News about this website

First of all, thanks to everyone who answered our survey about the future of EN4M, SNAG and TAG.  The vast majority of you favoured a merging of the functions of the three groups, so from now on all the news and info that I used to post on this website will be posted on the EN4M website.  I’ll leave this website up for now so that it serves as an archive of all the useful information that’s been posted on here of the last few years, but for recent news please go to www.en4m.org.uk.  You can also register as a member on this site yourself and add your own news, events and volunteering opportunities, so make sure you visit and add content so that we can all keep in touch and continue to coordinate environmental and sustainability action in Manchester.

That’s all the news I have for now, but keep an eye on the EN4M website for further updates.  Best wishes, Katie.

Do you live in North or East Manchester?

If so we’d be really grateful if you could complete a short survey to help direct the future work of the Environment Network for Manchester.  It’s online here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EN4M  and we can also provide it in pdf format to print off, or we can send out hard copies.

The wards we are looking to gather information about are:

• Higher Blackley
• Moston
• Cheetham
• Bradford
• Crumpsall
• Harpurhey
• Miles Platting & Newton Heath
• Ardwick
• Charlestown
• Ancoats & Clayton
• Gorton North
• Gorton South

Any questions please ring 0161 273 1736 and ask to speak to one of the EN4M team.  Many thanks for your help.

Next EAP

The next Environmental Advisory Panel will take place next Tuesday, 12th April.  The agenda and papers are all available on the EAP page.

The future of SNAG

As you may have heard, the funding for Community Network for Manchester is soon to come to an end, and that also means that all of the networks and engagement functions that CN4M funds are also having to make difficult decisions about what lies ahead.

The Environment Network for Manchester, the Transport Action Group and the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Action Group have all been given a reduced amount of funding for this quarter (April to the end of June), and we need to use this funding to try and make the transition to a new set up (as CN4M will cease to exist). We would like to gather your opinions on what you think this structure should be.

New e-bulletin

March’s e-bulletin has just been sent out, to view it click here. If you’d like to subscribe, drop me a line: sustainable@merci.org.uk.

The budget and the environment

The budget, announced by the Chancellor George Osbourne yesterday, provides a mixed picture for the environment.

For example, the Green Investment Bank will be able to borrow money and raise capital rather than just be a finite fund – but not until 2015-16, and not until the government’s debt target is met. In addition to the £1bn already committed to its capitalisation, the chancellor confirmed an extra £2bn would be raised through public asset sales. Previously a range of an extra £1-2bn had been discussed. The bank will start operating in 2012-2013.

However, as was widely expected the planned rise in fuel duty was delayed until 2012, because of the impact of rising oil prices on business and individuals, Osborne said. He also cut petrol duty by 1p per litre. While it will be welcomed by most motorists, the move makes eco-friendly electric cars less attractive. The fuel duty escalator, planned to add 1p per year in future years on the price of fuel, was also cancelled.

Read more about this story:

• BBC website
• Guardian website
• Directgov website
• Green Alliance website
• Urban Forum website

Independent panel on forestry announced

When the consultation on the future of the Public Forest Estate in England was halted on 17 February the Secretary of State Caroline Spelman announced her intention to establish an independent panel to advise her on forestry policy.  More details have now been announced.

The panel, to be chaired by the Right Reverend James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, brings together a wide range of interests and expertise covering the environmental, social and economic aspects of forestry. They will advise government on a new approach to forestry policy in England, including looking at how woodland cover can be increased and at options for enhancing public benefits from all woodlands and forests.

Park Life a great success

Thanks to everyone who came along to the event for park’s groups we organised on Saturday 12th.  We had a great turnout and a very lively debate about the future for our city’s parks and open spaces.  Rick Gwilt, our facilitator for the afternoon discussion, has written a report which you can download.

We will be having a follow up session in May, if you would like to attend please drop Jenny an e -mail and she will add you to the mailing list for the event: en4m@merci.org.uk

Manchester Superhomes Open to Visit!

Three Manchester ‘superhomes’ are having open days soon as part of the Sustainable Energy Academy spring openings programme.  All the homes demonstrate how traditional Victorian and Edwardian houses can be retrofitted to a high standard reducing CO2 emissions by between 60-80%.  Two of the homes are in Chorlton and the other is the Council’s Eco-House in Miles Platting.

Details of times and dates here (you may need to book):

• Miles Platting Eco-House
• Chorlton, Corkland Road
• The Thorns, Chorltonville

 

‘Your Manchester’ event to launch the new Community Engagement Strategy

Wednesday 23rd March, 9.30am – 4pm
Band on the Wall, 25 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JZ

The Manchester Partnership is hosting an event to celebrate the contribution of communities in making Manchester a great place to live, work and play in.  The event will focus on the important role of communities in shaping services for Manchester.

