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Minutes of the 2nd Green Supper held Thursday 20th March 2008 at Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall Members of the Golden Valley Environment Group (GVEG) were pleased to invite Councillors from the Parish Groups within the Golden Valley to their 2nd Green Supper. We were very encouraged by the response, and the exchange of ideas on the preparation of Parish Plans was very useful in making everyone aware of the processes of plan - making. The emphasis on their potential for funding projects and the links between areas that may benefit from a more collaborative approach provided common ground. We look forward to supporting councils on projects that promote sustainable communities. Everyone was interested to learn how different parish groups had prepared its plans. Councillor Diana Palme’s comments on the approach adopted in the Longtown plan, which was developed with the aid of parish based questionnaires tried to reflect the diversity of interests amongst the different Parish Councils in the Group. However, it was acknowledged that in some circumstances, it was not always possible to take account of the different priorities in other parishes. Councillor John Theaker presented the Cusop Parish Plan, produced in 2006, which had a short policy document substantiated by separate analyses held in appendices. The councillor emphasised the need to take account of a range of needs and the plan included policies based on a separate youth survey, which had been particularly productive and interesting. It was produced by way of a specific sub-committee, which incorporated interested members of the public. The document was drafted professionally to allow the reader to reference the document easily, and the loose-leaf format also encouraged continuous updating. It was used to set the agenda at Council meetings and focussed discussion. Many of the guests were impressed by Cusop’s innovative approach to the process of plan - making and the emphasis on the need to continually update the plan. This allows for new policy priorities to be brought on board, including the recent emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainable development objectives. We understand that the plan is being used in negotiations with the County and is an effective tool for obtaining grants and funding from agencies such as the Lottery. This aspect will be increasingly relevant as the Government’s new commitment to increase grant funding directly to local parish level comes on stream. There was a general concern that the various parish plans were not sufficiently coordinated, although the County has responsibility for ensuring the plans conform to county level policies. The county only gets involved after they have been produced. As a consequence, there doesn’t seem to be any guidance from county level on proposals involving more than one parish such as long distance footpaths or cycle tracks or any overarching matters in parish plans. The development of this type of project will require the parish councils of the Golden Valley to work together more closely. Freer Spreckley thanked the parish councillors for coming to the Supper and explained the background to the projects and aims of GVEG on display in the hall. He welcomed the support for developing the environmental and sustainability themes in updating plans and indicated that we would be prepared to accept invitations to participate in the plan-making processes and in consultations for their implementation. (See contacts below). We all enjoyed the evening’s great spread of locally produced food and ciders, including the generous supply of very good home - made cider provided by Councillor Theaker and Gwatkins. The sausages (Frasers – Turnastone), rabbit and chicken pies, soup, quiches, salads and potato bakes (members of GVEG), and cheeses (Neal’s Yard Dairy – Dorstone) all contributed to a stimulating Green Supper. Contacts: Freer Spreckley email fspreckley@locallivelihoods.com tel: 01497 831770 Vanessa Hembling email vanessahembling@hotmail.com tel: 01981 550377 Peter Gunn-Wilkinson email petergw@btinternet.com tel: 01981 550700 Minutes prepared by Peter Gunn-Wilkinson, 12th March 2008 Click here to return to top of this page.
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