FINAL Community Climate Fund Update 14 March 2023
Renfrewshire Council · 14 March 2023
Back to Planning and Climate Change Policy Board — 14 March 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Planning and Climate Change Policy Board On: 14 March 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Community Climate Fund – Progress Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 In December 2021, the allocation of £50,000 from the Climate Change Action Fund was approved to progress a pilot Community Climate Fund. 1.2 The Community Climate Fund provided awards of up to £3K to community organisations to develop localised, green community projects and initiatives tailored to the needs of individual communities. The aim of this funding was to encourage participation and raise awareness of the climate emergency within our communities, with initiatives being designed and delivered by local residents but supported by the Council. 1.3 On 14th June 2022, the Planning and Climate Change Policy Board approved the award of £49,132.42 from the Community Climate Fund to support 18 community projects. It was agreed that progress on all projects would be monitored and reported back to the Planning and Climate Change Policy Board. 1.4 This paper provides a summary of the progress, with a spotlight on some of the Community Climate Fund projects in the form of short case studies. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that members of the Planning and Climate Change Policy Board: • note the progress achieved in relation to the Community Climate Fund.
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3. Background 3.1 A key element of a just transition to net zero is effective community engagement and collaborative working to build resilient communities and ensure no one is left behind. There is a significant amount of learning and engagement that needs to take place in Renfrewshire to support our local communities to make the changes needed to achieve net zero. 3.2 In December 2021, the progression of a pilot Community Climate Fund, and the allocation of £50,000 from the Climate Change Action Fund was approved for this purpose. 3.3 The Community Climate Fund provided awards of up to £3K to community organisations to develop localised, green community projects and initiatives tailored to the needs of individual communities. The aim of this funding was to encourage participation and raise awareness of the climate emergency within our communities, with initiatives being designed and delivered by local residents but supported by the Council. 3.4 In total 26 organisations applied to the Community Climate Fund across all Local Partnership Areas – with applications totalling £71,332.42. 3.5 A formal evaluation process was undertaken, with Council Officers and an external Officer from Engage Renfrewshire scoring each application using weightings against key outcomes, including carbon reduction; promotion of clean energy, sustainable transport and active travel, circular economy, local food growing, and/or helping nature locally; sustainable skills supported and developed; positive impacts on children and young people and/or vulnerable groups; and assisting loneliness/isolation and social outcomes. 3.6 This evaluation identified 18 eligible projects to be recommended for award of funding, with a total combined funding requirement of £49,132.42. These projects are located across all 7 Local Partnership Areas and deliver across the 5 key themes within Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero. 3.7 On 14th June 2022, the Planning and Climate Change Policy Board approved the award of £49,132.42 from the Community Climate Fund to support 18 community projects. It was agreed that progress would be monitored and reported back to the Planning and Climate Change Policy Board. 4. Community Climate Fund Project Progress Update 4.1 This paper is focusing on projects with substantive progress. All projects which received funding are making progress, but some are dependent on
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aligning with growing seasons, for example, and an update can be brought to the Board outlining their progress at a future date. Renfrewshire Rainbow Buddies Little and Large Explorers (Johnstone and Linwood): 4.2 Aim: to make the community garden a nice place to be and provide appropriate equipment to explore our local area by active travel, enabling everyone to learn new skills, including planting, road safety and food hygiene. Key Outcomes: carbon emissions reduction/offsetting; promoting sustainable transport, connected communities and resilient place; supporting and developing sustainable skills; positive impacts on children and young people and/or vulnerable groups; and assisting loneliness, isolation and social outcomes. Progress Update: making the garden welcoming during summer 2022 demonstrated the children’s love for the outdoors, with planters, compost, seeds and bulbs and small benches being delivered to enhance the space. Trikes, bikes and a pull along wagon have been delivered and during the winter the children have been practicing in the hall ready to get out exploring the local forestry area safely using active travel from the end of February. This has been combined with discussing different types of transport and their impact on the environment as well as road safety. Finding Your Feet Charity Hub Garden (Paisley North, West and Central): 4.3 Aim: to reclaim an area of disused land and turn it into a garden and play area for all charities in the hub to use, including a sensory garden, outdoor children's accessible play area, nature walks, beekeeping and therapeutic gardening activities for everyone who uses the hub to enjoy. Key Outcomes: carbon emissions reduction/offsetting; promoting connected communities and resilient place; supporting and developing sustainable skills; positive impacts on children and young people and/or vulnerable groups; and assisting loneliness, isolation and social outcomes. Progress Update: staff, volunteers and beneficiaries cleared the site of weeds, unwanted growth and rubbish, using old IBC tanks and old tyres as planters (picture 2) and receiving ‘past their best’ plants from local garden centres. They then built raised beds to grow vegetables and herbs in, with hub charities claiming a bed each to look after and teach the kitchen garden to beneficiaries. The garden now has new planter boxes, fruit trees, street art, an outdoor gym and play equipment for all ages (picture 4). Picture 1: Initial site
