Present: Colin, John, Mike, Jan, Tom, Annabel, Cate, Sue K,
Apologies; Debbie, Susan, Ruth, Andy, Ann
People’s Emergency Briefing – Discussion and Actions
Colin went through his draft report. Following discussion on this he will amend it and ask Lindsey to get it into a more readable and interesting document which can go on our website and perhaps as a leaflet to give to others who are organising screenings.
In discussion there were concerns that this initiative will cut through to the “mainstream” enough. We should feed back this concern to the NEB organisation and ask them to think about getting some bigger names on board and getting a version that will appeal more to younger people. Mike mentioned enlisting the support of the King and Prince William, who as trusted national environmentalists may be sympathetic to promoting the film. He will draft the letter to NEB and include these suggestions.
The draft report covers writing emails to various people/organisations. Colin was willing to draft sample emails from which people could personalise/and or just send and track the response (i.e. they may need to chase a reply). He would do this next week.
Tom was concerned that we apply some project management oversight to all this activity and Colin to use and circulate a project management template to do this. Again, he will send this out to all next week. It will simply put down the activity, who is doing it, and the action start and finish times. This will enable us to review progress at each of our regular meetings.
Land Use Framework – Presentation by Jan
Jan summarised the consultation by Government on their framework proposals. These were published in March following a consultation in 2025 ( note we responded to that at the time) and the proposals are aimed at balancing food security, nature restoration, climate resilience, and infrastructure needs. Note this is a first ever attempt for the UK. It introduces principles for land-use decision making including a new focus on multifunctional land use and improved data.
It is proposed that this framework be updated every 5 years.
The proposal for a detailed soil analysis which would underpin the framework was welcomed.
As it goes through the government and parliamentary procedures , however, Jan explained that the battle would be between vested interests and it will be interesting to see how the final result lives up to the ideals.
ChiCAN – Future Arrangements
To simplify arrangements Colin proposed that all monthly meetings be advertised as ChiCAN meetings and the invoices for the room settled by Transition Chichester. We would, still need to ask for donations from everyone attending the meeting.
He proposed that the u3a climate change group would continue to have one or two meetings per year within the u3a organisation to invite members from the 900 or more members, to attend coffee mornings to give out information on climate change, to press for speakers on climate change at the large monthly meetings in the Assembly Rooms on a climate change topic and to hold one or two technical meeting per year on subjects that new members and existing u3a members would like to hear about. If anyone wants to take on board the leadership of the u3a climate change group to do this Colin would gladly pass it over.
In the light of some members from u3a not able to make the meeting he will ask for comments on this in the circulating the minutes so action on this would wait for another month before any action taken.
Civil Engineering Design Challenges in a changing climate
Colin brought two general issues to the groups attention.
If we design for a 1 in 100 year or 1 in 200 year storm that seems great if the climate stays the same as it always has done. But in the future – who knows?
In view of this problem we should be designing to allow design failure to provide for people relying upon the safety of certain structures to have sufficient time to evacuate the building or area before it threatens life. This happens in areas subject to earthquakes and should be explored in relation to flood protection. It is not known whether this has been looked at in relation to coastal defence proposals for the Chichester area but we should at least ask the question and be satisfied by the answer. When he has time Colin will send this question to the appropriate bodies.
AOB
Next Meeting 3rd June , 2.00pm Friends Meeting House
CRM Draft 1 13/5/26