Minutes of the Environment and Transport Board

Held on 20 April 2004

 

 

            Attending:     Ken McKay                              Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT)

                                   Trevor Gibson                          Peterborough City Council (Director of Environmental Services)

                                   Richard Olive                           Peterborough Friends of the Earth

                        Richard Paten                          Railworld/Peterborough Civic Society

                        Councillor Pears                      Peterborough City Council      

                        Councillor Peach                     Peterborough City Council

                        Sarah Fowler                          PECT

                        Rachel Price                            Wildlife Trust

                        Jonathan Selwyn                    UKCEED

                        Heather Darwin                       Peterborough City Council (Chief Executives

                                                                                                             Department)

 

                        Gerry Warren                          ECO ART Project

                        Renny Antonelli                       ECO ART Project

 

 

 

 

Action

1.

Apologies

 

Sarah Watkins, Freight Transport Association, and David Turnock Peterborough Civic Society.   It was noted that Ken Costello no longer represented the Freight Transport Association and a replacement was being sought.

 

 

 

Minutes

 

Agreed subject to a change under the Regional Market Development Fund, the minutes should have noted that the Carbon Trust did not currently have a representative in the east of England.  Although, there was not a representative for the WRAP initiative, this was not unique to the eastern region.  

 

Matters Arising/Action

 

            Recycling of plastics in Peterborough – TG circulated the latest information about this issue.  A current initiative was advertising the types of plastics, which could be recycled in Peterborough, by highlighting the labelling used.

 

            Wind Farms – The issue had been raised with GPP Chair, and he advised that the partnership was unable to comment on specific planning issues due to the relationship with the Council as the Local Planning Authority.

 

            Real train timetable information – The letter to partners regarding the integration of transport provision had not been prepared.   The proposals to be circulated to the board before being issued.

 

            Priorities – the additional wording in relation to the wildlife element of the priorities still to be submitted to TG for inclusion in the final version.

 

Sustainable development towns – a decision was expected by the end of the month.

 

 

 

HD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KM/RO/RPaten

 

 

 

RPrice

 

 

TG

3.

GPP Forum feedback

 

 

                  The meeting of he Environment and Transport group had considered the Board’s priorities and whether these were focussed in the right areas.  In response the attendees wished the Board to be more active within the future developments in Peterborough.  Three specific areas were raised for consideration as follows:

 

·       Assessing the availability and use of green space in the greater Peterborough area on a continuous basis.  This reflected the Board’s interest in and commitment to Peterborough’s Green Grid.  The Board would ask those with a statutory responsibility to provide these spaces to report to the Board on this issue;

 

·       Securing Section 106 funding (or some similar binding agreement) to ensure that environmental and infrastructure improvements are part of all future planning approvals;

 

·       all project developments in the City should take account of existing weaknesses and transport needs, in addition to meeting new and anticipated needs of the community

 

Further work was required with the other key partnerships to ensure that the priorities highlighted within the Community Strategy could be delivered as these could not be achieved in isolation.  It was likely that specific working groups would be established for this purpose once the Strategy and targets had been finalised.  The deadline for the completion of the targets was 5 May 2004.

 

Action

 

To consider the aspects raised at the GPP Forum Environment and Transport Group at the next meeting (ALL)

 

To receive an update on the timetable for the review of the council’s Section 106 Strategy (TG)

 

Partnership to be involved in the preparations for the health and environment week to be held later in the year.  (ALL)

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All

 

 

TG

 

 

All

4.

ECO ART Project Presentation

 

Gerry Warren and Renny Antonelli gave a presentation about the proposed development of an ECO-ART centre within Peterborough.  This would build a pilot model of a sustainable community and be designed to provide employment in sustainable businesses and educational materials. A copy of the presentation is available from Heather Darwin on 01733 452323.

 

Assistance was required from the partnership in the following areas:

 

·       locating a site for the proposed development;

·       highlighting partners who could assist with the project;

·       highlighting funding options for the feasibility study and/or project, including Section 106 provision;

           

The importance of co-ordination with existing projects was highlighted.

 

Action

 

Partnership to examine this project as part of the development of green open spaces.

 

Partners to contact Gerry Warren with ideas about how existing projects would link with the proposal for an Eco-art centre.  Contact details to be circulated.

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All

 

 

All

5.

Sustainable Communities Plan/Growth Area Bid

 

Lord Rooker, Minister for housing and regeneration, had visited the City to discuss the proposed developments.  Representatives from the Government Office for the Eastern Region and ODPM representatives also attended and were impressed with Peterborough’s vision and examples for growth in a sustainable way. The details about the growth bids had been circulated.

 

Action

TG to report back on future developments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TG

6.

Funding Streams

 

Action

To be considered at a future meeting.

 

 

 

 

TG/SF/JS

7.

Partnership Updates

 

A brief update on the work of partnership organisations was provided.

           

Wildlife Trust – Working towards the designation of more local nature reserves.  Linking with  developers in Peterborough and across Cambridgeshire to provide bio-diversity improvements in development areas.  Assistance with the preparation of Parish environment action plans.  Preparations were being made for Environment week, which would coincide with the Peterborough Festival.

 

UKCEED -  A low carbon technology initiative was being developed with PECT. A bid had been submitted for a district heating scheme within the North Westgate Development and surrounding community.  The final design stage for the innovation centre would be discussed in June.  However, EEDA funding issues could delay the project.

 

PECT - Wet Woodland Project was ongoing to highlight existing and possible future locations.  The green space project is being developed in the urban II area.  Following the development of the Community strategy, PECT would be developing it’s own vision to link with the delivery of the Strategy.  A cycling for health officer had been appointed to work on the sustainable transport plan with PCC.

 

PCC – The recycling of electrical goods would soon begin in the urban II area and a future meeting could be held at the facility.

 

Friends of the Earth – Undertaking the carbon challenge to reduce CO2 emissions.   Prominent local companies were being contacted about current levels and encouraged to reduce them.  Support was being given to the development of wind farms in the area. Proposals were being developed about the Public Transport aspects of future housing provision and a transport questionnaire would be carried out.

 

Railworld – Consideration needed to be given to the rail traffic through Peterborough and the impact on the City’s level crossings and traffic levels.

 

 

Date of next Meeting – 17 June 2004 12.30pm

 

Agreed that the partnership meetings would be held bi-monthly in future. 

 

The Chair encouraged members to use e-mail as the means of communication between meetings (a full list of contact details had been circulated previously).   GPP would be asked to consider setting up a message board and ‘chat’ facility for all partnership boards as part of the GPP web site.