Minutes of Last Meeting
Were approved.
3. Matters Arising
JFB has spoken to Bronwyn Hill, CEO of GOSW and Jane Henderson – CEO of SW RDA about the need to provide reasoned incentives to business to encourage invest into sustainable energy. They have agreed to lobby govt, i.e. MPs and the House of Lords
Action: JFB, CP, AM to develop document to support this.
Action: With regard to discussion detailed in the previous minutes relating to copywriting AM and MH to speak to copywriter about getting suitable information finalised.
4. Feedback from Steering Group
For a full account of the last steering group meeting, please see minutes attached.
JFB provided information relating to the Local Area Agreement (LAA), which operates under the umbrella of the Devon Strategic Partnership. This 4 year agreement between DCC and the ODPM has 4 key strands. The 4th block relating to Economic Development and Enterprise has ‘sustainable energy’ as one of the key outcomes. This will potentially lever in additional finance and the question was raised as to whether DSEN could take on a delivery role of the agreement. It was agreed that DSEN would be happy to do this subject to further detail. Further to this there was also discussion about how to best engage with the unitary authorities of Plymouth and Torbay in the LAA delivery. RH could help with engaging PCC on this matter. The Federation of Small Business could also support cross county involvement. AM also suggested that Resonate could assist with delivery in future.
Action: FS to send LAA documents to all for information.
Update: Please see draft LAA documents attached.
JFB also informed group that Devon and Cornwall Business Council will be staging a business networking event on the 7th July at the Arundel Arms in Lifton, North Devon.
Action: FS to send out programme.
Update: Please see programme attached.
5. Renewable Energy 4 Devon Bid
JFB gave a brief overview about the project and confirmed that the RED interim project managers were in the process of recruiting the business coordinator and that a web site would eventually be up and running and would provide the full project details.
6. Working with EDF
Unfortunately Phillippe Castonet from EDF was unable to attend the meeting. However JFB confirmed that he would be at the event on the 7th July (see above) and would be able to discuss the type of support that EDF could provide for the group. At this stage there is an offer for the use of office facilities. The Plymouth Marine Aquarium can also provide facilities. It was agreed that the sub group would use the University facilities as the main base and then use other meeting facilities on a more occasional basis. The next meeting will therefore be at the Marine Aquarium followed by the University and then at the EDF office.
Action: FS to fix meeting at the Marine Aquarium.
Update: Meeting arranged and booked for 26.9.06 @ 10am
Discussion ensued about the potential to hold the next meeting there with a follow on networking event targeting local Plymouth business. It was eventually agreed that this was a good idea and would be worth pursuing if it did not duplicate what was already being done by the Carbon Trust and Envison. It was also mentioned that this idea may also be progressed when the RED business development manager is in post.
7. Members projects/news/events update.
AM informed group that he was working for the EST Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes and that they are targeting large scale private sector landlords with energy efficiency advice and info. Further info can be found at www.est.org.uk.
CP expressed concern about the political influence that can come into play when submitting planning applications for projects. The group agreed that there was concern around this issue and that the forthcoming Regional Spatial Strategy and the Local Development Frameworks and also potential networking and influencing work that will happen as a result of Renewable Energy 4 Devon may help to alleviate this problem.
RT as Dartline Energy is working on a refrigeration project with EDF and is looking for any businesses that require considerable cold storage supply to do technology monitoring. He would welcome any ideas of businesses who would like to get involved in this.
AL working with Nick Backhouse from Eco Exmoor and raised the issue of the lack of installers for DTI funded Solar HW heating systems in the area. It was confirmed that this was one of the issues that the RED Business Development manager will be tasked with upon appointment. AM agreed that would talk to Devon colleges of Further Education to discuss potential.
AH told the group that Plymouth Marine Aquarium has received £3.6M from SWRDA and Millennium Commission to develop the facility. This includes the theme of climate change and RE. As discussed above there is potential to hold events here to showcase the facility to local business.
Action: FS to contact Carbon Trust, Envision to discuss potential to use facility and how this ties in with what they are doing.
Action: AH also to speak to Mike Leece about the value of this.
RB told the group that his organisation aims to promote sustainable energy to property developers and has hosted various seminars regarding the technologies available. He has also installed solar power to a school in Sidmouth and is keen to influence local government.
FS gave outline of the programme of work that Devon Local Energy Support Team with be undertaking in 06/07. This will include a new way of working with LA’s to offer the opportunity for an energy survey across 4 key areas: Housing, Their own buildings, Transport and in the Community, the outcome being the production of a sustainable energy action plan. This project has already been piloted in 3 Devon authorities and LEST are looking to work with 4 others. Any ideas as to which authorities the group thought would be useful to target would be appreciated. It was suggested that PCC would be worth approaching.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
26th September 2006, 10am – 12.30pm
National Marine Aquarium
Plymouth
