Dorset 3rd sector Sustainability and Environment Forum

Report on meeting of

West Dorset Partnership

                                     Gryphon School, Sherborne, 4 February 2010

 

 

Three items of possible relevance to Sustainability & Environment Forum members:

 

1.  West Dorset Partnership Funding Allocation

 All funds available for this year have now been allocated.  The small projects agreed included:

  - Sherborne Renewable Energy Group, £3000 to hold a public renewable energy fair and undertake feasibility studies for uptake of solar electric installations.

  - Turn Lyme Green, £3000 to raise awareness of Peak Oil and Climate Change.

  - Transition Town Dorchester, £2500 to support transition projects in the town.

  - Bridport Renewable Energy Group, £3000 to create a social enterprise – the Bridport Energy Services Company – which will raise funds to install PV panels on land and assets which will be community owned.

[Are all or any of these groups members of our S&E group in the 3^rd sector forum?]

 

2.  Community Plan Review

 The Draft Community Plan 2010-2026 for West Dorset (and a summary) may be accessed on www.dorsetforyou.com/communityplan/west , hard copies are also available (in libraries, etc.?), and interactive, consultation events will be held in the five main towns (B, B, D, LR and Sh) during March.  Comments on the plan are invited.  It is worth pointing out that the issues/aims/priorities eventually detailed in the final Community Plan will guide subsequent WD Partnership funding allocations.  So, it is worth getting your priorities into this document, especially as funding is likely to get tighter.

 

3.  West Dorset Partnership Annual Report

 This document is now being drafted.  Brief reports of outstanding achievements in the last year may be offered (to m.clarke@westdorset-dc.gov.uk), although some topics have been earmarked already.  Listed under ‘Our Environment’ are Age Concern Fuel Poverty Campaign, Bridport Food Festival, and the Allotments Leaflets (and garden share).

 

Other points picked up during the meeting:

- There is still a lot of unallocated money in the Chalk & Cheese pot.

- The South West Market & Coastal Towns Network is holding its 2010 Conference at the Best Western Tiverton Hotel on Saturday 20 February.  Topics of the various sessions and discussions all seem to have S&E flavours:  Coping with Climate Change; Water as a Finite Resource; Survive & Thrive; Shaping a Sustainable Future.  I am not sure just how open this meeting is.  Places need to be booked.  The contact is:  Billie Rentall at billie@dorset2.co.uk

 

 

The next partnership meeting is in Dorchester on 29 April.  Topics include ‘Review of West Dorset Community Plan update’ and ‘Adoption of Annual Report’.  (I expect to be abroad at this time, so if anyone else would like to represent the S&E group at this meeting, please let me know, at jonesodowd@aol.com )

 

 

Mike Jones

7 February 2010