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Attendance and Apologies
Introductions were made and apologies given.
Minutes of last Meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting were examined and all agreed the actions had been satisfactorily carried out. The minutes were agreed to be a true reflection of the meeting and were officially accepted.
ACTION: Jo to circulate revised Aims, Objectives and Terms of Reference
Matters Arising
There were none.
Feedback from Steering Group meeting
PB fed back the chairs reports from the steering group. Please see attached steering group minutes for a full account. The other main discussion points were as follows:
annual conference
The annual conference was discussed at the steering group meeting so JN gave background on how the initial ideas were formed: The sub groups were consulted and their ideas were discussed between the chairs at a teleconference and the final ideas were taken to the steering group for approval.
To summarise the objectives of the conference will be mainly recruitment, networking and raising the profile of DSEN. All four sectors of DSEN will be represented by inspirational speakers at the beginning of the, with the focus gradually moving towards renewable energy, particularly Devon’s potential to become a net exporter of energy and the benefits this will bring to local economy. The proposed venue is Roadford Lake in West Devon as there is potential sponsorship from South West Water for this, plus there are 3 hydro turbines in the dam here which could be toured during the conference.
Some discussion took place regarding the RESG’s opinions on the conference plan, including following the “Greener Events Guide” and offsetting carbon produced during the event and also keeping down the cost of admission and exhibiting.
ACTION: Jo to send out details of costs Please see draft conference plan attached.
website
Jo advised that the DSEN website is now live and available at www.dsen.org.uk. The RESG have their own page which, at the moment, is fairly empty. The page is for this group to decide what they would like to display.
ACTION: Group to send ideas / articles for inclusion to Jo.
quick win
TN briefly outlined the fact that there is some potential funding for “quick wins” from each of the DSEN sub groups, i.e. small projects which can be completed or at least well underway by the conference in the spring. He advised he had sent Graham Horler the prioritised list of actions from the prioritisation exercise last meeting, and would address this further later.
Feedback from LA Sub-Group
TN gave some background to this topic: The decision was made to form a LA working group following the RSS consultation on July 19th. The group was to attend the Public Sector sub group meeting to address planning issues at the end of the session. However the RSS is now on the internet and consultation starting shortly. Regen have at least one planner from every LA in Devon working on this with them, which may well be a result of DSEN activity and the attention given lately to the planning issues. Therefore it was felt that it was not necessary to form a LA sub group at this stage.
A discussion ensued around the issues this group face with planners, in particular NB highlighted some planning issues with Dartmoor NPA and North Devon when submitting applications for solar. The particular applications were not in conservation areas and not on listed buildings but were still rejected.
CH pointed out that although planning policy is being dealt with, LA’s still do not know how to deliver. This could be an opportunity for DSEN to support LA’s through the implementation.
In general the opinion is that policies around new build are OK but the existing stock needs dealing with and on this topic some LA’s are very supportive but a number are not. Discussion continued around the need to engage with high level policy makers and to encourage regulation – policies with teeth! The suggestion was made that as the chair of DSEN is a CEO we should ask for his help on this issue.
ACTION: RESG to ask John Sunderland for advice on this issue.
It was discussed that Regen SW, DSEN and DSBI could pool resources and tackle this problem across Devon. Also GOSW are suggesting that permitted developing rights will come around in the future, so this will no longer be a planning issue.
ACTION: NB to find out Solar Trade Associations stand on this and report back to Jo.
It appears planners and SPO’s are becoming more educated but then come up against negative councillors. This could be the last bit of the bottleneck.
ACTION: RESG to look at what Woking BC achieved and see how it was done.
It was suggested that the FSB could lobby for permitted development and that DSEN ought to make representation to support this also.
ACTION: DSEN and FSB to support permitted development.
RESG Action Plan – confirmation of priorities and agreeing of timescales
TN described the analysis he had carried out on the data following the prioritisation exercise at the last meeting. Following this he came up with a list of the top 12 priorities:
Priority | Action |
1 | Produce SW focused best practice case studies & network of exemplar installations and projects |
2 | Encourage Devon RE businesses and emphasise the relevance to the local economy |
3 | Promote the positive benefits of RE to communities – Link to the Renewable Energy in Devon (RED) project. |
4 | Compile a RE database of Devon, SW based businesses |
5 | Provide RE training for councillors and officers (particularly at a district level) |
6 | Make available objective information about the various RE technologies |
7 | Carry out a major community focused media campaign about sustainable energy |
8 | Influence Planning Policy (SPGs). Produce a model SPD for RE that can be adapted for individual authorities |
9 | Develop supportive RE policies for Local Planning Authorities across Devon |
10 | Support local RE companies to supply demand |
11 | Persuade funders to support smaller schemes (not just large turbines) |
12 | Lobby Government to introduce building regulations and planning policies that require more RE and energy efficiency |
The group then began discussing each point to try and add in a timescale for each:
1. Produce SW focused best practice case studies & network of exemplar installations and projects. There is a Devon RE guide which was produced a few years ago and although it missed some technologies it could be used as a starting point and could be updated. It would be good to put this on the website and should be easily downloadable, i.e. in PDF format, for people to print off and take out to events etc. PS discussed producing the Devon concept map. She explained it would be a marriage of art and information and would show the geographical location of sustainable energy installations, suppliers and information agencies in Devon as well as examples of good practice. It was discussed that it is important to distinguish between good practice examples and Devon based examples – they may not always be the same thing, although both could have their place on the website. Jo offered to administer both good practice examples and Devon based examples onto the website and requested volunteers to find the necessary information. The volunteers were as follows:
Simon Holt – Wind power
Pat Sykes
Mike Pitcher
Nick Backhouse - Solar
Tony Norton
Gary Martin
ACTION: These 6 volunteers to find useful information or examples of good practice and return to Jo before Christmas.
