The first drafts

pioneering energy descent plan writing, TTL's groups introduce us to the first drafts of their Plans

Plan Group meeting, 9 April 08

Present: Adrienne, Chloe, Colin, David, Julia, Kevin, Kristina, Patrick, Pippa, Polly, Ruth

Feedback from groups on the first drafts of their Plans

Julia and Kristina from the Waste Group

  • used previous EDAPs as a basis
  • questioned how useful year by year timescales are as things change so rapidly
  • the plan as ideas for action rather than year by year project outline
  • suggested prioritising projects for the first five years
  • problem that there are only two people in this group at the moment
  • problem is knowing how to prioritise actions
  • question as to how much research of the current situation as well as possibilities is necessary? it is difficult to evaluate research; should the evaluation of possibilities be done at the level of the transition network to avoid duplication of effort; how to go beyond national and local policy; sometimes local and global perspectives conflict
  • the first draft contained: description of the current situation; the vision; aims and objectives, targets and indicators; and priorities for action

Chloe and Colin from the Local Government and Policy Group

  • fed back on how the group is engaging with local government and the information being collected on the wiki about national, regional and local policy, exploring ways of engaging with local council, ideas welcome!
  • key document for TTL is the Lewes District Local Development Framework which is currently being worked on and a public consulation due in early 2009
  • key national policy is the PPS1 Climate Change and Planning document
  • exciting prospect that they there is a coincidence of TTL's Plan and the LDF
  • noted that TTL does not want to be constrained by, rather would like to go beyond current national and local policy, also that government frameworks may block implementation of TTL's vision rather than facilitate it,
  • question of the need for and method of campaigning

David from the Transport Group

  • used the Kinsale transport plan and worked on TTL's aims, looking at the group's resources and interests, ie in walking, cycling, public transport and congestion
  • working on the plan was a good process for the group

Ruth from the Food Group

  • based the first draft on the Waste Group's plan as well as other transition towns' plan and discussions in the food group
  • has been written by Ruth with only one comment from group members
  • feeling there needs to be much more research and involvement from the groups' members as well as building links with other groups and networks

Patrick and Adrienne from the Business and Currency Group

  • the group had a visioning session which proved very positive for the group, revealing conflicting views and different paths which could be taken – to be recommended

Kevin from the Health Group

  • problem of only two people in the group with constraints on the time they can offer to the group, suggestion that funding for the research and writing of the plan would be helpful in enabling people to devote time to it
  • more input from others as well as more research is needed
  • noted that the vision is very challenging to the status quo

How can we move the Plans forward?

session facilitated by Pippa and Polly from the EDAP Group asking people to get into small groups of two or three and look at the following questions:

  • what worked well in the writing of the first draft?
  • what is stopping progress?
  • which resources are lacking?

some feedback from this session:

  • it is difficult to stay with the positive vision in the current climate
  • lack of people in a group is a problem
  • the visioning process was very helpful for the group
  • important to stay with your passion, interests and inspiration
  • how can the groups work together?
  • what are the possibilities for funding?
  • what type of document will the EDAP be? who is it for? answers to these questions will help in creating the document:
    • a tool to inspire people, to get people involved, create hope and ideas for action
    • possible audiences might be Lewes residents, local government, businesses, perhaps requiring different versions
    • local visions, local solutions to local and global problems
    • need not be all-encompassing, will inevitably be revised and added to

Next steps

  • contact groups not here, offer support perhaps with a visioning session or discussion of writing plans or just fleshing out groups: Pippa will coordinate
  • what needs funding?: Patrick will list possibilities for discussion
  • EDAP session at the forthcoming Transition Conference: Adrienne is hosting a session with Rob
  • Shaun Chamberlain's Transition Timeline: Pippa will feed back* continuing with the plans
  • ecofootprinting base lines: Colin offered his help

The next meeting

Thursday 15 May, Lewes Arms, 7.30pm

agenda will include:

  • feedback from groups
  • stories in the Plan
  • outreach
  • funding for the Plan

Get involved: contact hello [at] TransitionTownLewes.org.uk