Download NESCCP minutes 31 August 2011

North East Scotland Climate Change Partnership
Wednesday 13 April 2011
10am
Town House, Aberdeenshire Council
Present: Bill Slee (chair) (James Hutton Institute), Andrew Spence (Chamber of Commerce),
Cllr John CAlison Leslie, Andrew Win (All Aberdeen City Council), Cllr Martin Ford, Kelly
Wiltshire, Peter McRae, Belinda Miller, (All Aberdeenshire Council) Iain Carstairs (Scottish
Enterprise), Rachel Fairfax (GFRS), Nia Garniati(Robert Gordon University), Frasier Lovie,
Mark Reed (both University of Aberdeen),
Apologies: Ian Cowe (Forestry Commission), Alan Owen (Robert Gordon University), Emma
Gordon (Moray Council), Andy Willox (FSB), Lorna Patterson (NFUS), Allan Whyte, Robert
Gray (Aberdeenshire Council), Alastair Graham, Alan Cormack (Grampian Police), George
Baxter (S&SE), Gavin Miles (Cairngorm National Park Authority), Ewen Cameron (SNH), Alex
Tait (NHS Grampian)
Minutes DRAFT
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Apologies as above.
2
The minutes of the meeting on 27 January 2011 were agreed as accurate.
3
Matters arising – unless covered in Agenda
Group discussed the points that came up through the brainstorming session of the
previous meeting in January. Main points included:
How do we get business involved in the partnership?
A discussion round the group took place with suggestions included; land use
sector, Energetica and Acsef.
Action
Further discussions took place about what other organisations that should be
involved?
Suggestions included:
Harbours board
Fishing/sailing communities
House Builders/construction industry?
4
Update from members:
NHS Grampian: CHP biomass and conventional boilers energy centre is
progressing at Foresterhill. This should avoid 8,000 tonnes of carbon in next few
years.
AT
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce: Northern Star Business
Awards includes a Green Award, Deadline for nominations is the 20th of May.
AS
Aberdeenshire Council: Cairngorms National Park now helping to part fund the
RS/KF
bio mass development officer for another three years. LED street light trial in Ellon
has had favourable feedback from public. RM is preparing a report on the effects
of the oil prices on the economy of the North East of Scotland covering the issues
of how the Council can decouple from Oil. The Council has submitted its
Scotland’s Climate Change Declaration annual report and has developed a new
Climate Change Action Plan. This is primarily focussed on mitigation. Further
work is currently being undertaken on awareness raising and adaptation. The
Council has protested to MP’s about the delay of the renewable heat incentive.
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Scottish Enterprise: Low Carbon economy: Lots of projects, including high level
events and workshops for businesses and one to one support; work with Carbon
Trust and Zero Waste Scotland. Currently retendering for Lean Management
Thinking and pulling together a timetable.
IC
Aberdeen City Council: Producing ‘The next energy revolution’ and the EU 2020
delivering a low carbon economy position papers. Hosting a National Conference
on renewables on 21 June at the Douglas Hotel. ACC are moving to Marischal
College which will provide them with big reductions in carbon. Estimated at 5,000
tonnes per year and is a big part of the city’s carbon management plan. This will
include a biomass boiler which was EU funded. Has produced the Scotland’s
Climate Change Declaration annual report and was involved in Earth Hour and
Climate Week.
JF/AL
Grampian Fire and Rescue Service, on agenda.
NG
Robert Gordon University: Two strands, own internal carbon management plan.
Took part in Earth House and energy consumption is displayed in all buildings.
Also doing work on resource and technology matching. Currently pulling together
some case studies on renewable energy. Group gave suggestions of different
organisations that NG could perhaps use and these may also become part of the
NESCCP’s case studies.
BS
James Hutton Institute: Five year programme of work of which Climate Change
is a big part. One project includes looking at the impact of Climate Change on
water including water quality in the Dee. BS referred to two documents which
have been published recently the Royal Society of Edinburgh report on Climate
Change and the Climate Change Committee Scotland report. Another project
involves examining behavioural change ‘The impact of workplace initiatives’ May
develop an academic sub-group of the NESCCP for the purposes of academic
research possibly through a consortium.
KW
Communities of Practice website: KW gave a presentation which showed the
new NESCCP communities of practice site which is ideal for sharing documents
and good practice between members. KW to circulate the presentation.
RF
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Grampian Fire and Rescue Service: GFRS have recently published their
Carbon Management Plan and an Environmental Handbook for staff. RF to
publish this on communities of practice site. RF also wants to make sure that
GFRS don’t cause problems whilst drilling or doing flood training.
Work plan for the year ahead:
Priority is to develop a website and case studies. KW/AL to pursue a free
website. Suggestions include a facebook page. All to consider case studies and
make suggestions to group.
ALL
KW/AL
JF
AOCB: Events coming up: 21 June: renewables conference hosted by
Aberdeen City Council. JF to circulate more details on this.
RM/BS
September 2012. British Science Festival coming to Aberdeen. This is a large
event which attracted 35,000 people when it was held in Guildford in 2009.
Suggestions for how we can showcase Climate Change work in the North East of
Scotland at the event.
ALL
Date of next meeting; 31 August 2011, venue The Robert Gordon University,
10am. Possibly to include presentations from RM and Acsef (Jamie Bell) on
energy issues