Notes taken by John Bristow
Where we'd like TBH to be at end of 08: Organised under 12 Steps Framework
These ideas come from post-its (24, some with more than one idea on them) from 30 Jan workshop and ideas from 3 Jan Hub meeting.
This is a collection of ideas which hopefully will inspire us – not a “ to do” list! We can review this at subsequent General Meetings, in Transition Interest Groups (TIGs) and in the Hub and select our priorities and how we want to use our time and energy, given the number of us who can and want to be actively involved. As we attract others who want to be active participants we can do more.
The key aspirations we are acting on:
1. Training workshops on Transition: shared understanding of aims and process amongst ourselves and others
2. Awareness Raising: Talks, DVD showings, Speaker Programme, Events: Wider awareness of the issues and Transition Towns
3. Known by and Collaborating with Other Parts of the Community: Community groups, Business, Universities and Council. Consulted, respected, asked to speak.
4. Visible Signs and Projects: clear answer to question - what are you doing? Small scale projects that involve others, and demonstrate what we are about
5. Unleashing Event: attracting a wide and diverse range of people
6. Transition Interest Groups: clear purpose and goals, projects, contribution to our energy descent and action plans
7. Neighbourhood groups under way: talks, awareness raising and workshops at street and neighbourhood level.
8. Vision and Energy Descent Plan: Project team working with other groups – current state, aims, vision, indicators and measures drafted. Open Space event.
1. Training Workshops for us and others in the City: Greater Shared Understanding of our Aims and Method
Transition Training: Heart and Soul of change, and then EDAP process for all in the network and public workshops in the City
Anyone engaged has gone through personal reflection and visioning and comparing this with how and where contemporary society is taking them.
Develop, pilot and deliver workshop on energy and resource use, ideally within neighbourhoods to develop local, street solutions. Use and adapt existing tools from NEF, Green Streets etc. Partner with other community/environment groups.
Use of Open Space, and learning how to run it.
Skills/Kn sharing amongst ourselves e.g. Gaian Democracy – offers so far: Lo Gov, Publicity, Public Speaking
Also Facilitation short input sessions very useful (e.g. for TIGs)
2. Awareness Raising
Big, successful, wide-reaching and vibrant education and awareness programme for an awakened and empowered city
People to have heard of TT and TBH outside our existing network
Everybody will understand what Transition Towns are.
Simple language – less jargon
Successful Speaker Programme – good reputation from it, and ideas for our vision and plan, support from Council and Lo Gov, and co-operation with other envt and community groups (BPEC, BHFP, Friends of Earth etc). Being set up.
DVD showings and discussion – both city-wide and home groups (underway)
Attracting more people – awareness raising and fun
Events and stalls that target a wide demographic
Well known around and about Brighton. Awareness raising puts us on the map.
Participation activity in public events
Guardian article on TBH - Bebe Banderzee (Chris)
Media profile: constant reference in Argus and free papers/magazines (Rocks etc)
TBH embedded in the curriculum in schools; teacher and pupil networks. Fitting in a moral perspective to subjects (geography, science). PSHE activities (clothing).
Awareness stands in chill-out rooms in clubs.
3. Connection and Relationships with Key parts of Community
Joint event and festivals with other community and environment groups (already 8 June proposed)
Connected to and working with other groups: BHFP, BPEC , FoE, Brighton Climate Change, CRAG, Green Women, BH CVSF, Neighbourhood Action Groups, Residents Associations, Cycling groups, Buddhists/Churches/Mosques, Allotment groups, Oxfam, WDM, Peace groups, Trade Unions, Youth groups, Mum and Toddler groups.
Recognised by majority of public and groups.
Brighton businesses linked to us – sticker supporting us and us supporting them. Relationship with Economic Partnership and Business Forum more developed.
Council engagement – Effective stakeholders for Sustainable Community Plan and strategy, as well as consulted for LSP and Climate Change strategy, and by Sustainability Commission. Represented in all SD committees and well respected
More inter-connected: throughout Brighton and the country as a whole
(Don’t forget to look at transition network website to see the Newsletter. It is a fast growing organisation and we are challenged in getting the funds, resources and organisation structures to avoid burn out or a national office bottleneck.
20 to 35 official transition towns in 4 months since August 07. and 400 others interested and mulling it over.
Internationally – interest in setting up a transition network in Australia, New Zealand, US as well as Scotland and Ireland.
Rob Hopkins Book launch (“Small is inervitable”?)
4. Visible Signs
Clear projects – in answer to question “What are you doing?”
Publicise success – keep a log of what concrete tangible things have been achieved and use this to gain publicity and promote awareness.
Aim for a small number of concrete tangible achievements rather than a large number of overly ambitious unrealistic goals.
Some physical manifestations of change
Demonstration projects (e.g. house and flat refurbishment, local food growing, etc) or stories of transition (published) from different perspectives (kaleidoscope of views and popsitions). Some being planned already.
Transition allotment project
Something very visible in Brighton that would show everybody that Brighton is now a Transition City, e.g.. "Thank you for using the train instead of a car. Signed: The Earth."
Undertaking some project specifically to increase the resilience of Brighton people in the face of an energy crisis – including vulnerability studies and/or recommendations for specific organizations, like Totnes has done.
Incinerator not going ahead
Brighton and Lewes marketed as a place for renewables sector.
5. Unleashing
Unleashing event during the year – such that whole city knows
A great unleashing, birthing event – huge, wide-reaching and fun. Attracting a diverse crowd to energise the wider community around the idea of collectively designing our future.
