Portsmouth City Borough Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment Meeting

No apologies were received.

No interests were declared.

Daniel Williams, Public Health Principal introduced the report and in response to questions, Zoe White, Green & Healthy Streets Coordinator explained that:

Work is happening to make sure the launch of the first round is big and accessible. 

·       A list of local groups and people to target were collated at the Climate Action Network event at the Hive last week.

·       There will also be a digital noticeboard.

·       The idea of a leaflet drop will be considered.

·       They will attend a half-term community planting event in Paulsgrove in order to reach out-of-city groups.  This event will be around the outdoor adventure playground and community centre and will work up to the Highbury estate and parts of Cosham.

·       If a community group is successful in its application to improve a tree pit, funding will be given to the Colas team that will carry out the work.

·       The finance service requires that the community groups of individuals applying for a grant provide bank account details to ensure that they are financially secure.  The Jubilee Fund and the Community Infrastructure Levy also require these.

·       There hasto be a work-around for small groups.  The process will be reviewed.

·       The overview crib sheet will provide information on what information will be required, how applicants can obtain that and how to present it.   

·       Applicants who are not part of a formal, established group would not be able to provide details of an organisation's constitution and would therefore be asked to provide information on who is responsible for the project. We have asked the HIVE if they can support applicants with this process. The HIVE are currently supporting similar grant opportunities.

·       The advice that will be given on the application regarding safeguarding has not yet been finalised.

Dominique Le Touze, Assistant Director for Public Health added that the information required regarding safeguarding would depend on the nature and size of the project.

Councillor Kimberley Barrett noted that she is very excited about this funding which will empower community groups to improve their local areas.  Many community groups may only need a couple of hundred pounds to improve a small area.  She is very keen to Green the Grey across the whole city. 

She hopes that so many people apply that the next round of funding can be increased.

DECISIONS

The Cabinet Member for Climate & Environment:

·    Approved the criteria for internal and external grant applications using the application and scoring process outlined in appendix B

·    Agreed to award £15,000 from the total capital fund to community projects in the first of two funding rounds in the financial year, with the amount for the second to be determined on the basis of interest in the first.

Kristina Downey, Principal Strategy Adviser for Carbon Management introduced the report and added that the UNF CCC would like to showcase the Southsea Coastal Scheme on its website as an example of good resilience work.

Councillor Kimberley Barrett noted that the council has made more progress than some other local authorities who have also declared a climate emergency.  She hoped that the government will allocate more funding to local authorities to tackle the climate emergency.

Organisations across the world have noticed what Portsmouth City Council is doing in this field.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change & the Environment noted the report.