Minutes of South Wiltshire Agenda 21 Forum

6:30pm, City Hall, Salisbury

18th October 2007

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Present: Rachel Ross, Chair, Ruth Popplestone, Vice-chair, Peter Durnan, Treasurer, Pam
Rouquette, Secretary, Lis Woods (minutes). Anne Case, Cllr. Paul Clegg, Chris Cochrane, Martin
Covington, Mary Dickson, Sue Evans, Robina Hattersley, Graham Herbert, Ione Lacey, Rachel Lucas,
Angela Macquiban, Amy and Jon Maxwell, Martin Mottram, Mary Paisey, Maggie Paul, Jane Pelly,
Graham Rendall, Susan and Richard Sampson, Derek and Kathrine Sealey, Rona Shellabear, Mary
and Richard Spears, Ken Taylor, Camilla Timms, Tony West, Margaret Willmot.

1. Welcome, introductions and opening of the Forum

Rachel welcomed all present, and opened the Forum.

2. Apologies:
Rosemary Allen, Rosamaria Denton, Gillian Greenwood, Fiona Hulbert, Jennie Hoare, Angela Jones,
Robin Russell

3. Minutes of the Last Meeting – The minutes of the meeting held on 22nd March 2007 were signed as
a true record.

4. Matters Arising – Leo Hickman’s Festival talk and the showing of the film An Inconvenient Truth had
both been successful and well attended. The film had attracted cross-party attendance, including the
Mayor and Mayoress. The Agenda 21 contribution to the Salisbury Show had been well received, with
good input from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and a first outing for the new marquee. This was
weatherproof and measured 4 by 6 metres. It was available for hire at a reasonable price – enquirers
should approach Committee members. Views would be welcome on whether to take part in the Show
next year, other venues are also being considered, including Downton Cuckoo Fair.

5. Presentations: A Global Perspective

Recycling in India – Robina Hattersley - Robina circulated photographs illustrating her study visit to
a women’s self-help group in a very small town in Bangalore. Regular savers were able to borrow a
multiple of their savings from the Bank of India, on a credit union model. They could then invest in
tools and other items in order to set up small enterprises which not only brought in money but also
provided employment for others. One group had decided to operate as ‘scavengers’. The District
Council had provided uniforms and equipment. The group took all the local rubbish to a recycling
centre, Items that could be reused or recycled were removed for that purpose, and all the remaining
waste was composted, using rainwater. Government wanted all small towns to set up similar centres.
In reply to questions, Robina confirmed that the scheme provided a lot of jobs and had government
support. Forum members had seen related practices elsewhere in India, e.g. bags made of old
newsprint and a ban on plastic bags.
Composting & Sustainable Agriculture in Zambia & Malawi - Rachel Lucas & Pam Rouquette -
Pam and Rachel both had links with Harvest Help (HH), an NGO whose motto was: Sowing the seeds
of self-reliance. Working through small local NGOs, HH supported a range of sustainable agriculture
projects. Traditional farming methods had been lost as a result of government provision of fertilisers
and pesticides but when subsidies were withdrawn at the insistence of the World Bank and IMF, crops
had failed and people starved. HH’s approach was to encourage cooperatives to be set up. Training
and basic materials were supplied to allow local people to build their own communal grain stores and
composting pits, into which planting could be done directly. By these methods and others such as
“green manure” (under-plantings to be ploughed in around food crops), the creation of “bunds” to
retain water and more diversity in plantings, the quality of crops had been improved dramatically and
there were three harvests a year instead of one. Storage meant produce kept better, and sale could
be phased over time and command stable prices. Some farmers could now afford livestock, whose
manure further improved the crops. As farmers gained new skills they were used to teach others.
Some farmers were trained to become certified seed multipliers, producing quality local seed and
removing the need to repeat expensive purchases from internationals like Monsanto. Seed from
several sources was mixed to ensure consistency. Many projects involved women, who had
responded very well to what was a novel role for them. The success of the project was well illustrated
by the accompanying photographs. In discussion, it was suggested human waste might be used as
fertiliser, though health hazards would need to be addressed. Replying to questions, the speakers
pointed out that each project lasted no more than 5 years, by which time they should be self-sufficient.
There was continuing follow-up and training. Projects were diverse; including for example bee-
keeping, growing sunflowers for oil, work to improve nutrition for AIDS victims. There was strong
 support and funding for this type of venture from the EU and DFID. These bodies also ensured clear
accountability. HH was only one of many NGOs.
The Chair thanked the speakers for their excellent presentations, and invited Camilla Timms to speak
about composting in Wiltshire. Camilla said Wiltshire Wildlife Trust were keen to encourage
composting and were looking for “composting ambassadors” who would spread the word. There was
to be a training day in Devizes on 3 November. Anyone interested should phone Camilla on 01380
725670 ext 235.