6. Transition Interest Groups
TIGs have vision and clear purpose and goals, and “design criteria” for solutions.
TIGs done a first picture of Brighton and contributed to our EDRAP, and each got a project
Heart and Soul of Change/Personal Life Style workshops run
“Action Experiments” with local residents, businesses, etc to explore ways of addressing Climate Change and Peak Oil. An informed action-orientation combined with learning before, during and after action.
MSc projects in summer term in co-operation with Sussex and Brighton Universities that help us understand the current state in the City, others’ aims and aspirations, and what blocks and enable transition. (Transport and Energy projects currently being discussed)
7. Neighbourhood groups under way
Follow up to invitations to talk to residential/community associations – DVD showings, Transition Workshop, Resource/Energy/Waste workshop
Transition Training workshops encouraging people to form “home groups” to support each other in carrying on the learning and change in everyday life.
8. Reskilling
Start this with various skill sets (e.g. textiles, food growing etc)
People learning new skills
Anyone engaged in TBH has gained a new skill.
9. Respect the Elders
Bringing people together from different age or income groups, backgrounds etc. e.g food growing and cooking – young people in schools brought together with “elders” and learning from and with each other.
10. Letting go and Keeping Focus
People able to move in and out of Hub as required
Many people and groups exercise leadership.
Getting balance right between initiative and self-organising on the one hand and alignment and co-ordination on the other. Keeping an eye on how our ways of organising work or don’t work and getting feedback from network to hub and back.
11. Vision and Energy Descent Action Plan
Beginnings of a shared vision in our network.
Paper version of EDAP together with an annual review process.
Involve art and education groups in a vision exercise with a visual result.
Have some idea of how we would measure change
Ensure that TBH has SMART goals and objectives so that they are clear, workable and more likely to be met rather than causing frustration and disillusionment: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time bound
Other Areas
Website
Continue making it more user friendly
Notes from TBH general meeting – Wed 30 January
Brighton Climate Change Meeting – Tue 29 Jan
This month's Brighton Climate Change meeting will be held on Tuesday 29th January from 7-9pm at the Brighton Peace and Environment Centre (BPEC), 39-41 Surrey Street - opposite Brighton Station. Come and get involved!
Agenda Items Include:
National dates for diary
Membership details (from Ben)
Heathrow expansion (what can we do!)
Treasurer (we need one!!)
City Climate Change Coalition
Website (issues with updating it and making it more useful and hence used!)
Relgular street presense
Film showing events
Followed by our traditional quick tipple at the nearby Evening Star pub.
http://www.brightonclimatechange.org
Draft working protocol: Liaison with Local Government Group
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.
TBH monthly newsletter
Transition Brighton and Hove monthly newsletter • 25 January 2008
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Welcome to the first Transition Brighton and Hove newsletter – this is going to be a monthly affair, to let you know what's been happening over the preceding weeks, and what events are coming up in the future. Please feel free to forward to anyone who may be interested...
Transition Brighton & Hove news
• Jo and Charley from the TBH hub have attended a weekend-long training session by Transition Network trainers from Totnes, the first Transition Town. They will be presenting what they have learned to everyone sometime soon.
• Last week 30 members of TBH attended a free workshop on Sustainable Neighbourhoods run for us by the New Economics Foundation, which produced a number of ideas for energy-reducing projects. Details will be available on the website soon.
• A programme of transition-related film screenings and talks is being put together to raise public awareness of peak oil and climate change – keep coming back to the website (www.transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk) to see when these are, and encourage your friends and families to go see them (some films are already organised, see upcoming events below).
• Following the council's decision to ban plastic bags at the end of last year, TBH member Chloe Hanks (who runs the website www.plasticbagfreebrighton.co.uk) is raising public awareness by screening the film that kicked off the banning of plastic bags in Modbury, Devon (see upcoming events below).
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Transition Interest Groups news and requests for help
The Food, Waste & Recycling, Transport, Buildings & Construction, Business & Economics, Transport and Textiles & Clothing groups have all now held their first meetings – you can read the notes from these from the main page of the website – click on the labels in the right hand column to find the group you want.
• Food group: the Food group aims to increase the amount of food grown and consumed locally, and to raise awareness of the impacts the food system has on the environment. The group, which has met twice so far, is already planning some exciting and informative events for city residents. Our first event will be a whole day, Saturday 12 April 2008, dedicated to sharing our knowledge and learning more about food issues. The day will include a film screening, talks, seed planting demonstrations, and more. Please check the TBH website for more details as our plans develop!
Anyone is welcome to join the Food group, so please do come along if you're interested. Our next meetings are Tuesday 12 February and Tuesday 11 March, both 7:30-9:30pm. Venue to be confirmed soon, so please keep an eye on the website. There will also be an adult day-school around food-related issues on 12th April, venue tba. Agendas and notes from previous meetings will also be available on the website (click on the 'food' label in the right hand column to see our postings). For more info on the Food group, contact Ann at ann*at*bhfood.org.uk or on 01273 431700
• Energy group: the Energy group has its first meeting planned for 8pm on Sun 10 Feb at the Sanctuary cafe. Please keep an eye on the website for confirmation.
• Transport group: Call for guinea pigs for the Car-Free Week Experiment. The Transport group is looking for homes that use a car regularly for a radical experiment: life without a car. This is your chance to find out if it is possible or not. If you commit to try to abandon the car for a week, you will get all our support, and a perfect opportunity to make your voice heard about the issues that stop you from making that huge lifestyle change. If you are interested, please get in touch with webmaster*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk.
