Working protocol: Liaison with Local Government Group

Return to LLG Home Page

Summary

(a) Knowledge - informing ourselves
(b) Information - relevant to &/or requested by T B&H Groups
(c) Dialogue with the Council on behalf of TB&H Groups
(d) Monitoring the Press and the Media
(e) Reporting and Accountability - good collaborative arrangements with the Hub and all TB&H Groups.

Details

(a) Knowledge – to make ourselves aware of:

· The Sustainable Communities Act and the duties it imposes. See Sustainable Communities Act 2007: A Guide - published February 2008.
· Council Strategies (The progress of the Council’s Sustainability Strategy - soon to be updated. Note the Key areas.
· The work of the Council’s Sustainability Commission.
· The areas of expertise within The Council’s Sustainability Team.
· Initiatives involving both Brighton and Hove City Council and other B & H groups with interests in Sustainability, especially the 2020 Community (Local Strategic) Partnership (its 8 priority areas), the One Brighton Partnership at New England Quarter, and Brighton & Hove Food Partnership.
· Council Planning Policies relevant to Climate Change and Peak Oil: Sustainability Appraisals - These documents (some will be up for public consultation) will form an important part in the Council's Local Development Framework, which is being phased in to replace The Brighton and Hove Local Plan. Certain adopted and emerging Supplementary Planning Documents are also relevant to TB&H e.g. the proposed SPD on Sustainable Building Design on which Transition Brighton & Hove commented.

(b) Information on the above to assist TB&H in maximizing its impact through involvement with Local Government and Council-supported initiatives where the activities, strategies and policies are relevant to TB&H’s aims RE Climate Change, oil dependency, local resilience etc. We will provide this through websites or briefings when we are requested to do so by Interest or Neighbourhood Groups.

(c) Dialogue with the Council on behalf of Transition B&H to influence and progress policies and moves towards a low energy sustainable future, and to work with the Council where appropriate to further this aim. To assist and encourage TB&H Groups to do the same through suggested initiatives; encouraging involvement in policy consultations & monitoring development proposals in Brighton and Hove.

(d) Monitoring the Press and Media – note: Sarah Lewis, Editor of Rocks Magazine has offered a workshop & access to the Rocks Magazine Blog.

(e) Reporting and Accountability – we will seek good collaborative arrangements with the Hub, Interest, Neighbourhood and other Liaison Groups to ensure that all we do is relevant to and compatible with Transition Brighton & Hove’s core purpose. We would welcome feedback on the usefulness of any briefings or other type of information offered by members of our Group to other TB&H Groups. We can also give updates on relevant events and initiatives within The Council to general Transition meetings.