Wylam Parish Council Office,
Wylam Institute,
Church Road,
Wylam,
Northumberland.
NE41 8AP
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WYLAM PARISH COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT WORKING GROUP

DRAFT REMIT/CONSTITUTION

This paper is the amended version of the first discussion paper presented at the Parish Council meeting on 7 April 2008 with regards to the reconstitution of the Wylam Parish Council Working Environment Group. It was further discussed at a subsequent meeting of Parish Councillors on Thursday 17 April 2008 and again at the meeting of the Parish Council on 09 June 2008.

1. AIMS

To improve the environment for existing and future Wylam residents
To encourage a more sustainable community

2. ACTIONS BEFORE RECONVENING GROUP

Promote details of group to Wylam residents to gain interested participants
Review funding possibilities - grant aid to take proposed projects forward

3. REMIT

GENERAL
Due to the limited resources of the group, the general focus will be the monitoring of the condition of the village environment and ensuring that the services of the unitary authority - ie grasscutting, roadsweeping are maintained at the expected standard. Detailed below are areas of interest, together with a small amount of strategic long-term activities to be undertaken by the group.

3.1 WASTE
General waste and recycling issues - reissue of recycling leaflet, promotion of composting, monitor state of the recycling area. Dog fouling issues

3.2 TRANSPORT
Any transport issues raised by the Environment Working Group will be passed to the Highways and Public Transport Working Group.

3.3 WATER
Monitor the state of the public toilets to ensure regular cleaning and maintenance
Obtain and issue literature to encourage better use of water
Lobby unitary authority to review long term water use ie install rainwater toilets etc
Monitor public water supply

3.4 BUILDINGS - built environment
Monitor that various public buildings are being maintained to a satisfactory standard

3.5 SUSTAINABILITY/CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES
Lobby unitary authority on their planning procedures for domestic microgeneration
Undertake carbon footprint exercise of the village
Make information available to residents on climate change grants available to reduce household carbon emissions
Make available to resident's information on all local businesses to encourage residents to shop and procure services locally (being produced by the Business Forum)
Assist with questions for village plan on the environment and climate change

3.6 VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT
Regularly inspect public open spaces, trees, plants, rural footpaths, riverbank, Country Park and nature reserve within the parish boundary and report on any problems and need for maintenance and improvement
Within the built environment inspect: street furniture, signs, litter bins, streetlights and report any problems and improvements required.

4. TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Group will operate under the following terms of reference

1. The Group will consist of up to eight members with three members required to be present for a meeting of the Group to be quorate.
2. At least two members (but not more than three) will be members of the Parish Council
3. One Parish Council member, who will be nominated by the Parish Council, will act as Co-ordinator/Convenor of the Group
4. The Group will be free to co-opt up to three additional members who may have some special knowledge or expertise to bring to the work of the Group
5. The Chair and Vice Chair of the Parish Council will be ex-officio members of the Group, and as such, free to attend any or all Group meetings.
6. The Co-ordinator will be responsible for:

Calling all meetings of the Group, for which not less than one week's notice should be given
Arranging the agenda for each meeting
Chairing meetings of the Group
Ensuring that adequate notes are made of the business of each meeting
Reporting the progress of the Group to the Parish Council

7. Groups will operate for one year in the first instance, following which the arrangements will be reviewed
8. Each group will have the authority to approach appropriate external bodies. All such contacts, whether by letter or direct meeting, will be made on behalf of the Parish Council
9. Copies of all correspondence should be filed with the Parish Council Clerk, who should also be provided with a brief written report of all meetings with external agencies
10. Members should not carry out any independent action without the prior approval of the Group Co-ordinator and it is recommended that not less than two members of the Group are present at any meeting with the representative(s) of an external agency.

M Dunnett 04.06.08