Public
Sector Sustainable Development Group Meetings
Date: 8 April 2003 - Meeting #4
Venue: Southwick House, HMS Dryad
Theme:
Biodiversity
Introductions
PC welcomed everybody to HMS Dryad and the
fourth meeting of the Public Sector Focus Group. This was followed
by a "round the table' of introductions.
Minutes and Matters arising from last
meeting
Graham Starke had tried to contact both
Hampshire Police and Ambulance Service to be represented but
unfortunately no response had been forthcoming. PC may write to
Chief Constable as a final gesture of invitation.
SIENa has been discussing interest with a
school and will endeavour to gauge interest with the Higher
Education establishments who do not have a forum at present.
PC presented Graham Starke with the EEBPP guide on energy savings in
Emergency Services Accommodation.
Departmental update
NHS -a loss of key staff was restricting the
way forward at present. However, an away day dedicated to
environmental issues had been held. An Environmental manager post
was been created and SieNa may be able to help with recruiting the
right person. Winchester Community Prison is supplying operatives to
maintain a clean estate and green waste is being recycled. Two CHP
Power plants are in operation. Winchester NHS produces 2-300 tonnes
of clinical waste per annum. For which the cost of disposal is five
times greater than controlled waste. The NHS now has to incorporate
environmental impact assessments into any business case produced.
MOD -a reminder that the utility management
audits were now underway. Free waste audits are available for sites
through Action Energy. Bio Diversity 'Contents of Site Dossier' was
passed to all present.
SIENa -a possibility that Action Energy
financial assistance may be available to Public Sector, providing it
meets needs of local environmental impacts.
GOSE -The Energy White Paper had recently been
issued, the main issue being a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by
Year 2050. The E Generation website was seen as a good method of
offering assistance to sites and for Building Managers, a 'Building
Energy Solutions' presentation may be available.
Prison Service -Grendon/SpringHili in
Buckinghamshire now carrying out waste separation and recently
commenced Vermiculture composting. Site now completely organic.
Committed to a Bio Diversity Action Plan. Gardening for Wildlife is
now being promoted within inner city establishments and a bird watch
to take place in London Establishments. Thames Valley, Hampshire
& lOW Prisons recently commissioned The Footprint Trust (from
the lOW) to undertake bio diversity surveys. A Bio Diversity
Training Day has now followed surveys at Kingston Prison,
Portsmouth.
Fire & Rescue Service -cardboard waste has
now been revised and currently being stored at Eastleigh HQ. Once
sufficient quantities have accumulated, cardboard will be
transported to the Winchester Prison Training Centre. Maureen
Matthews from Portsmouth has shown interest in developing
environmental practices with the Fire Service and will be joining
the group.
Test Valley BC -the Council has now established
a community strategy, resulting in an environmental action group
where the community have the opportunity to influence council
policy. The Local Bio Diversity Action Group involves representation
from Hampshire Wildlife Trust and English Nature. A survey is
currently underway at Andover Walworth Industrial Estate to identify
business waste streams, with a view to establish a business
materials recycling facility.
MCA -the OFT Greening Policy is now under
implementation with a local action plan. Performance is to be
monitored with an emphasis on more recycling. Currently, an audit is
being carried out on business mileage with assistance from
Southampton Institute.
HMS Sultan -Andy Withers has recently moved to
this establishment and is to undertake the role of Nature
Conservation Officer. Andy presented the group with details of a
site dossier he will be compiling and in conjunction with the RSPB;
a bird count is to take place.
Presentations on Biodiversity
Stuart Otway -Defence Estates
Stuart gave an outline as to the definition of
Bio Diversity, its legal obligations and duties to organisations,
which within their operations may have an impact on wildlife and the
countryside. We heard about the Policy the MOD are delivering,
meeting targets to sustainable development and their moral
obligations. The MOD are now working with Prisons and the RSPB,
drawing together stakeholders and appointing responsible persons.
Working links are made with local groups for advice and assistance,
English Nature for statutory advice, County and Borough Councils and
the Wildlife Trusts. Management plans are now being written and
amenity areas such as gardens and ponds are now starting to be
developed. Audits need to take place, which require resources,
surveys, contractors and consultants. Dossiers and local record
centres need maintaining. Bio Diversity needs to be integrated into
management plans, the 'pulling together' of objectives and staff
training.
Peter Bailey -HMS Dryad
The next two presentations were given in the 0
Day Wall Map Room, a venue fascinating in its own right and steeped
in wartime history. Peter Bailey gave the first presentation on the
history of the Dryad Estate and why today, such an emphasis is
placed on its conservation aspects. We were informed how the Royal
Navy has had to incorporate its management of conservation within an
EMS Policy at Dryad and for the investment in maintaining the
estate.
Tony Smith -former Conservation Officer at
Dryad
Since our last meeting, Tony has been promoted
to Marchwood Military Port. However, he agreed to return to Dryad
for the day, where he was the Conservation Officer and to deliver
two presentations before lunch and to help with the tour of the
grounds in the afternoon. Tony first gave an illustrated talk on the
wide range of bio diversity activity within the Dryad estate, the
necessary requirements on ensuring that moral and legal obligations
are met and the maintenance and development of areas where impacts
are likely to take place. The second presentation was a study Tony
made on the River Wallington as part of his MSc studies, sponsored
by the Royal Navy. We heard how Tony was trained by the Environment
Agency to undertake survey work and to record data relevant to
activity and contamination. His conclusion was that Dryad had no
significant impact on the River but highlighted Dryad's potential
that without its own management of bio diversity, Dryad was a source
of risk.
Open discussion
Lunch was taken in the Officers Mess, followed
by a return to the meeting for open discussion. PC explained that
the group had now met four times and two more events were planned.
After that, our programme effectively has come to an end and PC
asked for opinions on how they should continue. If the group has
gone its course, was there any point in further meetings, events
etc?
A number of members expressed that they wish to
continue, as there was no other type of group representing public
sector bodies. Several members saw benefit in such a group and were
willing to continue hosting the meetings. The meeting was regarded
as a venue for focusing on Government Sustainable Targets and a
voice of representation within the Hampshire Business Environment
Forum. An offer was made to draw up Terms of Reference based on
Government Strategy and this will be agreed at the next meeting in
July.
Date and venue of next meeting
The next meeting is due in July and is to be
hosted by Winchester NHS. Our theme for the day will be Travel
Plans, their delivery and implication. Date to be arranged with
Brian Cambridge, Estates Manager.
Tour of Dryad Estate
At the close of the formal meeting, the remaining group members were
taken on a tour through the Estate, including visits to the wildlife
pond, tree nursery, woodland walk, golf course and down to the lake
and weirs. We learnt how the lake was now being made accessible for
disabled people to fish and the variety of fish stocks currently
held. An explanation was given on how the estate is maintained by
contractors and the necessary requirements to ensure bio diversity
remains an important feature of land management.
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