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Agenda and minutes

Parish Liaison Meeting - Wednesday, 16th November, 2022 6.30 pm

Venue: Community Space, Keynsham - Market Walk, Keynsham. View directions

Contact: Corrina Haskins  01225 394357

Note: The meeting will be an in-person workshop on Climate and Nature Emergency 

Items
No. Item

7.

Guests arrive/informal networking 6.15pm - 6.30pm

Minutes:

There was an opportunity for informal networking before the start of the meeting.

8.

Welcome and Introductions 6.30pm - 6.40pm

Welcome from the Chair of the Council, Cllr Shaun Stephenson-McGall

 

Update from Cllr Sarah Warren – Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, B&NES

 

Introduction from Louise Morris and Jackie Clayton – job sharing as Heads of Green Transformation, B&NES

Minutes:

The meeting began with a welcome from the Chair of the Council, Cllr Shaun Stephenson-McGall.  This was followed by an update from Cllr Sarah Warren – Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, B&NES

 

Louise Morris and Jackie Clayton – job sharing as Heads of Green Transformation, B&NES introduced themselves.

 

9.

Tackling the Climate & Ecological Emergencies at a local level 6.40pm - 7.10pm

Lightning talks from:

 

Cllr Sam Ross – Chair of Farmborough Parish Council on their approach; EV charging point and community engagement on food and energy

 

Steve Cross - Go Green Widcombe who promoted a local group buy solar panel scheme.

 

Chew Valley Area Forum Climate & Nature Working Group – on working together, particularly on rural transport issues

 

Nature Chain, Freshford and Limpley Stoke.  Enthusiasts from local parishes set up ‘Nature Chain’, action group/forum to encourage the neighbourhood to create more wildlife habitat in village gardens and local landscape.

 

Alex Rowbotham – Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Lead, B&NES on rolling out the wide EV charging network

 

Stuart Gardner – Nature Recovery Manager, B&NES on Local Nature Action Planning

Minutes:

Lightning Talks

 

Brief talks were given on local community projects as follows:

 

·  Cllr Sam Ross – Chair of Farmborough Parish Council on their approach; EV charging point and community engagement on food and energy

 

·  Steve Cross - Go Green Widcombe who promoted a local group buy solar panel scheme.

 

·  Jackie Head - Chew Valley Area Forum Climate & Nature Working Group – on working together, particularly on rural transport issues

 

·  Anthea Norman–Taylor - Nature Chain, Freshford and Limpley Stoke.  Enthusiasts from local parishes set up ‘Nature Chain’, action group/forum to encourage the neighbourhood to create more wildlife habitat in village gardens and local landscape.

 

B&NES Officers introduced themselves as follows:

 

·  Alex Rowbotham – Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Lead, B&NES on rolling out the wide EV charging network

 

·  Stuart Gardner – Nature Recovery Manager, B&NES on Local Nature Action Planning

 

·  Micaela Basford and Alice Keogh from the Climate & Environmental Sustainability Team on Action planning and Toolkit support

 

·  Jane Wildblood from the Climate & Environmental Sustainability Team and Alex McCann from Planning Policy on Home energy, renewables and getting involved in the Local Plan update

 

10.

World Café Session 7.10pm - 8.10pm

The ‘World Café’ style session will involve tables with different themes allowing Parish representatives to discuss topics and share knowledge.  Leads for each topic area will circulate the tables every 15 minutes over the course of an hour to discuss the following topics:

 

1.  Energy (Renewables, home energy efficiency)

2.  Transport (including shared EV Charging points)

3.  Nature (Local Nature Plans)

4.  Action planning (getting started, developing plans, working groups

Minutes:

Table Theme:  Energy

 

Experts:

Jane Wildblood

Alex McCann

Steve Cross

 

Notes

 

·  Freshford have set up a home energy group with some well qualified members.  They circulated a questionnaire in the village which resulted in 50 requests for home energy surveys.  They also organised a talk on heat pumps which was attended by around 40 people.  They will have another at the end of November on solar panels.  There is also interest from residents on a bulk buy cavity wall insulation scheme.

 

·  Bristol’s CHEESE project is looking to expand into Bath:  It was noted that they charge £200 for a home survey.

 

·  Widcombe’s group have a thermal imaging camera that they could potentially lend.  It would be good to have a register of who has equipment like this.  They also suggested that Share and Repair obtain three to go in their library of things and bid to the Bath & West Community Energy Fund to cover the cost:

 

·  It was suggested that Grow Batheaston are added to the mailing list for the Bathavon Area Forum if they are not already.

 

·  Chew Magna has a Climate and Nature Emergency Group which came out of Go Zero 15 years ago.  They provided leaflets to all residents on energy, food, travel, resources and nature on actions they could take.  They agreed it is helpful to do a survey to establish a baseline and then follow up a year later.

 

·  The Centre for Sustainability (CSE) has an Impact Tool which gives data by Ward/Parish on C02 emissions per household.

 

·  66% of emissions in Bath and North East Somerset come from buildings – the other third is transport.

 

·  It was suggested that finding retired builders to join groups to give advice is helpful.

 

·  There was discussion on WECA’s retrofit scheme

 

·  Claverton highlighted that they have just 45 dwellings so bulk buying is difficult.  One property has a ground source heat pump but it was very expensive.  There are three, large Listed buildings in the village and no scope for new build.  What advice can the Parish Council give to residents?  It was agreed there are constraints around Listed buildings but things that can be done (eg solar panels are possible but it needs careful design; secondary and slim glazing are also possible).  Thermal imaging can help identify where issues are.  Householders can be advised to contact the Conservation Team at B&NES – there is a pre-app system where feedback can be given.

 

Energy Efficiency, Retrofitting and Sustainable Construction SPD – B&NES

 

·  Peasedown St John was part of recent Centre for Sustainable Energy workshops on renewable energy sources and suitable sites.  They queried whether a field of a couple of acres might be suitable for solar panels, although there seems to be an issue with access to the grid.  It was suggested that a battery is installed so power can go to a house rather than the grid – it can also be used to heat water with a diverter.  WECA is looking at bringing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Thank you from the Chair of the Council - 8.10pm

Minutes:

The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and contribution.

 

12.

Informal Networking 8.15pm - 8.30pm

Minutes:

An informal networking session took place.

13.

Proposed dates of Future Meetings - 2023

Wednesday 15 March 2023

Wednesday 19 July 2023

Wednesday 18 October 2023

Minutes:

Wednesday 15 March 2023 (pre-election period commences 20 March 2023)

Wednesday 19 July 2023

Wednesday 18 October 2023

 

If parishes have suggestions for the format and content of future Parish Liaison meetings, let the Community Engagement Team know.

 

 

Update from July Parish Liaison pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Additional documents: