http://www.sustainablecities.org.uk/
http://www.sustainablecities.org.uk/participants/leeds
CABE Sustainable Cities
Regional Decision Makers
Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber
“The Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber works with organisations across the region to deliver Government policies and programmes and to contribute a regional perspective in their development. As the representative of central Government in the region, we promote effective integration of policies and programmes so that they reflect priorities at regional and local level. Our Aim is to deliver thriving and sustainable communities across the region by working in partnership, ensuring effective delivery of Government programmes and informing policy development to:
Improve the economy
Improve the quality of life of all those who live or work in the region, and the quality of experience for those who visit
Protect and improve the natural and built environment “
Yorkshire Forward
“Yorkshire Forward is the Regional Development Agency charged with improving the Yorkshire and Humber economy.”
http://www.yorkshire-forward.com/www/index.asp
Yorkshire and Humber Assembly
“The Yorkshire and Humber Assembly works closely with partners on key regional issues, and to promote and champion the region nationally and internationally. We lobby for the very best deal for Yorkshire and Humber and all its communities.”
The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) is important for influencing Leeds planning policy and is taken into account when deciding planning applications. There are some proposed changes to the RSS, including a weakening of the requirement for new developments to have on-site renewable energy generation. To make a representation on the proposed changes please see:
http://www.goyh.gov.uk/goyh/plan/regplan/propchanges/
The deadline for responses is 21st December 2007
Leeds Decision Making Structures
Click on the image above to view the structure of the Climate Change Strategy Group. If you would like to fill any of the 'rep needed' vacancies to represent the forum on this decision making structures please contact jon.holland@leedsvoice.org.uk
Details of other decision making structures, including Aire Action Leeds will be added in the near future.
Climate Change Condensed- COIN Training
Climate Outreach and Infromation Netwrok (COIN) are running a one day course on climate chnage. They are marketing it as an 'all you need to know' course.
Next training: Sheffield, 13.12.2007 5-8pm
Central United Reform Church, 60 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2JB
Tickets: £10 (individuals); £20 (charities); £50 (local authorities); £70 (business) Places limited so book soon - to book email mim@coinet.org.uk or call 01865 727911.
COIN has created a fantastic new 3-hour 'all you need to know' course which uses the carefully-concocted recipe of expert knowledge (we bring the experts to you on film), group discussion and pair work. We ask you to come with your ideas and concerns and we will give your confidence a power-boost and give you the energy to go back out and get active.
The course covers the basic science of climate change; extreme weather & home impacts; what the opinion polls tell us about public feeling on climate change; what the politicians & leading experts are saying; feelings which climate change brings up for us all; why is it important to take urgent action?; how much time we have in which to act; emissions reductions and different possible scenarios; can it be done?; where do we start?; look at your own life and consider what action you can take right now which will have an effect; how do we create change? - strategies for different groups/situations; group pledges.
DEFRA funding cuts
I previously circulated details of a Inland Waterways Association campaign to protest cuts to DEFRAs funding which have reduced the money availible to maintain and enhance the waterways.
It now looks likely that DEFRA's budget will be cut further affecting funding it allocates to British Waterways, the Environment Agency, farming projects etc. I am unsure whether flood defence projects are affected by the cuts but I believe that flood defense budgets are secure.
Ministers are to be presented with a package for £130 million of immediate cuts to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ budget with radical options for another £140 million in cuts (or savings). This would affect all DEFRA-funded bodies, including British Waterways and the Environment Agency and would be in addition to 5% year-on-year cuts already reported in the wake of Avian flu and the mismanagement of the single farm paymnets (agricultural/ ecological subsidies) scheme.
Links to news pieces:
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=76012&in_page_id=34&in_a_source=
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7099469.stm
Link to Inland Waterways Association campaign against funding cuts:
http://www.waterways.org.uk/News/DefraFundingCuts
You can urge your MP to take action on this issue, sign the petition against cuts and the one against waterway privatisation and find out how the cuts will affect waterways and users.
Please use the comments section to add information and share your views.
Influence government policy by responding to consultations
In a previous bulletin I listed all the environment-related national consultations I could find. This was to give you an idea of the range of opportunities to directly influence government policy. To search for consultation opportunities yourself see:
Department for Communities and Local Government (formerly ODPM)
Planning, building and environment, communities, regions and cities and other miscellaneous consultations
http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1017165
Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly DTI)
Energy; renewables, nuclear power, regulation
http://www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/index.html
Department for Food Environment and Rural Affairs (formerly MAFF)
Climate change, environmental protection, food and farming, natural environment, rural issues http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/default.asp
Department for Transport
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations
If you spot a particularly relevant consultation please flag this up with me and add to the comments section.
DEFRA's Third Sector Strategy
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs want to imporve the way they work with thrid sector (voluntary, community and fiath sector) organisations. They are consulting to inform the preparation of their Thrird Sector Strategy. It asks about ways in which the third sector can make an even bigger difference in tackling climate change, protecting the environment and supporting strong rural communities. It also asks about the way in which Defra can create a level playing field for third sector organisations in the way they do business, for example in their procurement procedures and the way they work with third sector stakeholders through the Defra Compact Group and Social Enterprise Forum. It sets out Defra's current thinking on these issues and asks for your views.
Defra are also inviting proposals from third sector stakeholders to prepare a small number of ‘think piece’ documents which focus on the key consultation questions or themes. These would discuss the issues in more depth and offer practical options and recommendations for Defra to inform the preparation of our Strategy. The preparation of each ‘think piece’ document could also include a targeted workshop or meeting which would enable the participation of a wider group of key stakeholders. Third sector stakeholders who would like to put forward a proposal to prepare a 'think piece' document should contact Defra as soon as possible to discuss the ideas at an early stage. The documents and any events must be completed and submitted by the deadline for consultation. If you would like to discuss ideas for a 'think piece' document contact Jon at Leeds Voice.
For an introductory letter, list of consultees and the consultation document (with contact details for submitting comments) see:
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/thirdsector-strategy/index.htm
The Sustainable Community Action Wiki has a section for you to read others thoughts on the consultation and share your own views. See: http://sca21.wikia.com/wiki/Defra_Third_Sector_Strategy_-_consultation_responses
The deadline for comments is 22nd February 2008.
Natural Resources and Waste Development Plan Document (part of the LDF)
As part of the Local Development Framework a Natural Resources and Waste Development Plan Document is being prepared which aims to “highlight how Leeds’ natural resources will be managed for the good of the economy while minimising the impacts on the environment and reducing wastage. Specifically the plan is intended to contain detailed policies on the management of a number of issues that might include the following:
- Household and commercial waste.
- Mineral resources.
- Water resources and flooding issues
- Energy and climate change
- Air quality
- Contaminated land”
I have received a letter to raise awareness of the work being undertaken and provide us with an opportunity to be involved in early discussions surrounding the key issues of this plan. We are asked what our thoughts are on the following key areas:
- What are the major issues associated with waste management and how can the forthcoming challenging landfill [reduction] targets be met?
- How can we best use our mineral resources?
- What issues associated with climate change and flooding would you like to see considered within the plan?
- What are the main issues we should be taking on board when considering the regeneration of contaminated land?
- Are their any other issues you would like to be included in a Natural Resources Development Plan Document?
Your comments will be helpful to inform preparation of an ‘issues and alternative options’ paper. All comments need to be presented in a written format. Contact details are for enquiries and submitting comments:
Andrew Walters
Jacobs UK Ltd
1 City Walk
Leeds
LS11 9DX
t: 0795 613 4516
Please use the comments section of this blog to post comments that might help others to formulate their responses.
Regional Sustainable Development Advisory Group
I attended this event. It covered the following themes:
- Showcasing Kirklees as the exemplar Local Authority which is leading on Sustainable Development in Yorkshire and the Humber.
- Sustainable consumption and production in the region. Findings of REEIO and REAP models for regional production and consumption using RAMEA data.
- Regional Biodiversity Strategy. Regional and national biodiversity strategy/policy context. Preparing the Regional Biodiversity Strategy (RBS). (including workshop activities that will help develop the RBS). I have posted the workshop write up under 'Regional Biodiversity Strategy' in this blog.
- Sustainable construction skills and their utility (essential) in enabling sustainable development.
- Flood risk management.
If you would like to view the presentation slides and get links to the organisations leading work in the region on these themes please see: http://www.yhassembly.gov.uk/Our%20Work/Sustainable%20Development/Sustainable%20Development%20Board%20Advisory%20Group/
Securing volunteers for your project
If you want to secure volunteers for your project see:
Voluntary Action Leeds: http://www.val.org.uk/
BTCV: http://www2.btcv.org.uk/display/btcv_leeds
Groundwork: http://www.groundwork-leeds.org.uk/
Community Action at Leeds Met: http://www.lmusu.org.uk/DisplayPage.aspx?GroupId=37564&id=6441
Leeds University Volunteers (Action?):
Email: i.swift@leeds.ac.uk Phone: 0113 380 1326 http://www.luuonline.com/volunteering/index.php#lookingforvolunteers
Department for Work and Pensions
Contact Caroline McDermott on 0113 307 8176 or email
caroline.a.mcdermott@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk.