• Business & Economics Group: we are acutely aware that not all of us can come to meetings all the time; we have now met twice but everyone (including non-members) is very welcome to feed thoughts into the discussion on the forum (see link at bottom) or email Martin at martin*at*greenspeak-brighton.org.uk (07891 571739). It has been enjoyable and inspiring so far, with a great bunch of people. We've spent some time getting to know each other, our skills and dreams and working out what the purpose of the group will be and how we will go about working together. Our meetings have been balanced with a film and talks. We want to ensure that we are effective and imaginative, aiming high yet with achievable goals, that the process should be fun and even playful. The next stage is to start thinking about our objectives for the next 6, 12, 60 months. It's all very fluid, but now is a great time to share your ideas. Next meeting - all very welcome: Wed 13 Feb at 7.15pm . Brighton Media Centre, Suite 4, 68 Middle St, Brighton (opp Hop Poles pub)
• Waste & Recycling group: the group is to be involved in a public meeting on the subject of waste and recycling, to be arranged probably in early summer – details to be honed at next meeting; and also involved in a Buy Nothing Day/Reskilling Day, booked in as part of the Cowley Club's Brighton Festival activities on Saturday May 10th 2008. The next group meeting will be at the Cowley Club on Monday 11 February at 6pm. Contact Jessica at waste*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk for more details.
• Textiles and Clothing group: we have had a number of meetings. One of the projects in the pipeline: Swaparamarama, an event on Saturday, April 26. It will be a big clothing swap shop with workshops for revamping, customising, mending etc, and some awareness raising, probably a film related to the clothing industry. We'll be holding a planning meeting at the end of January/beginning of February. Anyone interested in helping run the event or contributing ideas please contact katneeser*at*hotmail.com or telephone Kat 07958 964810. Keep an eye on the forum for more information on this group's activities.
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other general requests for help
• Film screenings: a group has been set up to arrange a programme of film screenings of transition-related films (such as The End of Suburbia, Power of Community, What a Way to Go, etc). The group would like to hear from anyone who can help with venues, projectors, publicity, etc. Also planned for the future is screening films to existing community groups as a prompt for starting Neighbourhood groups around the city. If you are part of a community group and would like to host a screening, please let the group know. Contact Chris at webmaster*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk or on 01273 746797. Also if you can help with the Permaculture Film Showings in the studio at Ralli Hall Farmers Market (see Upcoming events) please contact Kat at katneeser*at*hotmail.com or on 07958 964810.
• Blog writers: Sarah Lewis, the editor of Rocks magazine (www.rocksmagazine.co.uk) has offered up to four of us the opportunity to make our voices heard on the 'Rocks' blogsite. If you reckon your typing fingers are mightier than a sword, send us your stories to webmaster@transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk and we'll publish them on the Transition B&H site, with a good chance they will be accepted by Sarah. For tips on how to write a blog, see here:
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Upcoming events
Sun 3 February – Films + speakers: Hawai'i – Message in the Waves at Duke of Yorks
Plastic Bag Free Brighton are screening Hawai'i – Message in the Waves at 1.30pm on Sun 3 February at the Duke of York cinema, Preston Circus, the film made by Rebecca Hosking that kick started the successful Modbury plastic bag-free campaign. Free entry/donations.
More details
watch trailer
Sun 3 Feb – Seedy Sunday
Community seed swap at 3pm in Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove. Plus talk about Seedy Sunday by Alice from Trapese.
More details
Thu 14 Feb – TBH interviewed on Radio Reverb 97.2 FM
Interview at 12 noon with Chris and Stephen from the TBH hub
Sun 2 Mar – Permaculture Film Showings in the studio at Ralli Hall Farmers Market (by Hove Station)
From 10.30am till 3pm. Grab your shopping and a cup of tea and watch some inspiring Transition-related short documentaries. For more information and if you can help contact Kat at katneeser*at*hotmail.com or on 07958 964810
Thu 6 March – Film + discussion: What a Way to Go at Duke of Yorks
What a Way to Go: A middle class white guy comes to grips with Peak Oil, Climate Change, Mass Extinction, Population Overshoot and the demise of the American Lifestyle. At 6.30pm on Thu 6 March at the Duke of York cinema, Preston Circus, followed by a discussion in Circus Circus.
watch trailer
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General information
Meetings: the next general meeting is on Wed 30 January at The Werks, 45 Church Street, Hove (map)
Dates of TBH general meetings can always be found on the main page of the website
Joining Transition Interest Groups (Food, Transport, Energy, etc): either sign up in the Usergroups on the forum – how to do this here – your email address will be passed on to the group coordinator who will let you know about future meetings. You can also contact the group coordinators directly, see here.
Forum: please remember to add your news, opinions and suggestions to the discussions on the forum – this is the place where ideas for projects and collaborations can begin:
Contact details: contact emails for all hub members and group coordinators are available here.
Notes from 'Making it happen' workshop – Thu 24 January
A FREE, one-day session to learn about developing community-based energy initiatives will be taking place in the Hove Town Hall, Hove on 24th of January 2008. Notes by Moyra Martin
I attended this free one-day training course at Hove Town hall and can thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in energy issues.
The course was provided by Community Action for Energy (CAfE) which “promotes and facilitates local community–based sustainable energy projects through advice, support and training”.
At first I was rather daunted to discover that I had the least energy know-how in the group which included energy professionals and experienced volunteers but I was reassured by the facilitator, Anne that many participants on their courses start from scratch. It was helpful to meet people like Philip Wingfield who is Home Energy efficiency officer at B&H council and Chris Rowland who is heading up the TTLewes energy group.
