Present

Sarah Watson
Head of Energy & Low Carbon at Coventry City Council
Denise Osborne
Marketing and Events Coordinator, Energy and Low Carbon
Bethany Kitchener
Work Placement, Coventry City Council
Philip Brown
Coventry Climate Action Network
David Chapman
Warwick University
Jacqui Staunton
Climate change solutions

Plan for Developing Climate Strategy

Sarah gave a presentation on the current state of the plan for developing the strategy.
This will involve developing a Sustainability Policy for the Council.
The launch date for the climate strategy is mid to end 2020.
It will consist of a high level vision and aims for the city.

Public Consultation

Sarah is trying to get a budget and resources for the consultation.
Dates not fixed yet.
Will involve workshops, presentations, surveys, newsletters, websites, publishing toolkits to show what people can do etc.
It will involve consulting with business, universities, schools, NHS, environmental groups etc
She will include a citizen’s assembly in the plan but this will need approval by politicians.

National Lottery Climate Action Fund

Bids for the £100 million not yet open.
Needs to have community involvement.
It was agreed that the City should aim to put in a single bid from as wide a range of groups as possible.
This is the top priority at present.

Action on Lottery

To achieve coordinated bid for lottery need to engage a wide range of businesses, universities, schools, council staff, NHS etc.
Action: Sarah will organise a date for a meeting and invite potential partners.
This group could then grow into a support group to help develop the climate strategy.

Coventry Climate Action Network

Already has 8 volunteers keen to help with public consultation.
There would be no cost to the city council.
Already has many of the features needed to support the consultation: website, newsletter, organising activities, plan for street theatre and young reporters etc.

Young Climate Reporters

Young reporters would interview council staff about what they are already doing to reduce carbon emissions and what plans they have for the future. They then write reports/create short videos for CovCAN.uk website and social media.
Philip has spoken to Colin Knight but he could not authorise the plan.
Action: Sarah will discuss idea of young reporters doing interviews with council staff.

Educational Links

Sarah wants to organise a schools climate conference.
Kevin Maton is keen to support consultation with schools.
Action: Philip will contact him and discuss presentation to school heads.

Other Items

Sarah is planning an electric vehicle event on 6 November at Coventry Council House.
Green Games in Birmingham was praised. It is now called Eco Birmingham ecobirmingham.com
It was suggested a Model United Nations debate be held to discuss climate change.
Action: Philip will contact the UN Societies at Coventry and Warwick Universities.