Climate Action Group

15th January 2024

Launch of the Climate Action Group

After discussions about the best way forward in consideration of the many different levels / groups and associations now concerned with local Climate Action initiatives, Cllr Johnson has suggested the following and would welcome members consideration.

In support of SPCs declaration of a climate emergency, there is a proposal for a joint parishes climate action group that has been supported in principle by Bramber and Upper Beeding parish councillors. Because Ashurst is part of the Steyning Cluster of PC’s it was suggested that they could be invited also. This group would work together, with the chair or their representative from Greening Steyning, towards carbon reduction in the parishes.

The group are supported by Horsham District Council who provide sessions and resources on developing climate change action plans, the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions, engaging communities and caring for our environment.

They have provided a checklist against easy wins and, to note, Greening Steyning have been instrumental in helping all our three parishes deliver against a number of these easy wins already.

It is proposed that Cllr Vicci Johnson will convene an initial meeting of councillors from the four parishes to review progress and develop a climate action plan. It is envisaged that several members of this action group will attend Horsham Council’s carbon literacy training later this year.

Cllrs S Alexander, Bell, Johnson, Lindfield and Trundle were elected as members of SPCs Climate Action Group at Full Council in May 2023.

It is further proposed that the representatives of the current Climate Action Group would continue in their role, but under a revised appellation (Title). And that the first item for the group to agree is to recommend back to Full Council, and indeed also the other Councils, the new groups Terms of Reference

Agreed terms of reference

Membership: open to all Councillors from Ashurst, Bramber, Steyning and Upper Beeding but a maximum of 2 nominated Councillors from each Parish will attend each meeting? A chair and action note taker will be agreed at the start of each meeting.
Any recommendations will be reported to each full Council and voted on as per motion procedure.
The chair of Greening Steyning and a Horsham District Councillor representative will be invited to each meeting
Members can ask other key stakeholders/representatives from organisations to future meetings by mutual agreement. before ratification
Meetings will be held quarterly on the second Monday of the month at 19:30 in the Steyning Centre. The next meeting will be in 13th May 2024

Role of the group

To discuss key issues within our Parishes where climate action is needed
To involve Greening Steyning, Beeding and Bramber to help our Parish Councils deliver any climate improvements
To raise awareness within each Council of climate change, priorities and actions
To develop a shared set of Climate action priorities
To feed progress and issues to the HDC Parish and Neighbourhood Climate Change action network

Developing shared Climate action priorities

The group discussed individual Councils progress against the ‘quick wins’ document produced by HDC Parish and Neighbourhood Climate Change action networkBramber and Steyning Councils have declared a climate emergency. Upper Beeding is soon to do so.With regard to the climate actions identified by Horsham, the group divided these on whether the role of Parish Councils is to lead, facilitate, communicate or celebrate

Lead (actions for each Council to discuss and agree)

Ensure Climate actions are a standing item on each Full Council meeting
Include a Climate action page on Parish website
Use green energy suppliers for Parish premises and maximise the use of local renewable energy eg solar panels and heat pumps
Ensure that Parish buildings are well insulated to reduce use of energy and have LED, lighting and adjustable heating controls.
Minimise waste from parish premises, reducing use of unnecessary printing and consumables.
Ensure that the Council uses an ethical bank
Scrutinise local plans for their carbon impact, e.g. by adopting local green planning guidance checklists
Sign up Parish Council green spaces to the Weald to Waves project

Celebrate

Greening, Steyning have put a number of initiatives in place across all parishes. These include: a survey asking residents what’s important to them, and what needs to change; a monthly (BN44) Repair café; pop-up recycling for plastics that WSCC don’t currently recycle; a twice weekly community fridge; Home energy sessions, including to vintage years, and the hub in Upper Beeding: articles in the local magazine encouraging people to make climate improvements; hosting the Green Day as part of the Steyning festival; organising climate demonstrations ; hosting nature film viewings and providing a monthly forum for residents to learn about climate improvements
Steyning for trees and our community orchards have been promoting the biodiversity and health benefits of trees and hedgerows.
Nature within the parishes is to be celebrated. In Bramber, we have Bramber Castle; In Steyning, we have the Steyning Downland Scheme, Abbey Road, the community orchards and Bramber Brooks; In Upper Beeding we have Saltings fields. All these spaces sequester carbon, provide opportunities for volunteers and have a positive impact on the health of our community. We are also surrounded by the South Downs National Park, closer to some Parishes than others.

Facilitate and communicate

The group discussed whether we could task Greening Steyning with increasing reach into the community of climate action steps Councils are taking and what support is available to help residents effect change.
Share progress and documents from this group with other Horsham parishes via the Knowledge Hub

Contact details

01903 812042
clerk@steyningpc.gov.uk