The day was divided into 5 sections:
1) Intro to CAfE.
CAfE is a network of like-minded people with an interest in community-based energy projects.
Membership of the network is free and offers:
Community helpline 08701 261 444 for free support and advice
A website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
The community support network for one to one advice and consultancy.
Travel bursaries
Training courses
A guide to energy efficiency projects
Case studies
Newsletter
E-news update
Annual conference
2) Getting your project started.
Researching: community statistics, needs, interest groups, voluntary organisations, vulnerable members of community etc.
Developing aims and objectives
3) Making your project work.
Team building, organisation, tips for good management, project partners, communication and publicity methods
4) Funding your project.
Funding sources and grants (extensive list)
How and where to apply
5) Additional information.
Useful telephone numbers, further reading, training websites etc
To conclude, I think they are an amazing group and can be a great help to us.
Meeting: Waste & Recycling group – Thu 24 January
The next meeting of the Waste & Recycling group will be at 6pm on Thu 24 January at the Cowley Club – please use the entrance at 52 Providence Place (map). All welcome.
For more information email jessica*at*jessican.co.uk
Next Business & Economics Meeting Wed 23 Jan
7.15pm, @ Brighton Media Centre, 68 Middle St
Suite 4 (opp Hop Poles Pub). All welcome. Continuing towards objective of deciding the purpose of the group and its scope, focus and method. Followed by a talk & discussion by group member, Charles Davies - 'Small Change'
"There's a trick you can do to create money from nothing. Anyone can do it. At the moment, central banks and high street banks seem to do it more than anyone. But, if you learn how to do it, you can make money do what you want, work with your values and serve you better. Whether that's in changing society, managing your personal economy or saving the planet...based on his book, he's hoping it will change how environmentalists build their campaigns. And help us develop ways of using money that suit us better."
STOP PRESS: Plus group member Nathaniel White will lead a short introduction to Consensus Decision Making (see the links on our group pages)
Notes on last meeting and related discussion topics here
See you then 
Book launch: Do It Yourself, A Handbook for Changing Our World – Wed 23 January
Do it Yourself, A Handbook for changing our world. (Pluto Press, 2007) – a discussion with Alice and Kim, the book's editors, from the Trapese Collective. In the Conference Room, Community Base, Queens Road (map), Wed 23 January 2008, 8pm (PLEASE NOTE – THIS IS A CHANGE OF VENUE DUE TO A BROKEN LIFT AT WATERSTONES)
The Do It Yourself, handbook's approach is that there are many practical ways to tackle the big issues of our time, such as climate change, through grassroots, community projects which we can all get involved with. Come along to find out more about Trapese's popular education work and ask any questions you have.
Drinks and Nibbles available, (£3 includes £2 off book on the night.)
Further details: 01273 206017, www.trapese.org / www.handbookforchange.org
Meeting: Promoting Sustainable Transport – Wed 23 January
Meeting 'Promoting Sustainable Transport' from 6–8pm on Wed 23 Jan at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, Brighton. Facilitated by Adam Pride, Bricycles Secretary.
[read full text]
Liaison with Local Government Meeting 7th January 2008 at Eco Centre
Contextual links/materials and notes on the meeting of the
LIAISON WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT GROUP held at Brighton Eco Centre on Monday, 7th January 2008 (attended by Jacqui, John, Maureen, Rachel, Ted and Vicky).
These notes include reference to discussion of some of the same items at the meeting of The Council's Sustainability Commission (attended by Vicky, Ted & Joyce) on Wednesday, 9th January 2008, which provided further updates.
Date of next meeting: 7 pm Tuesday 22nd January 2008 at The George, Trafalgar Street
(1) Introductions
(2) Report on Brighton & Hove Climate Change Strategy Stakeholder Day
background to the above event, attended by John, Maureen and Vicky
Having looked at the City Council's Climate Change Action Plan during a themed discussion on Climate Change held on 31st May 2007, a sub-group of The 2020 Community Partnership (also known as The LSP Local Strategic Partnership) decided that it would be good to develop a Climate Change Strategy which would be 'owned' by the 2020 Community Partnership - and therefore the wider community. The group decided that for the strategy to be truly owned by the 2020 CP its development would have to involve a high level of consultation with local experts and interest groups from the outset. Hence the decision to hold Brighton & Hove Climate Change Strategy Stakeholder Day on 19th November 2007.
Note that The Environment Council has produced a 13-page PDF report on the day.
Brighton and Hove City Council, acting behalf of the LSP, contacted The Environment Council (a registered charity of 40 years standing, with considerable experience of training, facilitation and providing a forum for dialogue) to help in the design and facilitation of the meeting in an attempt to get the best outputs from the day and to shape a way forward for the LSP’s Climate Change work. A cross section of stakeholders met at the University of Sussex on 19th November 2007 to consider and comment on the Council’s Climate Change Strategy.
Three members of TB&H’s “Liaison with Local Gov’t Group” (John, Maureen & Vic) were present at the Stakeholder Day. The first talk by John Chesshire, focused on the necessity for a statutory duty on LAs to address climate change, in the light of the IPCC Report findings. The second talk, by Heather Buttivant, addressed the expected effects of climate change impacts on the South East area of the UK in coming years. The third talk, by Thurstan Crockett was an honest assessment of current work going on in Brighton & Hove i.e. the current Climate Change Strategy.
