· Climate Change Summer Events Programme
· Introduction to Medway Environmental Action Network
Minutes:
4.1. The Chair invited the Climate Response Engagement Officer to update on the Climate Change Summer Events Programme.
4.2. An update was given on engagement at events and with schools to date.
4.3. The Chair asked if the actions being taken in schools can be used as an exemplar.
ACTION: Climate Response Engagement Officer to share school actions as an exemplar.
4.4. The Climate Response Engagement Officer updated that the first School’s Network meeting has been held and the importance of sharing best practice from schools already making changes was highlighted. Network meetings will be held each term. The Chair requested that the School Network is included in Medway Matters.
ACTION. Communications to include an item on the school network in Medway Matters.
4.5. The Climate Response Engagement Officer updated that the Climate Response Team would be attending further events, the Gaming Festival with VR headsets which will enable a new way of engaging, the Rainham Community Day, Family Fun Day Chatham and Wild About Capstone. It was noted that the team are happy to attend other events and the notification from others of events taking place was welcomed.
4.6. It was noted that Great Big Green Week plans are being developed and ideas from others on activities during the week are welcomed.
4.7. The Chair commented on the success of the Walk to COP26 school initiative where all were contributing to a joint total and how it would be good to see a similar activity.
ACTION: Climate Response Engagement Officer to consider a challenge for all to get involved for Great Big Green Week.
4.8. It was noted that the Climate newsletter has over 1170 subscribers and how sign ups are promoted at events with giveaways, and how climate response has an ongoing presence in each addition of Medway Matters.
4.9. The Climate Response Engagement Officer updated on next steps which include the Medway Environmental Action Network which is in the process of setting up, organisation of the Great Big Green Week and learning from the Climate Change Action Plan Survey which had 71 respondents.
4.10. The Chair requested representation of Climate Response at the Medway Mile.
ACTION: Climate Response to look at attending the Medway Mile.
4.11. The group asked if the climate change branding is shared with other organisations such as schools as an opportunity to engage more widely, to increase recognition of the branding and to make links. It was also asked how professional social media conversations could be used as an opportunity for low carbon, low cost, effective means of communication to start conversations and engage with more people.
4.12. The Head of Communications and Marketing advised that the branding was developed to link to the Council’s work but that this does not mean that others could not use it and that can be considered with a potential brand guideline toolkit to ensure it is used in the right way
ACTION: Head of Communications and Marketing to review brand sharing options.
4.13. With regard to social media, the Head of Communications and Marketing responded that the Comms Team will look at how the climate change channels can be used to develop conversations, with people directed from the corporate channels.
ACTION: Head of Communications and Marketing to seek to progress dedicated social media conversations.
4.14. The Chair highlighted that the standard of dialogue at events was impressive, and it would be good to take this further, and commented that in seeking to get all schools participating, it would be good to get a small plaque or similar to show they are participating.
ACTION: The Climate Response Engagement Officer and Head of Communications and Marketing to consider the plaque and climate champion idea.
4.15. The group mentioned the Refill project and how it does not appear that all council buildings have been investigated to check for suitability for the scheme.
ACTION: The Climate Response Team to take this back to the Refill project officer to investigate.
4.16. The Chair gave thanks to the Climate Response Engagement Officer for the work being undertaken on engagement.