Ashby2020 Meeting Minutes SEPTEMBER

Ashby 2020 Minutes

7^th September 2010

6.30 – 8.30pm

Legion House

Chair: Andrew Reeves

Agenda:

Introductions

Review minutes from July

Updates on actions: Town wide energy

List of existing sustainable action in town

Media coverage

Constitution & Roles

Future projects and grant funding

Next steps

Introductions – 6.40pm

Minutes reviewed from July: Agreed.

Updates:

Town wide energy: Carl Benfield approached four utility providers with a request for them to provide a green energy tariff and other incentives to maximise the appeal for Ashby to switch to the greener alternative. As it stands, two of those four are in the process of putting together formal proposals for a deadline of October 1^st 2010. These proposals will be put to an Ashby2020 selection panel composed of local professionals, prominent members of the community and residents, and the winning bid will be decided upon by October 7^th 2010, and announced the following day. A public announcement will be made November 1^st 2010, and a coordinated marketing campaign will be rolled out.

• Along with a bid for green energy, requests have been made for the provision of energy surveys, monitors, and for a portion of the work involved in rolling out this campaign to be shared with local companies, thereby channelling money and experience into the community. However, this is speculative. The terms of the bids are unknown while under development by the utilities, and Ashby2020 has no involvement until submission.

Existing sustainability action in Ashby:

Shoecare (recycle shoes)

Several recycling sites

Landshare (in the absence of available allotment space)

Streetlight shut off

• It may be beneficial for Ashby2020 to secure a regular feature in a local publication, so we can highlight the efforts of the community.

Big Green Week: Taking place at EMA. The Green Footprints sustainability division of NW Leicestershire District Council will have a presence on September 23^rd 2010, and Ashby2020 have an opportunity to join them.

-          Gemma to email request to Wendy of NWLDC.

Constitution & Roles:

The legal status of Ashby2020 under the Town Partnership is currently unclear. Carl Benfield, who sits on the board as vice-chair, is looking to upgrade the TCP so it is able to handle funding from multiple sources, and this could affect the way we are able to operate.

• Should we sit beneath TCP or be independent? We will address this question at a later meeting after receiving clarification from TCP, who will be meeting October 11^th 2010.

Aims: We are largely content with the formation of our group aims and mission statement as created last meeting, but will look to amend it to the following:

Ashby 2020 will help Ashby become more sustainable. We will

predominantly focus on environmental improvements, but will include

social and economic factors. We will do this by:

o Being accessible and welcoming to all contributors and

interested parties.

o Developing supportive relationships within the community.

o Celebrating social diversity while reaching towards a common

goal.

o Focussing on taking positive action, and inspire others to

do so.

o Being a non-profit collective, with any funds received in the

Ashby 2020 name being used to further the success of our aims.

‘Taking positive action’ (formerly ‘positives of taking action’) focuses our intentions to ONLY be positive, and not engage in negative interactions or demonstrations.

The question of what ‘sustainability’ means to us was also raised, and requires time dedicated to defining it in our own terms at the next meeting.

Grants & Future Projects:

Funding: Carl will be enlisting the help of a professional grant applicator for use with the TCP later this year. She will be able to take our desired projects and find funding for them, submit the application on our behalf, and in return will take a percentage of that funding as payment for her services.

Big Switch Off:

NW Leics District Council and Ashby2020 will be collaborating on a promotional event for the Big Switch Off week between 11^th – 17^th October 2010.

The event will take place on Market Street on Saturday 9^th October 2010, and will combine among other things:

-          A bike powered smoothie maker

-          A survey about sustainability in Ashby (focussing on why residents do not engage in green living already), in child friendly and adult versions

-          Freebies from BSO

-          Ashby2020 interest sign up

-          Sign up to borrow energy monitors

-          Light bulb library

Attendees of the meeting have volunteered to represent Ashby2020 at this event (Andrew, Rachael, Audrey, Janet, Chris, Lauren, Gillian) and will be meeting to finalise arrangements for the on-the-day presence.

-          We need someone to volunteer to compose the survey. Please contact gemmacrapper@prescientpower.co.uk or carlbenfield@prescientpower.co.uk

Screenings: There is also an interest in sustainability themed film screenings. Andrew will provide a list of potential films.

Next meeting: October 28^th 2010  @  6.30pm Legion House.