Our comments on the Report
Maureen thought that the three talks were excellent. She felt that the third talk was an acknowledgement by the Council that more needed to be done i.e. The Council’s Sustainability Team should be receptive to requests for efforts to be increased. Ted liked the lists of ‘Visions’ (page 4 of the Report) identified by the participants, gaps which needed to be filled to allow these visions to be fulfilled by 2050, and the League Tables of key strategic areas (that B & H would most benefit from) to maximize carbon reduction before 2050. (1) Housing (2) Resource Efficiency & Reduction, and (3) Integrated Transport, were clearly the top three areas.
3. (a) Council Strategies: The Sustainability Strategy = 12 key areas VERSUS
(b) The Local Strategic or 2020 Partnership = 8 priority areas
3(a) Council Strategies
Ted offered to try to clarify overlapping structures in this write-up of our Minutes.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s Sustainability Strategy provides a framework for improving the environment and the quality of life of the residents of Brighton & Hove. It sets out the council's commitment to take action for a more sustainable future. For the period 2004 to 2006, 12 plans of action were envisaged. 10 of them were written up as PDF documents built around the following 12 key objectives:
1. access to basic elements of life
2. air quality [PDF 187kb]
3. culture, recreation and leisure
4. community safety [PDF 263kb]
5. economy and work [PDF 129kb]
6. education [PDF 168kb]
7. energy use [PDF 143kb]
8. housing [PDF 402kb]
9. land use [PDF 560k]
10. natural environment [PDF 190kb]
11. transport [PDF 119kb]
12. waste [PDF 142kb]
How do the 8 priority areas identified by the 2020 Community (or Local Strategic) Partnership differ from the 12 key areas in the Council’s Sustainability Strategy?
Not all that much, since both sets of areas target sustainability. The important point is that The Local Strategic Partnership contains more bodies than just Brighton and Hove City Council (which is responsible for The Sustainability Strategy). See the list of all the partners in The Local Strategic or 2020 Partnership.
The Council’s Sustainability Strategy (28-page PDF)
The Council intends to update this within the next 18 months, and it is expected (subject to agreement) that this will be done by One Planet Living. The necessary update will involve public consultation.
We dwelt for a little longer on The Council’s Sustainability Strategy under item 3 of our Agenda, since it is due for substantial updating. The current Sustainability Strategy dates from 2002 (i.e the year of the “Rio +10 Earth Summit in Johannesburg”)
Vicky disclosed that there had been a series of 2-year “Action Plans” since 2002, but now in 2008 it is felt that The Council’s Sustainability Strategy should be refreshed.
Developing a One Planet Living Plan for Brighton & Hove
The updating was an item on the Agenda of The Sustainability Commission’s Meeting at 5pm on Wednesday 9th January 2008 at Brighton Town Hall (which Vicky and Ted attended). A representative from One Planet Living was also there and promised that they would involve locally-based consultants if they are given the go-ahead. No agreement will be given until at least 6th March 2008, so the refreshed Sustainability Strategy will not be launched until well into 2009. Vicky asked who would own the new Sustainability Strategy i.e. the Council or the LSP? The representative from One Planet Living implied that it would belong to "the city of Brighton and Hove". It appeared from what was then said that The Council would need to own the Sustainability Strategy, but The Local Strategic Partnership would own the Climate Change Strategy referred to in item (1) of our Liaison Group's AGENDA, which they are clearly interested in doing. The Council is obliged to have a Sustainability Strategy, and Climate Change is one part of this.
During our Liaison Group Meeting, Vicky projected that Pooran Desai, One Planet Living’s Technical Director and Co-Founder of BioRegional, would be responsible for ensuring that the updated Sustainability Strategy (suggested by One Planet Living for the city of Brighton and Hove) is put out for public consultation. The timetable, which we now know cannot begin until 6th March at the earliest, and is subject to One Planet Living being given the go-ahead (a prospect which appeared likely) would probably be spread over one year:
· Collecting planning data (3 months)
· Workshop with local stakeholders (6 months)
· Report (2 months)
· Launch (1 months)
Vicky and John also mentioned that The UK branch of One Planet Living have a second a presence in Brighton and Hove, through a separate wing of the organisation known as BioRegional Quintain , responsible for delivering communities in England. BioRegional’s first project in our city is expected to be a development of flats close to the railway station in Brighton. The development will meet the EcoHomes Excellent standard and a Sustainability Action Plan has been drawn up to demonstrate the project's response to each of the One Planet Living Principles: Zero Carbon, Zero Waste, Sustainable Transport, Local and Sustainable Materials, Local and Sustainable Food, Sustainable Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Culture and Heritage, Equity and Fair Trade and, Health and Happiness.
The same ten principles are likely to be used in updating The Council’s Sustainability Strategy for the city of Brighton and Hove.
3(b). Local Strategic Partnership / 2020 Community strategies
We had on the back of our Agenda a list of the 8 Priority Areas agreed by the partners. Note that the LSP consists of more organisations than just the Council, so although these ‘Priority Areas’ overlap in substance with the 12 key areas which define the Council’s own Action Plans and Sustainability Strategy, they have been agreed by a larger number of interest groups.
John observed that the 8 areas (listed below) are likely to coincide with objectives of some of Transition Interest Groups. We all had a go at guessing shared agendas, but decided that this was an exercise for the Transition Interest Groups themselves.
I re-produce the 2020 Partnership’s 8 Priority Areas (below) since TIGs may find it productive to do the matching exercise. Council funding for TIG initiatives is more likely to be forthcoming, if the Group objectives correspond with the areas of priority agreed by members of the city’s 2020 Partnership.
