GREN Annual Report 2012-2013

Membership

The total number of member groups currently stands at 26.

The number of Individual members increased by 30 to 164.

The website continues to be well used for promoting member group events. Once again the events have been many and varied.

Committee

At the 2012 AGM there were no nominations for the post of Chair; Michele Atkins was elected Secretary; Oonagh Kelleher was elected Treasurer; and John Booth, Tony Cowling and Rachel Miller were elected to the committee. Michele was elected Cycle Liaison Group representative.

The committee subsequently appointed John Booth to represent GREN on the Reading Climate Change Partnership.

Oonagh Kelleher resigned in August and the committee agreed that Tony Cowling should become Treasurer, and to co-opt Peter Chan as a member.

The committee met formally in January and August and conducted other business by ‘phone and e-mail.

Events

November 2012 – GREN AGM at RISC with an interactive session ‘Making the Most of the Media’ presented by Rachel Miller.

The format of the GREN member meetings was changed in an effort to promote more networking between the groups.

March 2013 – ‘GREN members meeting’ at RISC with presentations on ‘The Green Deal’, ‘Draught Busting’, Arctic Melting, and Reading Climate Change Strategy.

June 2013 – ‘GREN members meeting’ hosted by Earley Environmental Group (EEG) with presentations from EEG, TCV, and Berkshire Local Nature Partnership, and a ‘Bat Walk’.

October 2013 – GREN stall at Reading Town Meal.

October 2013 – ‘GREN members meeting’ at Reading Voluntary Action, held jointly with the first Repair Café arranged by Transition Town Reading.

Engagement, Lobbying and Campaigning

Cycle Liaison Group

Michele Atkins has attended these quarterly sessions in April, July and October on behalf of GREN. The main topic of the forums this year has been the LSTF funded pedestrian/cycle footbridge over the Thames. Planning permission for the proposed design was given in October despite over 100+ objections and strong representation of the Reading Cycle groups in favour of segregated cycle/footpaths over the bridge.

Reading Climate Change Partnership (RCCP)

John Booth represented GREN on the RCCP Board. The revised Climate Change Strategy was launched in September 2013 with the associated Climate Action Network.

GREN has agreed to be involved as a ‘Delivery Partner’ for the associate Action Plan.

Through the RCCP GREN has encouraged the Council to fund a study of the potential for a Hydro-electricity project at Reading Weir.

Reading Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

Tony Cowling and John Booth met with Kim Wilkins of RBC to discuss the opportunities for environmental improvement arising from this document.

Funding

Various sources of grant funding have been investigated throughout the year but without success. Money is usually more readily available for a specific event or project. Some funds have been raised from donations at meetings and from member groups. Donations at the AGM will be gratefully received.

Finances

A statement of GREN finances from the Treasurer is attached. Many thanks to RVA and to EEG for providing meeting room space free of charge.

Michele Atkins

Secretary, Greater Reading Environmental Network

18 November 2012