6. Salisbury District Council visit to Woking Borough Council – Pam reported that she, as the
Agenda 21 representative, had accompanied four SDC councillors to Woking, including John English,
Chair of the E. & T. Scrutiny Panel Climate Change Review. Woking was a pioneer of green thinking
and a beacon council. It had adopted Agenda 21’s slogan “Thinking Globally, Acting Locally” and had
both a portfolio holder for sustainability and officers responsible for that and for climate change. The
Council is unique in a having set up its own energy company, Thameswey, to deliver their energy
policy. Photovoltaics and combined heat and power (CHP) supplied much of the energy used in the
council’s own offices, the leisure and shopping centres and sheltered housing. Despite use of solar
and wind power, energy was still overwhelmingly from sustainable rather than renewable sources.
The sustainability agenda is driven through the planning process. Their ‘Climate Neutral Development
Good Practice Guide’ imposes carbon neutrality through reduced CO2 emissions, energy efficient
construction and sustainable urban drainage systems. Free cavity wall insulation and draught
exclusion is available to residents, paid for out of profits from Thameswey. Agenda 21 was part of the
Council with members both from the community, councillors and officers. It met in Council buildings
and its documents were adopted as policy. More on www.woking.gov.uk/environment/LA21. Pam
saw this as a role model for closer working with SDC. Cllr Paul Clegg expressed his personal
commitment to green issues, and reminded members he had led the SDC sign-up to the Nottingham
Declaration. The advent of unitary status limited what could be achieved in the short term, but he
stressed the importance of working through planning mechanisms and via the Local Strategic
Partnership to create an impetus for action beyond April 2009.

7. News and Events from Affiliated Groups

On behalf of COGS, Peter requested support for the Connect2 Lottery bid. This would be on TV in
December; votes were needed - www.sustrans.connect2.org.uk. For Tisbury’s Climate Friendly
Community, Ione reported a successful renewable energy day costing under £100 and demonstrating
solar panels, ground source heat pumps, wind turbines and more. Derek Sealey (Tel: 325110) invited
attendance at a talk by Alison Prout on Quaker work on climate change, poverty and violent conflict at
St Thomas’s House on 26 October at 7 for 7.30 pm.

8. Meetings in 2008 – topics and dates

Thursday 31st January – AGM, City Hall 6.30pm.
Thursday 10th. April - Forum, City Hall 6.30pm.
Provisional dates: Thursday 26th June and Thursday 16th October.
Possible event as part of Salisbury Festival – Rachel requested ideas for a green author, if
possible with a new book.
Possible event as part of Food Festival, maybe involving speakers from Salisbury’s twin
. towns.
The Committee asked for ideas for topics: one suggestion (also being considered in Tisbury) was
transition towns.

9. Nominations for committee members for next year

Rachel asked for nominations of suitable and willing committee members before the AGM.
Agenda 21 representative for E&T Scrutiny Panel
Rachel had to stand down from this role and asked for a volunteer to take it on.
Publicity for events – anyone willing to help, please contact a committee member.

10. Any Other Business

The Chamber of Commerce had postponed their awards to February, to give more time following the
recent business expo. The Green Businness Award will be a main, not fringe, event. Agenda 21 was
involved in the judging.

11. Next meeting: AGM Thursday 31st January 2008 City Hall 6.30 pm.

Contacts: Rachel Ross–Rachel.ross1@btinternet.com, Ruth Popplestone-01722 327383, Pam

Rouquette-pamrouquette@hotmail.com