[FOR INFO]: C&NE Network email

here is the latest collection of handy information to help us get active in tackling the Climate & Nature Emergency, as usual time sensitive issues are in blue

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

1. The Chew Valley Sustainable Transport group has launched a survey for people who regularly commute (at least once a week) from the Chew Valley area to Bristol or Bath. We are hoping to present the findings to one of their regular fortnightly meetings, so please do fill this in by Tuesday 28th November if it applies to you and forward the information to friends and family who live in the Chew Valley area asap

https://forms.gle/jjzrD1ZfESMvEUX1A

2. The Chew Valley Sustainable Transport group is looking for new members to join the team, if you would like to sit in on one of their meetings please contact me and I will send you the link. the next one is on Tuesday 28th November.

3. New government fund for businesses to create sustainable transport

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-2-million-competition-launched-to-help-decarbonise-local-transport?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=e7b6efcf-e6f2-4f70-9f94-aa51415db8f2&utm_content=weekly

RETROFITTING

1. Friends of the Earth recently commissioned a report from the New Economics Foundation which sets a pathway for local authorities to put in place “A street-level, rapid response retrofit strategy”

https://policy.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2022-08/Council-Led%20Retrofit%20Final.pdf

2. Green Open Homes B&NES 2023 

a message from the organisers

Green Open Homes B&NES 2023 is a wrap! Many thanks to all our 22 Home Openers, 788 visitors, 46 volunteers and 55 hours spent sewing bunting – we explored living more sustainably as a community. Decked out with bunting, flags, case studies and brimming with shared learning, the Open Homes showcased energy saving measures and have inspired visitors wherever they are on their own eco-friendly journeys.

3. a message from Jackie Clayton & Louise Morris Head of Green Transformation 

(job-share) about a grant for retrofitting community properties

UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Rural England Prosperity Fund
This is a new funding scheme for rural communities, to be launched early in 2024 by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). 

The purpose of this funding from central Government for rural areas is to improve community infrastructure with the intention of boosting economic resilience, improving community cohesion and wellbeing, and taking action to combat the climate and ecological emergencies. We are particularly keen to see bids for capital improvements to village halls or other community facilities (retrofit for energy efficiency – eg insulation, heat pumps, solar PV); installation of community EV charging points (where these are not already being supported by B&NES/WECA via other funding); and green infrastructure projects. 

Further details will be published by WECA in coming weeks, but B&NES expect key points as follows: 

•       Funding is only available to rural areas of B&NES (ie, not Bath or Keynsham).
•       Grant funding will cover capital expenditure only and must be fully spent by 31 March 2025. There is no carry forward for the funding if unspent by 31st March 2025, funding will be lost. 
•       There is no associated revenue funding to pay for support staff, delivering services or undertaking design or feasibility work available from this grant.  
•       Maximum bid value £40,000, minimum bid value £10,000. We are expecting the fund will support around 10 projects across B&NES with an average value of £20k 25k. 
•       Applications must be made by the entity that will incur the eligible expenditure (the entity that grant will be paid to), or the landowners of the site where the works will take place. Where applications are made to carry out works on land or property that is not owned by the applicant, landowners express consent will be needed.
•       All applications that are not directly submitted by Parish Councils must be accompanied by a letter of support from the relevant Parish Council.   
•       Proposals should be ready to be delivered, ideally with contractor quotes and all consents in place where required (eg planning, listed building consent etc) at the point of application.  
•       Value for money will be part of the assessment process and an ability to show that the price you will pay for eligible works is competitive and reflects market rates will be helpful. You must not directly award contracts for works without some process, except in cases where your own procurement policy allows this.

B&NES are working with WECA to arrange a workshop for potential applicants to talk through project proposals before Christmas.

Please indicate your interest in this via Harriet Garstang in our Green Transformation Service and we will provide more details when available.

Email: jackielouise_jobshare@bathnes.gov.uk

ECONOMIC INFLUENCES ON THE C&NE

For anyone who didn’t catch the Bristol Ideas Festival of economics there are opportunities to catch up:

1. What does food tell us about the economy? (article)

2. How the battle for minerals will shape our future (audio recording) https://soundcloud.com/bristol-ideas/how-the-battle-for-minerals-will-shape-our-future-16-nov-2023?in=bristol-ideas/sets/festival-of-economics-2023&mc_cid=d6ea458442&mc_eid=445885bf30

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