Also, contact jon.holland@leedsvoice.org.uk to see if I can suggest any other possiblities.
Funding
Get Commissioned!
You deliver services and you deliver them well. Opportunities exist to bid on Leeds City Council tenders for delivering projects and services on behalf of the Council. If you spot a tender of interest but cannot deliver alone then I will do my best to find partner organisations. If you think you are delivering (or want to deliver) services that meet local needs then you can take a proposal to the appropriate commissioners. A partnership appraoch is favourable if you are seeking to create your own commissioning opportunity.
To view tenders navigate through to the Leeds City Council bulletin board via: http://scms.alito.co.uk/
A guide for groups seeking to participate in Commissioning opportunites is availible at www.leeds.fit4funding.org.uk
Fresource
This new online database covers many areas to do with fundraising; including research tools, resources and websites to help you find information on individuals, companies, trusts, statutory and lottery funding: www.fresource.info/research-room/fresource-db
Abbey Charitable Trust (mainly small grants)
A key priority for this funding round is community regeneration. If your project can bring different sectors of the community together to make environmental improvements to an area then apply soon. No deadline (the sooner the better) http://www.abbeynational.com/csgs/Satellite?c=GSInformacion&cid=1157700344218&pagename=AboutAbbey%2FGSInformacion%2FPAAI_generic
Access to Nature Fund (Available early 2008)
Grants between £50 000 and £500 000 from the Big Lottery Fund. Types of project funded are those involved in community awareness and active participation, education, learning and volunteering and welcoming, well-managed and wildlife-rich places. For further information visit http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/leisure/grants-funding/default.htm
Active Living Fund
Grants of up to £1000 are available through the Kellogs Active Living Fund for projects that remove the "barriers" which stop people being active. For further information visit www.kelloggs.co.uk/company/corporateresponsibility/activelivingfund/
Big Green Challenge
A big prize and several potential smaller prizes for projects that deliver a reduction in C02 emissions. DEADLINE: 3rd March 08.
http://www.biggreenchallenge.org.uk/
Biffaward
Biffaward offer a wide range of funds from small to medium grants for community and biodiversity (wildlife) projects.
http://www.biffaward.org/
Breathing Places
Phase three of the Big Lottery Fund Breathing Places small grants programme will make grants of £1,000 to £10,000 to projects that support community involvement in transforming the local environment and for projects that create and care for wildlife friendly green spaces.
Big Lottery Fund will be running a short seminar about the programme and how to apply to it at 2pm, on 4 December, at Wheeler Hall in Leeds. The seminar will include an introduction to the programme and information from our partner the BBC. If you are interested in finding out more about the seminar or would like to attend, please e-mail stacey.powell@biglotteryfund.org.uk or call our office of 0113 2245300.
If you are interested in the Breathing Places programme but do not want to attend the seminar, further details about it and how to apply are on www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Community Assets Programme
The Big Lottery Fund is delivering the Community Assets programme on behalf of the Office of the Third Sector. There will be a single round of bidding from the 4th September to 15th November 2007. The programme aims to empower communities by offering grants for the refurbishment of local authority buildings in England, to enable the transfer of public buildings to the third sector. The programme is open to joint applications from local authorities and third sector partnerships.
For further information:
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_community_assets.htm
The Community Sustainable Energy Programme
Funded through the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces Programme, CSEP provides grants towards the cost of microgeneration (eg solar, wind and heat pump) technologies. Energy efficiency measures, such as loft and cavity wall insulation, can also be funded in combination with these. Schools, village halls, visitor centres and other community-based organisations in England can benefit from this programme. For more information visit www.communitysustainable.org.uk or tel: 0845 3 671671.
Community Spaces
Groundwork are running the 'community spaces' programme as part of the Big Lottery fund. The scheme will help groups create or improve green and open spaces to improve the quality of life in their neighbourhoods.
http://www.community-spaces.org.uk/
Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust Networks Initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging networks to promote energy efficiency among their members. Proposals are encouraged from a wide variety of project types, providing they meet the eligibility criteria and reduce carbon emissions. Two levels of funding are available as follows: Up to £30,000 - typically for small or introductory projects. At this level, no investment is needed from the applicant. Up to £140,000 - for larger or ongoing programmes of work. At this level, the organisation must invest at least £60,000 in the project itself, regardless of the level of funding applied for. The Initiative cannot support projects that include lobbying activities or that focus on research. .
