Minutes of the Environment and Transport Board
Held on 16 September 2004
Attending: Ken McKay Chairman and PECT
Trevor Gibson Peterborough City Council (Director of Environmental Services)
Richard Paten Railworld and Peterborough Civic Society
Richard Olive Peterborough Friends of the Earth
Jonathan Selwyn UK CEED
Candy Reed Environment Agency
Pam Kreling Councillor
Sarah Fowler PECT
John Peach Councillor
Richard Astle GPP (Director)
Heather Darwin Peterborough City Council
Adam Speed Peterborough City Council
1. Apologies
Sarah Watkins, Freight Transport Association.
2. Minutes
Reference to “Sustainable Development Town Demonstration Bid,” amended to “Sustainable Travel Town Demonstration Bid.”
3. Matters Arising
Following the last meeting, Jim Simpson (Stagecoach) did not make his reasons for deciding to no longer attend meetings entirely clear.
The group felt it should adopt a balanced stance with regards to the bus services. For example, that they welcome recent changes that have led to an increase in bus patronage but feel that there is still more that can be done.
Ken McKay to contact Jim Simpson and attempt to persuade him to come to
future meetings. Also to contact GNER and invite them to give a presentation to
a future meeting.
Ken McKay to draft a statement about bus services, forward it to Trevor Gibson
for his comments and then circulate to the group.
Level Crossings
There is a range of consultations looking at this issue at the moment. The group
recognises that it is very expensive to replace level crossings with bridges or
flyovers. The concerns of the group would be raised at a national level as
opportunities arise. Trevor Gibson reported that safety works were planned for the
Maxey crossing.
Real Time Bus and Rail Timetables
Action
Trevor Gibson to circulate timescales and further details of this project with the Sustainable Travel Town Programme to the next meeting.
4. Community Strategy
The Community Strategy is essential to the work of GPP and this partnership.
The document goes to the GPP board for approval on the 28/09/04.
This believes that the precise definition of “Sustainability” needs to be clarified by
GPP and spelled out in the Community Strategy. (Also known as the Brundtland
Report):
Action
Ken McKay to work with the GPP Director, Richard Astle, to promote adoption of
a clear definition of sustainability (based on the Brundtland definition):
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.”
Ken McKay also to report regularly to GPP on progress towards E&T
Partnership’s targets.
Introduction
The group felt that Allan Arnott’s introduction should set the global context.
Action
Sarah Fowler to provide a draft and forward to Ken McKay.
Part i: Context
The group felt that this section needed to recognise Peterborough’s strengths and
be more positive, particularly in relation to the Environment.
Also the key economic sectors in Peterborough need to be more clearly defined.
Pages 6 and 7 failed to identify the need for green infrastructure and this should
be amended accordingly.
The group decided that the list of priority areas from the 2001 strategy should be
removed from page 8.
Action
Sarah Fowler to draft some words on green infrastructure and forward to Ken
McKay.
Part ii Vision
The group felt that the vision was essential to the strategy and should feature
more prominently, maybe on the front cover.
On page 10, “diversity and balance” need greater definition. Also where it says,
“These principles will be pursued at a number of levels,” it should say, “We will
take forward the vision through the following principles.”
The overall idea of sustainability and environmental responsibility needs to be
expressed boldly on page 12.
On page 14 the section on economic growth needs to incorporate social and
environmental measurements as well as economic.
The group agreed that the bottom paragraph on page 15 should be removed.
Action
Jonathan Selwyn and Sarah Fowler to draft some words on the overall idea of
sustainability and environmental responsibility, highlighting this as an overriding
priority for the strategy, and forward to Ken McKay.
Targets from the Sustainable Travel Town to be included in the Community
Strategy. Trevor Gibson to provide.
Part iii: The big ideas
On page 28, where it says, “Developing a culture of life long learning,” it should
say, “Developing a culture of life long learning and citizenship.”
Action
Any words for the final draft need to be submitted to the Chairman urgently so that
they can be forwarded to GPP in advance of the board meeting on 28/09/04.
Public Consultation
The strategy should reflect that the public’s views have been considered to
address the perception that public consultation is not effective.
5. Level Crossings
Discussed earlier.
6. Environment Conference
The Council is planning an Environment Conference to showcase Peterborough as the Environmental Capital approach and to look at sustainable growth.
It has been scheduled for approximately one year’s time.
The Partnership supported this initiative.
Trevor Gibson to report back as necessary
7. Green Capital
Sarah Fowler and Jonathan Selwyn gave a presentation.
The group welcomed the presentation and decided that it should be presented to the GPP board as the proposed “Big Idea” from this group for inclusion in the Community Strategy.
8. Sub – Regional Strategy
To be discussed at the next meeting.
Action
Add to the agenda for the next meeting.
9. Sustainable Communities Plan / Growth Area Bid
Nothing to report.
10. Funding Streams
Nothing to report.
11. Partnership Updates
Nothing to report.
12. Dates of future meetings
18 November 2004
20 January 2004
17 March 2004
19 May 2004
21 July 2005
15 September 2005
13. AOB
Richard Olive asked about the Global Olivine Initiative and whether it was time for
the group to take it into consideration.
The group felt that the time to consider this will be when Global Olivine put in a
DTI application.
The PECT AGM has been scheduled for the 16/11/04, venue TBA.
There is an open day at the electrical recycling plant in Fengate on the 27/10/04.
Action
Trevor Gibson to feedback to the group regarding the Global Olivine Project if
additional details emerge following their application to the DTI.
14. Close
Meeting closed at 14:30