is part of their land and make it accessible to the community in some way. It has access from the road so may be ideal. Action: Edie and Manu to take this further. Vanessa offered some walnut trees. Dan may be able to hep with grant advice. ENGAGING SCHOOLS After some discussion it was agreed that local schools are covering Green issues without much input from us, although we did put Michaelchurch Primary in touch with the Energy Saving Trust who did a good school visit. Fairfield has a grant for a windmill and is running a computer on P.V panels. We have no contact with the Peterchurch Primary although their theme for this year is How Green is My Valley. Maybe they would come and tell us what they are doing. Action: Vanessa to contact Catherine Barr member of GVEG and parent at school to see if school would come and talk to us. ALL SUB-GROUPS If all the people involved with these proposals could put a brief paragraph together about their plan and send it to Freer Spreckley by email ( f.spreckley@locallivelihoods.com ). He hopes to use this as a basis for a possible grant application or other funding. Action: All aforementioned "Action" people to get something in writing for Freer, please. OTHER ITEMS DISCUSSED
AGREED: MEETINGS TO BE HELD ON THE 3RD THURSDAY IN MONTH, STARTING AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER. Requested Feedback from Sub-groups for update each meeting. Minutes prepared by: Vanessa Hembling, 3/7/07 Click here to return to top of this page.
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