2020 Community (Local Strategic) Partnership – 8 Priority Areas
1. Promoting enterprise & learning
Employment & economic development, Major projects, Learning & Education, Childrens Services, Arts & Creative Industries, Libraries & Museums, Culture & Tourism, Indicators & targets
2. Reducing crime & improving safety
Crime & fear of crime, Alcohol, Children & Young People, Local Issues, Prolific Offenders, Indicators & targets
3. Improving health & well-being
A Healthy City, Suicide, Lifestyle Factors, Healthy Ageing, Indicators & targets
4. Strengthening communities & involving people
Engaging young people, Tackling discrimination, Building community spirit, good relations & celebrating diversity, Getting people involved, Tackling poverty, How people can control their circumstances, Indicators & targets
5. Improving housing and affordability
Housing, Homelessness, Fuel Poverty, Indicators & targets
6. Promoting resource efficiency & enhancing the environment
Water & Sewage, Climate change, Waste & Recycling, Built Environment, Biodiversity & the natural environment, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Indicators & targets
7. Promoting sustainable transport
Reduced traffic congestion in central Brighton, Reduced traffic fumes & better air quality, More bus priority measures, More real-time bus information, Better transport links, Promoting the health benefits of walking & cycling, Improving the safety, security and attractiveness of streets, Provision of a Rapid Transport System, Indicators & targets
8. Providing quality services
Providing quality services, Indicators & targets
(4). Establish working protocol for our group, mission statement or vision
Our discussion embraced the following areas:
(a) Knowledge – to make ourselves aware of:
· 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 among Council Officers in their Sustainability Team) e.g. Warm Homes (Housing Sustainability Project Manager); Sustainable Transport
· Council-led initiatives involving 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 – to assist TB&H in maximizing its impact through involvement with Local Government and Council-led initiatives where the activities, strategies and policies are relevant to TB&H’s aims RE Climate Change, oil dependency, local resilience etc. Our Liaison Group, which is also represented within TB&H’s hub (of which Maureen and John are members) can impart this information through the main Transition web site and forum. We may also be able to offer briefings (i.e. to Transition Interest &/or Neighbourhood Groups, when this information is required. Face-to-face contact with these Groups can be achieved either via General Transition Meetings or by attending these Groups own meetings. We hope to gather expertise related to TB&H’s objectives on “Who’s Who?” in Local Government, what’s going on, which are the most productive/influential forums, likely areas of funding, and how decisions come to be made.
(c) Planning policies (i.e. related to reduction of energy use) – every resident in Brighton and Hove, both as individuals and as members of Groups, has the right to take part in consultations. We will attempt to make the hub, Interest and Neighbourhood Groups aware of relevant consultation documents.
We could also encourage the Groups to monitor large planning applications (e.g. The Brighton Marina proposal), which impact considerably on energy-use in Brighton and Hove. It is also worthwhile for Neighbourhood Groups to monitor what is happening in their areas. The accumulative effect of smaller planning proposals involving the loss of greenfield sites could strip our city of open spaces on private land, so if we intend in the future to grow more food locally, there will not remain much space for doing so within our urban environment. Developers are permitted to lump entirely separate freeholds together in single planning applications, concealing the involvement of the city's greenbelt in some of the planning proposals. The Council's own planning policies (QD28 of The Local Plan: Planning Obligations RE Greenfield Development) are not being consistently applied. Unless the Council is ready to identify planning proposals (however small) involving greenfield sites, their tighter sustainability requirements for greenfield development are not worth the paper they are written on. Little by little, the city's green spaces will disappear, together with the trees and wildlife habitats which are often destroyed well before any permission for residential development is granted, in bully-boy attempts to portray attractive greenfield sites as potential building-sites: a strategy used to argue that "there is nothing of any conservation interest to local residents".
Our Liaison Group cannot get involved in detailed monitoring, though we can advise on how to use The Council’s online Planning Register to see what is being proposed for the streets in each Neighbourhood (submitting nearby streets in the “Street Name” field in the Planning Register will yield a list of current and past planning applications, allowing individuals or Groups to monitor the proposals for themselves. We could also advise on how to take part in formal consultation periods and how best to use the local planning system to get unsuitable proposals refused. We mentioned how proposals for supermarkets (in areas where they were not needed) could make it more difficult for smaller food co-operatives to set up or survive. This links up with the Transition Business & Economics Group’s support for existing small and green businesses, which they see as playing an important role in community building, offering business with integrity. By influencing the outcome of planning proposals, Neighbourhood Group members can help to nurture an economy in which green business can thrive.
(d) Monitoring the Press and Media – John told us that Sarah Lewis (Editor of Rocks Magazine) was willing to give a workshop on using the Press and Media. She would also give us access to the Rocks Magazine Blog
(e) Reporting and Accountability – without burdening the Hub too much, we seek a good collaborative arrangement to ensure that all we do is relevant to and compatible with Transition Brighton & Hove’s core purpose. Our main purpose is to disseminate information, so good callaborative relations are also needed with Transition Interest and Neighbourhood Groups, which can also give us feedback on the usefulness of what we are offering them. We can also give updates to general Transition meetings.
(5). update - Patcham Farm
Both Vicky and Ted googled this to look for information but not much was there.
This site, consisting of mainly derelict farm buildings and some allotments, had been considered for Park & Ride. Both John and Ted expressed reservations about making it easy to drive (even this far) into Brighton, though the proposal for Park & Ride on this site appears to have been dropped. It appears that the site may have been sold &/or put out to tender. Ted reported that “The Patcham Farm Scheme” was discussed briefly on Monday 17th December 2007 by members of TB&H’s Buildings & Construction Group meeting. No more about the site was recorded in their Group meeting notes, except that Nicola Thomas was to investigate and report back.