Attendees at the event can:

• Tell the Partnership about what is already happening in Manchester and what is needed for the future
• Hear about successful partnership working
• Understand the new Community Engagement Strategy and what it will mean in practice
• Contribute to the Community Engagement Delivery Plan
• Find out about opportunities for communities to get involved
• Network with partnership staff and voluntary and community organisations who are working to improve services in Manchester

How do we get the green spaces we want?

The Environmental Law Foundation invites you to a free public information event with local experts:

How Do We Get The Green Spaces We Want?

• How Are allotments and green spaces planned for in Manchester?
• What can we do to protect our green spaces?

As allotments come back into popularity our speakers will explore the impacts of allotments on communities and how allotment sites are designated by the Council. They will also discuss how green spaces such as allotment sites can bring communities together and what they have gained from it.

This is a free event.

Date:    Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Time:   5.30 pm to 7.20 pm
Venue:   Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2
5NS
Contact:   020 7404 1031 or scp@elflaw.org

Renewable Heat Incentive launched

Press release from the DECC website:

• £860m government scheme expected to increase green capital investment by £4.5 billion up to 2020, stimulating a new market in renewable heat;
• Incentive to increase number of industrial, commercial and public sector installations by seven times to 2020
• A full system of RHI payments will be available to households from October 2012;
• In the interim, more than a quarter of the first year’s budget to be guaranteed for up to 25,000 household installations through a “RHI Premium Payment” to encourage take-up;
• 150,000 existing manufacturing, supply chain and installer jobs to be supported

The world’s first financial incentive of its kind to revolutionise the way heat is generated and used in buildings has been launched by Energy Secretary Chris Huhne.

Government’s Carbon Plan launched

The Carbon Plan launched yesterday (8th March) by David Cameron, Nick Clegg, and Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne, is a government-wide plan on climate change, which sets out actions and deadlines for the next five years that are aimed at helping the Government live up to its claim of being ‘the greenest government ever’.

However, looking through the plan you probably won’t see anything you haven’t already come across. Rather, it sets out climate change initiatives that for the most part have already been announced – for instance, the Green Deal, funding for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), introduction of SMART meters and grid, and the establishment of the Green Investment Bank.  Caroline Lucas, Green Party Leader and MP for Brighton Pavilion, has said the the plan is a ‘shallow compilation’ of the government’s policies and ‘offers little that is new.’

Park Life 2011

A FREE event bringing together park groups from across Manchester for a big debate on the future for parks in the context of the big society and council cuts, and practical workshops on fundraising, writing constitutions, biodiversity and the Sustainable Communities Act.  Lunch will be provided.

Booking is essential, any queries please get in touch with Jenny on en4m@merci.org.uk or 0161 273 1736.  Download the poster and the booking form.

Enterprising For Change

Learn all about social enterprise and legal structures; cooperatives, industrial and provident societies, community interest companies and community share issues at this exciting event coming up at Bridge 5 Mill:

Download the poster and timetable.

Homelife 2011

Do you want to help make Manchester a better place to live? Here’s a great opportunity to shape the future of the city’s homes and housing services.

Wherever you live in the city, you’ve got views and experiences that can help us get Manchester’s housing plans in good shape for years to come.  Homelife is a great way for landlords and other housing organisations to consult with, inform and involve local people like you. Homelife gives you the chance to:

• get training you need to increase your knowledge and skills so you can participate at all levels
• look at new ways to get involved and engaged with decision-makers and other local people
• be part of a collective voice for residents’opinions, asking questions, getting answers and sharing experiences

Government’s vision for growing social investment

The Government have recently published a document that sets out their vision of a thriving social investment market where social ventures can access the capital they need to grow, allowing them to do more to help build a bigger, stronger society. It also sets out a strategy for achieving this vision, explaining how Government and others can act, including the key role of the Big Society Bank as a wholesale investor and champion of the market.

Cabinet Office website

Locality to deliver Community Organisers contract

Locality, the charity formed by the merger of Bassac and the Development Trusts Association, has been awarded a £15m contract to deliver the government’s community organisers programme, with the first projects due to start in April.

The programme, part of the Conservative Party’s general election manifesto, will recruit and train 5,000 community organisers to help local people develop community projects in deprived areas in England.

New e-bulletin

The latest SNAG e-bulletin has just been sent out, you can view it here.  If you’d like to sign up to receive the bulletin please e-mail Katie on sustainable@merci.org.uk

CN4M Report on engaging ‘Seldom Heard’ and Emerging Communities

CN4M (Community Network for Manchester) have just published the research report ‘Seldom heard groups and engagement in Manchester – emerging trends and future priorities’.

The report aims to identify which groups are currently seldom heard. The overall aims of this research are twofold: firstly, to develop a greater understanding of the groups which may be said to be seldom heard in Manchester, and secondly to identify mechanisms to better enable their engagement. This research also aims to explore the role of Community Network for Manchester in engaging these groups, identify any gaps which may exist, and understand where adjustments can be made to current practices.

• Full report
• Executive Summary