2. Encourage Devon RE businesses and emphasise the relevance to the local economy.
The RED (Renewable Energy in Devon) bid will play a large part in this. DSEN should know by December 12th whether this is going ahead.
3.Promote the positive benefits of RE to communities – Link to the Renewable Energy in Devon (RED) project. This action point centres around publicity and can be helped by populating the website. Engaging with the press is also important.
4.Compile a RE database of Devon, SW based businesses.
There is an available database of South West RE businesses available through Regen SW. The Devon EEAC’s training officer, Kate Dooley, is currently refining this to just Devon based businesses.
5.Provide RE training for councillors and officers (particularly at a district level).
Regen are running a pilot councillor event in North Devon and will need funding to roll this out across Devon. Mid Devon have used a consultant for this.
ACTION: RESG to find out how Mid Devon got the funding to employ a consultant.
6. Make available objective information about the various RE technologies.
This could be done through signposting on the website to organisations and publications such as:
DEFRA
Environment Agency
Carbon Trust
DTi
EST
Devon RE guide
DARE factsheets
<sty sys-align-left><sty Normal><sty sys-italic> <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal><sty sys-italic>7. Carry out a major community focused media campaign about sustainable energy <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal>This will be partly achieved through the website and conference. <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal> <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal><sty sys-italic>8. Influence Planning Policy (SPGs). Produce a model SPD for RE that can be adapted for individual authorities <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal>This is underway. <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal> <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal><sty sys-italic>9. Develop supportive RE policies for Local Planning Authorities across Devon <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal>This is underway. <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal> <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal><sty sys-italic>10. Support local RE companies to supply demand <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal>This will be achieved through RED. <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal> <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal><sty sys-italic>11. Persuade funders to support smaller schemes (not just large turbines) <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal>The Low Carbon Building Initiative is a funding stream which will replace Clear Skies. RESG need to make sure this money comes to Devon therefore we need to learn the rules ASAP <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal> <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal><sty sys-italic>12. Lobby Government to introduce building regulations and planning policies that require more RE and energy efficiency. There is a letter to a local MP from the Sustainable Development Foundation and the Green Alliance trying to lobby government on this subject. <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>ACTION: Jo to check credibility of the letter and if appropriate send out with minutes. <sty sys-align-left> <sty sys-list><sty sys-item><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>RED bid update <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal>This was covered earlier in the meeting. Please see executive summary attached for further information. <sty sys-align-left> <sty sys-list><sty sys-item><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>News/events <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal>December 7<sty sys-superscript>th – Regen SW training event for planners. <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal>December 13<sty sys-superscript>th – DARE Anaerobic Digestion event. <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal>December 13<sty sys-superscript>th – DSEN Domestic Energy & Health and Public Sector meetings, contact Jo for information. <sty sys-align-left> <sty sys-list><sty sys-item><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>Presentation on Den Brook Wind Farm – Rachel Ruffle <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal>Please see attached presentation for details. <sty sys-align-left> <sty sys-list><sty sys-item><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>Presentation on Batsworthy Cross Wind Farm – Simon Holt <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal>For more information please go to information go to <WEM ELNK0002><sty sys-underline>http://www.npower-renewables.com/batsworthycross/index.asp <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal> <sty sys-list><sty sys-item><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>AOB <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal><sty sys-italic>DSEN at events - Jo had wanted to go to the Batsworthy Cross open day to promote DSEN but it was decided this might not be such a good idea as Jo does not have the technical knowledge to field questions from opposers. This needs to be investigated at steering group level before attending such events. It was suggested we go as a sustainable energy network and give a sustainable energy perspective of Devon. Also other members of the sub group may be better placed than Jo to attend such events, volunteers please! It was felt the whole group should be consulted on this as remaining impartial is an important asset to DSEN – we cant be seen to actively support one project and not another and whilst our presence is important, we need to be careful how we are perceived. <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>ACTION: Whole of sub group to be alerted to this issue and problem to be raised at next steering group meeting. <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal><sty sys-italic>Devon RE strategy – The original RE strategy has been worked on by Peter Capener. Ian Hutchcroft (DCC) would like to see the RESG sign up to this document. It was discussed that although the document is historical and doesn’t account for the Revision 2020 targets, it would be good for the RESG to support it. Due to time constraints it was decided that this document would be circulated with the minutes and the RESG would return comments to Jo. This will be an agenda item for discussion at the next meeting. <sty sys-align-left><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>ACTION: Jo to circulate document (attached) and RESG to consider it and return comments to Jo ready for further discussion at next meeting. <sty sys-align-left> <sty sys-align-left> <sty sys-align-left> <sty sys-align-center><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>DATE OF NEXT MEETING <sty sys-align-center><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>Tuesday 21<sty sys-bold><sty sys-superscript>st<sty sys-bold> February 2006 <sty sys-align-center><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>Committee Room A, Northcote house <sty sys-align-center><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>Exeter University <sty sys-align-center><sty Normal><sty sys-bold>1.30pm - 4.00pm