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/
Carbon Neutral Fund- The Permaculture Association (Britain)
The grant must be used to contribute to reducing carbon emissions / atmospheric carbon, but how this will be achieved is left open. Projects which show how permaculture design thinking has been used will be favoured. Only group members of the Permaculture Association can apply, and projects must be within the UK. This round of the grant scheme has a total of £800 available. We welcome applications for any amount between £100 and £800. The number of grants given will depend on the number and quality of applications.Applications must be received by Friday 7th March 2008.
http://www.permaculture.org.uk/
Green Leeds Limited
Distributes funding rasied from landfill tax credits. Normal conditions for landfill tax credit funding apply. Projects must be related to: reclamation/remediation/restoration of land, degraded due to uses it has previously been put to, to improve it's usability; pollution prevetion, reduction and mitigation; environmental imporvement of public amenities (parks etc); biodiversity projects; environmental protection, restoration, maintainance and repair of places of religious worship or of historical or architechtural interest- must be open to the public.
For further information and/or an application form and guidance notes, please contact Sue Lumby on 0113 247 8185 at Green Leeds Ltd, Resources Team, Neighbourhoods and Housing Dept, 6th Floor, Merrion House, 110 Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8BB.
Unltd/ Guardian
UnLtd and the Guardian have launched the Guardian/UnLtd Green Living Awards; this time they're looking to focus on helping people to think creatively about solving environmental issues and will be offering awards totalling around £100,000 to individuals who want to run innovative environmental projects in their local communities or on a larger scale. The seven themes for the awards (these are for guidance only) are:
Improving urban green spaces
Recycling
Green Transport
Local food initiatives
Campaigning
Alternative energy
'Light bulb' category - for exceptional ideas that don't fit into the above.
These awards will be processed as part of our normal Level 1 Awards. There will also be one award of up to £20,000 for a (Level 2) individual whose project is already up and running and can be expanded.
For more information on the programme see http://www.unltd.org.uk/guardian
or: www.guardian.co.uk/environment/greenlivingawards
Esmee Fairburn
Being more flexible and are open to ideas. Environment and biodiversity remains a prioirty.
www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/funding/index.html
Google Grants
Google Grants offers free advertising, through AdWords, to UK charities involved in science and technology, education, global public health, the environment, youth advocacy, and the arts. See www.google.co.uk/grants/
SITA Trust.
Support community improvement projects around landfill sites owned by the waste management company SITA UK and nature projects around any landfill site in England.
For further information visit http://www.sitatrust.org.uk/apply
Healthy Heart Grants
Grants of up to £10 000 are available to community groups, voluntary organisations and researchers who are spreading the healthy heart message. Heart research UK Healthy Heart Grants support innovative projects designed to promote heart helth and to prevent or reduce the risks of heart disease in specific groups or communities. For further information visit http://www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy_heart_grants.htm
Leeds Primary Care Trust Healthy Living Grants.
The Healthy Living Grants are to help new groups, or assist established groups to develop activities which promote health for individuals, groups or communities. Examples of environment/health cross cutting themes include healthy eating and outdoor activity. For details of Healthy Living Grants Please contact: sajeela.mukhtar@leeds.gov.uk
Local Food Programme (Available February 2008)
Grants from the Big Lottery Fund from £2,000 up to £500,000 will be awarded to projects such as growing, processing, marketing and distributing local food; composting and raising awareness of the benefits of such activities. For further information visit http://www.rswt.org/localfood/
One Living Planet Awards
B&Q are offering awards of between £1,000 and £10,000 in B&Q products to organisations involved in the environment, cultural / heritage projects, or energy saving activities. See www.diy.com/awards
Waterways Trust
Each year The Waterways Trust offers a limited number of small grants for wildlife, environmental, access and educational projects connected to the waterways http://www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk/grants/index.shtml
West Yorkshire Grants
West Yorkshire Grants provides financial support to VCS organizations making a strategic impact on the social or cultural infrastructure in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. Grants are available from a minimum of £5,000 for activities on a range of project types including environmental conservation. More info at: http://www.wyg.wyjs.org.uk/index.asp?pg=indexhome.htm
WRAP Organics Capital Grant Programme
The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has launched the Organics Capital Grant Programme to realise a significant increase in the available processing capacity for source-segregated food waste which would otherwise be disposed of to landfill. WRAP is seeking to provide financial assistance of up to 30% towards the capital costs of plant, equipment and infrastructure for food waste processing capacity compliant with the Animal By-Product Regulations (ABPR) in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. To be considered for WRAP funding support, projects must meet all of the following requirements: Be a capital investment (operating costs are not eligible) to create new or expand existing food waste processing capacity, compliant with the ABPR, diverting food waste from landfill into recycled products. Be located in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Be installed and fully operational by 31 December 2010. Use commercially proven technology. Use source-segregated food waste from the municipal, commercial and/or industrial waste streams (that would otherwise go to landfill). Preference will be given to facilities co-processing food waste-rich feedstock from municipal and commercial/industrial sources. Be able to demonstrate that the project viability is dependent on WRAP support. Be commercially sustainable in the medium and long term. Demonstrate clearly defined end markets for the output(s) of the project. Projects will not be eligible for funding if: the proposed facility is treating waste from a single commercial or industrial company; or the proposed facility is processing the organic residual fraction from mixed municipal waste. There are separate application forms for England and Northern Ireland, and Scotland. (Support for facilities in Wales is run under a separate programme.)
