Notes from December Meeting

TRANSITION LANGPORT MEETING NOTES

13th December, 2011 at 7.30 PM

at the Town Hall, Langport.

 Present: Cara, Caroline, Hugh, Jane, Lyn, Norma, Neil, Sue, Tony and Val.

 Apologies:Lynn and Phil

1. Report from the Healthy Transition Group

Lynnadvised that following the talk by Deidre Edwards, Art Tea Zen would be available as a venue for other similar events. During 2012 it was hoped to put on other talks and events and that efforts would be made to attract young mothers to the group. The next meeting on January 6th 2012 would focus on Nutrition.

2. Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF) and the Centre for Sustainable Energy  www.cse.org.uk

Cara advised of a funding opportunity for local energy projects. On 7th December the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced £10 million of funding for community energy projects:

‘Money is available to finance projects that increase understanding and uptake of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and help to make energy supply secure and affordable for everyone in your community’ http://www.greencommunitiescc.org.uk/

The CSE is available to support communities to place bids which are likely to be £50,000 to £150,000 with work to be completed by 31st March 2012. Phase 1 bids must be submitted by 22nd December and Phase 2 bids by 20th January 2012.

Many ideas were suggested by the group which focused on the buildings around the Langport area, the waterways possibilities and the energy audit work already undertaken by the group.

It wasAGREED to submit an initial bid which would develop the energy audit work previously undertaken by the group. Cara would lead the bid with support from other members of the group.

3. Community Survey

Val, Caroline and Cara updated the group on the Langport Town Council Community Survey. Concern had been raised about the submissions from Transition Langport as a group rather than as individuals.

Respondents were asked to confirm their individual responses to the survey; these were noted by Val, Cara and Caroline.

4. Transition Langport and Elderflowers at Eli’s Co-operative bags

The new bags were en route although some had already been supplied. It was hoped that some more would arrive prior to Christmas as the food co-op was keen to start selling them.

Sue’s pantry and Evans the Butchers were agreeable to stocking the bags as well as participating in a ‘borrow a bag’ scheme.

5. ‘Jubilee Wood’

The group was advised that 500 trees would be delivered in March to enable an official Jubilee Wood to be created. These would include Alder, Willow, Ash etc.

Volunteers would be needed on 10th and 11th March to plant the trees. Further details are to follow.

Cara advised that she was currently signing-up people to the Woodland Trust. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

6. Litter Pick – 22nd January 2012

The first litter pick of 2012 would take place on 22nd January, 2012. It was suggested that the focus for the forthcoming year was to try to educate those who drop litter and to encourage fast-food outlets to use cardboard rather than plastic containers.

7.’ Happy’ movie – 6th January 2012 www.thehappymovie.com

Val had arranged for the ‘Happy’ movie would be shown at Great Bow Wharf at 8pm on Friday 6th January, 2012. To cover the licence and other costs, 40 tickets at £5 would need to be sold.

8. Eco Book

Hugh advised that there were currently 50-60 brand new books at The Angel on eco/green issues. He advised that these were for sale and would welcome the opportunity to promote their availability and/or for them to be sold through other outlets.

9. Photographic record of 2012

The group was reminded of the aim of photographing the numerous events which Transition Langport would take part in or promote during 2012. It was hoped to use these in a calendar for 2013.