Sustainable Newbury / Local Agenda 21(LA21)
An Overview
What is LA21?
Local Agenda 21 (LA 21) comes from the UN conference on Environment and Development in 1992 (The Rio Earth Summit). It is intended to encourage 'sustainable development' which is defined as 'development which links protecting and improving the environment with improving security and creating a fair and more equitable society'.
Newbury Town Council has created a working group to audit the activities of the Council against Local Agenda 21. In particular, to review progress against its commitments to Local Agenda 21, as defined in its “Strategy for 2006 and Beyond”. The group changed its name to "Sustainable Newbury" in September 2008.
The following is a list of bullet points against each of the commitments, defining recent (within last year) NTC activity in line with the commitments, plus some suggestions as raised by the LA21 Working Group.
Listen to and consult the people of Newbury, facilitate open debate on local matters, and help to empower the local community.
- Consultation on Town Design Statement
- Consultation (wide-ranging) on Victoria Park – how it is used and ideas for future
- Councillor Surgery for 2 hours on Town Hall steps every Saturday
- All Council meetings open to the public
- Creation of LA21 Working Group with public involvement
- Creation of Conservation of Historic Buildings Working Group with public involvement
- Provide grant-funding to local organisations
- Concern expressed that in the case of Parkway we did not push environmental aspects hard enough
Use local suppliers whenever possible (having regard to Best Value in its widest sense).
- Main contractor for open space maintenance is English Landscapes – based at Yattendon
- Have accounts with numerous local shops / retail outlets / businesses for office and maintenance supplies and maintenance provision
- Supported “Newbury Goes Pearshaped” – an event that recognised the importance of local produce
- Suggestion that we should campaign more for use of local produce
Minimise the waste created by the services we provide and recycle wherever possible.
- Have strict recycling clause in main open space maintenance contract
- Encourage composting and discourage bonfires at all allotments
- Re-use top-soil and bark chippings at Shaw cemetery
- Contracted with a shredding facility for all paper recycling in Town Hall
- Support via the Mayor for the Community Furniture Project and in particular the “Talking Rubbish” concert
- Suggestion that we should campaign more re minimizing waste and recycling in general
Protect the public open spaces in the town.
- Declined sale of land at Roebuts Close, Andover Road, Hutton Close, Barn Crescent
- Committed to protect Old Hospital Green at Andover Road and investigating protection via the National Playing Fields Association scheme
- Seeking up to £1,000,000 improvements to Victoria Park
- Request open space S106 money on all developments in town, in line with SPG4/04
Actively pursue alternative energy provision and encourage the best use of resources by others.
- Funded a pre-feasibility report into potential for hydro-generator facility at Victoria Sluices. Part-funding the follow-on feasibility report
- Request use of renewable energies in all responses to major planning applications as a matter of course
- Resolved to implement the use of Solar PV technology to generate Town Hall power
- Considering use of wind generated energy on appropriate town council sites
- Raised idea of a low-energy bulb in the over 80s parcels for 2007 implementation
- Suggestion that we should look at only using power from green energy suppliers
- Suggestion that the Planning and Highways Committee should take a firmer stance on use of renewable energy etc in all developments (while recognising this is often a building regulations rather than planning issue)
Encourage biodiversity and wildlife habitats where suitable.
- Maintain wildlife areas at Wash Common – scrubland and woodland
- Support Newbury in Bloom which includes wildlife garden as a category
- Public have requested a review of spraying policies on open spaces, allotments and cemeteries
Encourage development and transport plans that promote the health and social well-being of our townspeople.
- Active participation in Parking and Transport sub-group of Town Centre Management Steering Group
- Active participation in Transport Action Group – as part of Local Strategic Partnership
- Review and feedback on all significant highway proposals by WBC
- Suggestion that the Town Council should do more to promote cycling, walking and the use of public transport
- Suggestion that we should campaign more re affordable housing
- Suggestion that we should do more to promote the use of hoppa / electric buses
Safeguard the vitality of the local economy, but not at the expense of the environment and the quality of life in Newbury.
- Active participation in Town Centre Management Steering Group
- Support, but policing the detail, of Newbury Vision 2025
- Promoted the vibrancy and vitality of the market in Northbrook Street
- Some public concern that you can’t have a vibrant economy without environmental impact
Ensure that our policies and actions do not exclude any sections of the community, and that our services are available to all townspeople.
- Town Hall is accessible to all
- Installation of REACT unit for partially sighted and the presenting of the related Civic Award
- Investigating provision of Allotments for the disabled
- Awareness of the latest requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act
- Suggestion that the Town Council should do more to ensure enforcement of the Disability Discrimination Act.
Promote the aims of LA21 among the community.
- Creation of LA21 Working Group and associated publicity
- Establishment of Fairtrade status for the town
- Distribution of DEFRA “Tomorrow’s Climate / Today’s Challenge” DVD to all local schools
- Suggestion that Town Council should provide the Town Hall as a venue for education
- Suggestion that the Town Council should do more to educate on climate change and sustainability, particularly in schools
Local Agenda 21 Working Group:
Jenny Foster
Martin Foster
Adrian Foster-Fletcher
Cllr Mavis Greenhalgh
Cllr Ian Grose
Angus Hawkins
Graham Hunt
Laurence Parker
Mary Taylor
18 January 2007