(6). update - Eco Show Houses – Maureen
Maureen pointed out the similarity in the objective of having an Eco Show House and the Brighton & Hove Warm-Homes initiative, launched on Tuesday, 8th January 2008 by Graham Osborne, the Council’s Housing Sustainability Project Manager. There may still be added value in having a transportable exhibition house, as well as learning more about The Green Homes free Advice and Internet Service recently set up in London under the auspices of the Energy Saving Trust and Ken Livingstone.
(7). update - Charles Secrett talk - Jacqui
This proposed talk, if Charles Secrett, former head of FOE and adviser to Ken Livingstone, is willing to give it, would be integrated within the Talks Programme which John is co-ordinating in conjunction with The Sussex University-based project.
Charles Secrett is yet to respond.
Date of next meeting: 7 pm Tuesday 22nd January 2008 at The George, Trafalgar Street
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Brighton & Hove Warm-Homes Project
A new Council initiative - The Brighton & Hove Warm-Homes project - has just been launched to tackle challenges of energy efficiency and fuel poverty. Under this initiative, Brighton and Hove residents may be eligible for grants of up to 100% to cover the costs of • Heating • Cavity Wall Insulation and • Loft Insulation.
Many parts of Brighton and Hove are windy and cold at this time of year, especially in Sea Front locations or on hills. The city's housing stock is also fairly old, so there are many homes with poor energy-efficiency, which may lack cavity wall &/or loft insulation.
Residents who could most benefit from this generous scheme may be fairly isolated and without Internet access. If you have friends, relatives or acquaintances in this position, living in any part of Brighton and Hove, you might consider printing this out or getting details sent to them by the Council, if they have not already been informed. The scheme aims to make Brighton and Hove residents' homes warmer and more energy efficient, and to reduce their fuel bills.
Grants of up to 100% (*) available for:
• Heating
• Cavity Wall Insulation
• Loft Insulation
We can also offer you a free confidential Benefit Entitlement Check. To apply or for information call free on:
0800 048 0727
(*) If you receive certain qualifying benefits or meet age or income criteria, you may qualify for the work to be carried out free of charge. For a full list of benefits & qualifying criteria please call freephone 0800 048 0727.
A generous scheme regardless of circumstances
For those who do not meet qualifying criteria loft & cavity wall insulation will each be charged at £199 inc VAT for most properties.
This offer is subject to a site survey & additional charges may be payable for larger properties. This offer is available for residents in Brighton & Hove City Council area only.
Who is funding and delivering this scheme?
Brighton & Hove Warm-Homes is a new proactive area-based fuel poverty initiative that is being led by Brighton & Hove City Council. This project has been made possible as a result of a successful bid for a government grant under Defra’s Community Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF) programme. The funding will be used to finance the initial stages of developing and launching the project, which is scheduled to continue until 2010.
Tackling local fuel poverty is a high priority for the council, and this initiative will enable us to help many residents of Brighton & Hove to enjoy the benefits of affordable warmth. The council is working with Climate Energy (its appointed Managing Partner), EDF Energy and Anchor Staying Put Brighton & Hove in delivering Brighton & Hove Warm-Homes.
Climate Energy will manage delivery of the project by means of:
· Targeted mail shots with follow-up visits by trained assessors
· Citywide publicity
· Provision of benefit entitlement checks
· Arranging property surveys
· Organising installation of energy efficiency measures
Climate Energy will also be responsible for providing a high standard of customer care and for quality control.
EDF Energy have committed to making a major financial contribution towards the cost of energy efficiency measures delivered through this programme. This contribution will constitute a key element of EDF Energy’s Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) programme. Specifically, EDF Energy will fund the whole cost of insulation measures (loft insulation and cavity wall insulation) for householders who receive qualifying benefits and will part-fund such measures for other residents.
Anchor Staying Put Brighton & Hove’s ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’ project will provide assistance to older people with health problems and families with disabled children in arranging to have insulation measures and/or heating improvements carried out to their homes.
The Council’s Benefits Take-up Team will provide additional support to vulnerable householders who require assistance in making a claim for benefits.
For more information or to apply for any of the services available through Brighton & Hove Warm-Homes telephone:
Freephone 0800 048 0727
Meeting: Food group – Tue 15 January
The next Transition Brighton & Hove food group meeting will take place on Tuesday 15th January at 7:30pm at Brighton Eco Centre, Basement meeting room, 39-41 Surrey Street (across from Brighton station). Ring Ann on 07729126772 for entry into the building.
At this meeting we will discuss our plans about how to take our work forward in the New Year and how to engage with others working on food issues in B&H.
Agenda:
- Planning an event
- How we can bring people together
- Prioritise course of action for engaging with growers, businesses and residents across the city
- Think about steps: where are people at now with their knowledge of food issues and what is one step forward.
Film screening: Who Killed the Electric Car? – Mon 14 January
Bristol Community Presents...a FREE showing of Who Killed The Electric Car (cert U), at The Community Room, 146a Donald Hall Road, Brighton, BN2 5DJ (map) on Mon 14 January 2008. Doors open 6.30pm, film starts at 7pm sharp, with tea and cake afterwards.
A documentary about how the motor and oil industry suppressed an emerging technology which could have been an everyday sighting even in the UK. An environmentally pertinent film giving insight into sustainable transport.