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Howwood Park Pavilion Renovation - Insulation and Low Energy Electrical Fittings (The Villages): 4.4 Aim: to renovate a derelict football pavilion in an environmentally friendly manner, to minimise energy demand and maximise energy efficiency to make the building as environmentally friendly as possible and ensure CO2 emissions are minimal when the building is back is use. Key Outcomes: carbon emissions reduction/offsetting; promoting clean energy (demand reduction/energy efficiency/low carbon), sustainable transport and connected communities; positive impacts on children and young people and/or vulnerable groups; and assisting loneliness, isolation and social outcomes. Progress Update: Attic insulation has been supplied and fitted, so insulation work is complete. LED internal lights have been supplied and fitted, all of which are operated with PIR (passive infra red) sensors and so go off automatically when not in use and are activated by movement. The low energy heaters have been purchased and are on site. These will be installed once the walls have been painted. 'Mon the Weans, 'Mon the Bees, 'Mon the Community! (Kirklandneuk Primary School Parent Council, Renfrew): 4.5 Aim: to provide an outdoor space that allows pupils to express their feelings, learn, role play and channel their creative skills and provide the school and local community the opportunity to be involved in food growing and Picture 3: Work on the planters Picture 4: How the garden looks now Picture 2: Cleared site
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preparation and opportunities to learn about creating a biodiversity area within the school grounds. Key Outcomes: carbon emissions reduction/offsetting; promoting clean energy (demand reduction/energy efficiency/low carbon), circular economy, connected communities and resilient place; supporting and developing sustainable skills; positive impacts on children and young people and/or vulnerable groups; and assisting loneliness, isolation and social outcomes. Progress Update: The children identified the best area within the playground for the project to be situated and pupils, staff and parents prepared the area so that planting could begin. Facilities staff in the kitchen have also helped with food waste for establishing a wormery. Research has also been undertaken in relation to best placement for solar power products. Sewing2gether All Nations - Repair Make Do & Mend (Paisley North, West and Central): 4.6 Aim: to run a series of sewing Make Do & Mend Workshops at Sewing2gether All Nations, a group providing support for members of the refugee and asylum seeker community; to create Make Do & Mend videos for the wider public; and to produce a Mending Skills Toolkit, including all the essential items each household would require to continue to fix items at home. By repairing, mending, altering and fixing existing / donated clothing textiles will be saved from landfill. Key Outcomes: carbon emissions reduction/offsetting; promoting circular economy and connected communities; supporting and developing sustainable skills; positive impacts on children and young people and/or vulnerable groups; and assisting loneliness, isolation and social outcomes. Progress Update: The Make Do & Mend project had a great response from members bringing items to be altered and repaired at creative workshops, including lots of trousers being shortened, buttons being replaced, waists From this… …to this
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adjusted and a school shirt with the cuff almost ripped off being transformed into a short sleeved shirt, as well as teaching new skills using donated, unwanted and discarded textiles with step by step visual demonstrations. Home Mending Skills sewing kits were distributed to members, containing essential items for each household to continue to fix items at home and a number of videos were created and shared on social media, including how to shorten jeans (using original hem) and how to sew on a button to reach and help a wider audience. Bonnie Bishopton Community Gardens at Community Centre: 4.7 Aim: to regenerate neglected land, creating two distinct themed community gardens using plants small trees and shrubs which will provide food, water and shelter for bees and butterflies all year round. The project will connect villagers with each other and improve their health and wellbeing by creating a garden together and creating a space for our elderly villagers to sit at our Happy to Chat Bench and meet people, combatting loneliness. Key Outcomes: carbon emissions reduction/offsetting; promoting connected communities and resilient place; supporting and developing sustainable skills; positive impacts on children and young people and/or vulnerable groups; and assisting loneliness, isolation and social outcomes. Progress Update: A variety of sustainable shrubs and plants for pollinators were purchased, along with colourful bedding plants to brighten the village. There was a great turn out from village members for a planting day for the large Main Road garden area – lots of hard work, digging, planting and support from passers-by and a social occasion with refreshments and food provided. In the nursery there was a focus on the community sensory garden, with plants chosen for fragrance, cool, calming colours and scents for a meditative garden as well as the most popular Wooly Betona (“lambs lugs”) – chosen for its unique silvery foliage and velvety soft texture to stimulate touch senses. To complete the sensory garden, two benches were purchased made from recycled milk bottles – one called Earth (inscribed with “Sit, Relax and Breathe”) and the other called Fire (inscribed “Happy to Chat”). From this… …to this
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The benches have been well used ranging from older residents to young local workers enjoying lunch on nice days, appealing inter-generationally. 4.8 This funding programme underlines the wide range of significant progress which continues, at pace, to ensure the Council is a climate-responsible organisation, recognising our impact on our environment, our opportunities to do things differently and our ability to work with others to influence meaningful and long-lasting change, while making our communities safer, fairer and healthier places to live, work and spend time in. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – none. 2. HR & Organisational Development – none 3. Community/Council Planning – the report details a range of activities which are reflected in the Council Plan and Community Plan, providing updates which support engagement and collaboration with local communities on the climate emergency agenda. Sit, Relax and Breathe Bench Happy to Chat Bench The Earth and Fire Benches
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4. Legal - none 5. Property/Assets - none 6. Information Technology - none 7. Equality and Human Rights - The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report because it is for noting only. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health and Safety - none 9. Procurement – none 10. Risk – none 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. COSLA Policy Position – this report details work which aligns with COSLA’s current work alongside the Scottish Government in response to the climate emergency. 13. Climate Risk – this report details work being undertaken and progress made by Renfrewshire Council in response to the climate emergency. List of Background Papers: Community Climate Fund – Progress Update, 14 June 2022 Planning and Climate Change Policy Board Climate Change Update, 1 December 2021 Leadership Board Climate Emergency Work Programme: Progress Update, 17 November 2021 Climate Change Sub- Committee Author: Roz Smith, Climate Emergency Lead Officer