Dorset 3rd sector Sustainability and Environment Forum

Report on meeting of. West Dorset Partnership, Gryphon School, Sherborne, 5 February 2009

Again, a number of points of interest from a very full agenda.

1.  West Dorset Climate Change Strategy

Feedback on this topic is currently being processed.  A report will be presented to the WD Climate Change Steering Group at the end of March and, if approved, will be considered by the WD Partnership meeting on 23 April.

2. Community & Public Transport in West Dorset

The action plan and allocation of money (£108,000) has been approved, and a Community Transport Development Worker seconded for one year.  But is seems unlikely there will be a second windfall of money to support a second year.

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3. Chalk & Cheese

This organisation has recently received over £3 million of EU funding for Dorset (local food, rural environment, sustainable tourism).  It is unclear (to me) how this money will be spent and distributed, but interested parties are invited to a Chalk & Cheese Local Action Group meeting at Athelhampton House, on 26 March, at 6.30 pm.  Meantime the contact person is Sarah Watson on 01305 215227 or sarah@chalkandcheese.org or sarah@dorset2.co.uk ; or visit website www.chalkandcheese.org

 

4.  WDP Annual Report and Action Plan, 2009/10

Partners (which include us, 3^rd Sector Sustainability-Environment and individual member organisations) are asked to complete, by 20 March, the template ‘Delivering the West Dorset Community Plan’.  Under topic headings like ‘Transport & Accessibility’ and ‘Environment’, the template has two columns, the first being for very brief statements of 2008/9 actions (‘from your service area which have delivered the aims within the community plan’) to be collated to into a WDP annual report; the second column for ‘planned actions, 2009/10’, which will be used to develop the WDP action plan for 2009/10 – to be discussed by the WD Partnership meeting on 23 April.  The point here is: if you have a project, within West Dorset (and under the above topic headings), for which you would like WD Partnership support (usual range £2000 - £8000), it is essential to get the project subject into the plan at this stage – actual detailed proposals come later.  Copies of this template are available from Paul McIntosh at DA21 or from me at jonesodowd@aol.com , and I suggest that completed templates (or copies) are returned to Paul, for collective submission.  If needed, further information from Maria Clarke, m.clarke@westdorset-dc.gov.uk .

 

5. Regional Spatial Strategy (see my report of WDP meeting, 25 September 08)

Hilary Jordan (Planning Policy Manager, WDDC) reported there had been little news on this matter recently – central government is no doubt dealing with the 35,000 objections raised countrywide – but it may be adopted (unchanged?) some time in the summer.

 

6. Sustainable Communities Act (see my report of WDP meeting, 11 December 08)

This allows local councils and organisations to put forward proposals to central government for ‘sustainable communities’.  Four hundred people attended a meeting about this in Dorchester on 16 January!   WDDC will work with other local authorities, organisations and partnerships to coordinate a local response in this matter.

 

7. Allotments

Within the report from Dorchester Local Area Partnership, Kris Hallett raised the concern of the very long waiting list for municipal allotments (and it is the same nearly everywhere) and the need, therefore, to look ‘outside the box’ to identify more ‘grow-your-own’ land.  Two responses to this:

 - Maria Clarke (WD Community Planning Officer) said that publication of a pamphlet on allotments (from Dorset AONB and Natural England) was expected within the next two months.

 - David Webb (chair) drew attention to the possibility of encouraging (old) people with big gardens (or holiday homes) to allow others to cultivate their land.

 

8. Local Area Agreements

A simple but useful pamphlet, ‘An Introductory Guide to Dorset’s Local Area Agreement’ has recently been produced.  Copies (and more information) may be obtained from Kate Hindson, DCC Partnerships and Communities Manager, on 1305 224173 or at k.hindson@dorsetcc.gov.uk .  Paraphrasing briefly from this pamphlet:

   ‘Dorset is currently implementing its second LAA, 2008-2011.  The LAA is enshrined in the Local Government & Involvement in Public Health Act 2007.  It is an agreement between central and local government which brings together local priorities to make Dorset a better place to work and live, involving partners such as police, the Primary Care Trust and representatives from business and the voluntary and community sector.’  Among Dorset’s 33 key priorities are several (relevant to S&E forum members) under the headings ‘Accessibility’ and ‘Environment’. 

 

9. Effects of recession on the economy

Yet another pamphlet.  ‘Helping West Dorset during the recession’ has been produced by WDDC and may be accessed through www.dorsetforyou.com/recession/west or 01305 252271.

 

 

Mike Jones

10 February 2009

 

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