In 1996, electric cars began to appear on roads all over California. They were quiet and fast, produced no exhaust and ran without gasoline. Ten years later, these futuristic cars were almost entirely gone. What happened? Why should we be haunted by the ghost of the electric car?
see a clip of the movie here
Meeting: Buildings & Construction group – Mon 14 January
The next meeting of the Buildings & Construction group is on Mon 14th January 2008 at 7.30pm at Simon Gidding’s house – 7, Agnes Street, Brighton BN2 3AS (map). If you are planning to attend please email Simon (si_giddings*at*yahoo.co.uk). Notes from the last meeting here.
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Notes from Transport Group meeting – Mon 14 January 2008
Notes by Graham TowersInaugural meeting held on 14 January 2008 at the PV pub, Upper North Street
Present
John Bristow
Graham Towers
Neil Harding
Michael Petek
Doly Garcia
Celia Davis
Rob Dickin Travel Plan Officer BHCC
Gina Meyer Brighton City Car Club
Apology: Judy Bow
1.0 Introductions
Those present introduced themselves. John Bristow outlined the aims of the Transition Town movement which was now established in 25 towns and cities in Britain
2.0 Group remit
2.1 Context: The group was to consider both the need to reduce carbon emissions and the possible impact of ‘peak oil’. Transport contributes about 26% of UK’s total carbon emissions. There is a clear need to reduce this but attempts to do so are likely to face difficulties because reduction in fossil fuel use brings no direct financial benefit. Oil is likely to become increasingly scarce and more costly. This would force the adoption of more efficient systems and stimulate technical innovation. There was a need to establish current carbon emissions for Brighton. Michael had figures which he was asked to circulate.
2.2 Framework - key objectives and parameters: The framework document circulated was discussed and adopted subject to the addition of encouragement of home working and close home/employment location.
3.0 Action already under way
3.1 City Council: Rob Dickin said there was consideration of rapid transit systems but this was outside his field. In his work there was a general aim to reduce car use by 10% in five years (at 2% p. a.) There was a focus travel planning and cycling.
Travel planning - Personalised travel plans could be obtained from www.journeyon.co.uk; Campaigns include ‘walk to work’; ‘walk to school’; ‘car free day; and’ bike it’. Business travel planning was being encouraged; travel plans would bee required with planning applications
Cycling - bicycle parking was to be increased; a cycle’parkway was to be constructed running up Grand Avenue, The Drive, Hove Park acrros the A27 to the Downs.
Pedestrians were on the agenda though no specific measures were described
Rob offered to provide further information and advice to the group and provided his contact details.
3.3 Car Clubs. Gina Meyer described the work of City Car Club (www.citycarclub.co.uk) Car clubs had been boosted by the decision of the City Council to use them as pool cars. This enables the clubs to invest in a larger fleet with greater choice and accessibility for members
3.4 Other groups Graham would find out more on national groups - Campaign for better transport and Living Streets. Local groups could be identified in the transition town index of local organizations
4.0 Group roles
The following were agreed
Co-ordinator Graham Towers
Link person to hub Doly Garcia
Website person Neil Harding
Notes Celia Davis
5.0 Future meetings
It was agreed that the PV was a suitable venue. Subject to confirmation the next meeting would take place on Monday 11 February. At the meeting Celia offered to present some ideas on ‘urban walking and cycling routes.
John said there was a possibility of a student doing a project on transport. He was also hoping to arrange national and local speakers.
Brighton & Hove Council Sustainability Commission meeting – Wed 9 January
Brighton & Hove Council's Sustainability Commission's next meeting is on Wednesday 9 January at 5pm at Brighton Town Hall, Bartholomew Square, Brighton (map). Members of the public are very welcome to attend.
The sustainability commission is made up of cross-party elected members and aims to to help Brighton & Hove City Council develop and implement its sustainability policies as part of its activities, including partnership work with other agencies and bodies.
To read more about the Sustainability Commission and it's aims, see here.
Meeting: Waste & Recycling group – Tue 8 January
The next meeting of the Waste & Recycling group will be at the Park Crescent pub (map) on Tuesday 8 January from 7 pm onwards. See notes from the last meeting here.
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Liaison with local government Meeting - Mon 7th January 2008
The TB&H Liaison with Local Government Group will meet at Brighton Peace and Environment Centre at 7 pm on Monday 7th January 2008.
We have booked The Eco Centre (opposite Brighton Station) between 7.30-8.30 pm on Monday 7th January 2008, though please note that we will now meet outside The Eco Centre 7 p.m.
Should the room not be available before our booking time, our plan is to lurk in the kitchen or a local cafe/pub for half an hour! We will definitely be in the Eco Centre for the final hour.
The following Agenda has been suggested by Vicky. If we are able to start at 7 p.m. the times below will be 30 minutes earlier and there will be slightly more time for each item.
7.30
(1). Introductions
7.35
(2). discuss - Brighton & Hove Climate Change Strategy Stakeholder Day Summary Report - (John, Maureen & Vic were present)
7.45
(3). Council/LSP strategies - Vic
- what are they ?
- how do they interact ?
- do they consult ?
- are they being acheived ?
- timeline
7.55 <
(4). Establish working protocol for our group, mission statement/vision thing.
8.20
(5). update - Patcham Farm - Vic
(6). update - Eco Show Houses - Maureen
(7). update - Charles Secret talk -Jacqui
8.30
Pub, for any other business
Notes from hub meeting – Thu 3 January
Notes by Chris Callard
Started meeting with everyone saying a couple of things about what they hoped Transition Brighton and Hove could achieve over the next six months. Aspirations included:
It was agreed that asking the same question of people who attend the next general meeting.