The deadline for applications is 30 June 2008 (1.30 pm).
Workshops offering further information about the aims of the programme and guidance for completing an application will be held on:
28 April 2008 - Leeds.
This is the first in a series of rounds under the Organics Capital Grant Programme (subject to the continued requirement for funding).
http://www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/funding/
Small Grants to Voluntary Organisations
The Council’s booklet “Small Grants to Voluntary Organisations” is available online at www.leeds.gov.uk— search for ‘small grants’, then click on ‘Small Grants to Voluntary Organisations’ and then click on ‘small grants booklet’ in the right hand column.
Leeds Local Development Framework- Core Strategy
The Leeds Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy is currently out for public consultation. The LDF is a collection of planning policy documents, the core strategy is the principle document that must be taken into account when deciding planning applications and planning where new things will be built. The Core Strategy will help shape the future appearance, liveability and environmental performance of the City. It is the principle document in the Local Development Framework (LDF) and is aligned to the Regional Spatial Strategy (Integrated Regional Framework), national planning policy and the Vision for Leeds. The old planning system (the Unitary Development Plan) stipulated what can be built and where, the LDF is an advancement of this aiming to deliver social, economic and environmental objectives through spatial (land use) planning.
The Core Strategy has 4 key aims:
Protect, enhance and manage the environment.
Promote economic success, with a high quality of life.
Narrow the gap between disadvantaged communities and the rest of Leeds.
Promote and develop Leeds’ role within Leeds City Region as a competitive European city.
There are 5 key objectives:
Environment
Economy
Regeneration and renewal
Future developments
Well-connected city
There are 4 future scenarios which will help guide how Leeds’ built environment changes over the next 20 years- respondents are asked which option they would prefer ranging from ‘maintaining existing policy approaches’ (business as usual) to creating ‘new urban neighbourhoods’.
Other themes and subthemes include: greenspace, health, cultural facilities, gypsy and traveller sites, flood risk, affordable housing, crime, transport, community safety, waste management, identifying town and local centres etc.
It takes about 1 hour to read the consultation document and answer the questions. The most important thing to note is that you can say what is missing without having to be asked with a consultation question.
See: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/page.aspx?pageID=1d747321-11cb-4008-869c-8f7e77d9daea files are down the right hand side of the screen, you will need to look at the ‘Issues and Alternative Options’ document if interested.
The consultation is open until 4th December. This document is important to anyone wanting Leeds to develop in a way that is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
Please use the comments button to give your views on the contents of the Core Strategy so that you can inform and inspire others who may respond to the consultation. This blog is not part of the consultation process it is to inform you of the consultation and to provide a place for discussion and information sharing.
The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) is important for influencing Leeds planning policy and is taken into account when deciding planning applications. There are some proposed changes to the RSS, including a weakening of the requirement for new developments to have on-site renewable energy generation. To make a representation on the proposed changes please see:
http://www.goyh.gov.uk/goyh/plan/regplan/propchanges/
The deadline for responses is 21st December 2007
Welcome to the blog!
Welcome to the new Environment Forum blog. I hope this blog will provide the following things:
- Information about strategic developments in Leeds.
- A place to give your views and debate the content of strategies.
- A place where the forum representatives on the Climate Change Strategy Group and Aire Action Leeds can come to glean your views and take them forward to strategic meetings.
- A place for forum members to share information.
- A place to network and find out what is happening strategically and at a community level.
Please send me information which you would like to see posted on the blog.
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