Issue - meetings

Ms Julia Sonander and Ms Diane Ketcher, Transition Towns Letchworth, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Panel and gave a verbal presentation regarding biodiversity and food sustainability.

The Chairman thanked Ms Sonander and Ms Ketcher for their presentation.

Audio Recording – 22 minutes 48 seconds

Ms Julia Sonander and Ms Diane Ketcher, Transition Towns Letchworth, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Panel and gave a verbal presentation regarding biodiversity and food sustainability as follows:

·                Transition Towns Letchworth has been in existence for 12 years and have spent much of that time thinking about how Letchworth could become more sustainable;

·                Organic gardening was an important element and they wanted to help as many people as possible to take part;

·                They had taken a stall in the growers market, developed a support group (Letchworth Organic Gardeners) and gone into schools to talk about organic gardening;

·                They had a grant from Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation and a free allotment from NHDC to provide an educational growing site;

·                The Heritage Foundation was a partner in EdiCitNet, a group of 12 cities promoting the use of urban landscapes for food production;

·                Some suggestions for the Council to investigate included:

·                NHDC should consider lowering rental on allotments;

·                Community composting could be developed in local areas instead of transporting garden waste to Cumberlow Green;

·                Consider more wildlife planting instead of formal gardens, which would save money;

·                Edible planting in public areas;

·                Need to reduce water usage and raise awareness.

The following Member asked questions:

·                Councillor Claire Strong.

In response Ms Sonander advised that:

·                NHDC needed to encourage a change in behaviour, particularly in the way residents used water;

·                Australia promoted the 4 minutes shower and this had a big impact on water usage.

The Chairman thanked Ms Sonander and Ms Ketcher for their presentation.