Transition's relations with government

Hi

Carolyn, Nathan, Dick and Ray went to a meeting in Westminster on Tues. 9th Nov. For those with stamina, I add a report I penned on it. For those who want a few quick points I would stress that Transition are trying to talk to any government department, quango, or local authority, saying that Transition covers all areas of life. Spokesman Peter Lipman also said all MPs should do the Transition training, and that our movement should focussed on the global justice issues.

 

Transition Hertford REPORT ON THE MEETING AT WESTMINSTER NOV. 9 2010


Meeting arranged by APGOPO, the Parliamentary Group on Peak Oil, to explore what parliamentarians can learn from the Transition movement.


TN was represented by Peter Lipman and Fiona Ward.


Factual information gleaned


  • TN has invited blogs on its site with ideas for best ways to co-operate with political bodies.


  • In Bristol TN people have been discussing with quangos – a chance for T to take over some local services, in light of cuts


  • A group from Cornwall had formulated its demands: “an environment which allows us to use our resources (incl. Esp. human ones) as effectively as possible” Specifically they want 1. land reform, 2. planning reform, 3. banking reforms on the lines of credit unions.


  • The coalition “Green Deal” does not bring money to local communities


  • Similarly DECC has changed its approach very recently: they are interested in supporting at individual household level and big-scale national projects, not community schemes.


  • TN have talked with the Communities and Local Government Ministry, and they do not want to engage.


  • Peter Lipman has arranged to speak to the Minister for Civil Society and Charities, Nick Hurd, as he feels all govt. depts. are relevant to T.


  • T Heathrow has worked with the anti-expansion campaigners – an inspiring example of getting the community involved. Reminder: thre is at TN a ready-made project for getting new people involved in community projects.


  • Of the 5000 of the Community Organisers announced by govt. only 450 will be paid!

  • TN has set up “Local United” - a series of social enterprises such as the Stroud Food Co.


Peter Lipman's views on T's links with govt. bodies


  • T must be involved with community issues locally.

  • All MPs should do the Transition training

  • Mps should talk to local transitioners, and share the ideas with other MPs and their own local party supporters.

  • Parliament should back revolving funds to enable social enterprise – and get away from grant schemes. Ideas are needed for income generation.

  • Following Bristol's Peak Oil report, there should be a national enquiry into the implications of P.O.

  • Passionate transitioners should talk to their individual MPs rather than lobbying

  • We plan to call for a day when transitioners should talk to their MPs, (incl. Welsh and Scottish MPs, and MEPs.)

  • Peter is moving towards a policy of “Do first, ask later” (The law on squatting gives some support to this idea)

  • Peter feels social justice should be the focus, as the problem is that limited groups have access to resources, and abuse these. Yet we must nor forget that Britain got where it is by exploiting the empire's resources, and becoming the world's first big polluters.


Tags: Transition, and, government

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Permalink Reply by don carlin on November 17, 2010 at 0:11
Thanks Carolyn, was wondering what the outcome of such a meeting might be (not with a great anticipation of any government involvement or backing - that's not how our governments usually operate)

A worthy attempt but I'll be surprised if government do engage at any meaningful level with anything transitional, Despite their words they're simply not that interested in anything that hands real power to communities. As far as I can make out, Peter's list seems more like a wish list than a serious agenda for governmental involvement, ergo he's appreciating that we have to do it our way, not 'theirs?. The Zeitgeist Movement tried this route, admittedly in the knowledge that such an approach would certainly fail and I see nothing in transition that would appeal in any way to our elites and their specialised classmates. Individual MP's will I fear be interested in talking and encouraging, beyond that not a great deal, though they'll talk a good show when it's election time (MP's don't actually have any real power at community level to effect change) Local councils on the other hand have a vested interest in their local communities, we should stick with that as a level of possible involvement, backing and perhaps some financing.
Further, it behove all involved in transition to understand the nature of the beast if we would change it's spots - and a glance at our long histories shows that meetings with government in no way demonstrates that. And frankly, what Peter 'feels' is what Peter feels, I'm a lot more interested in what a consensus of informed TI's feel rather than an individual, but as yet I see no mechanism in place to do that.
An inteesting conformation nevertheless that TI wishes to involve itself in a lot more than peak oil, and that's about the only good point on offer so far. We would do better to stay within our communities and gain strength from our links at county and regional level until we are both established properly and have an effective voice by virtue of our locally based actions.
I beg to differ :-)
d
Permalink Reply by don carlin on November 17, 2010 at 8:59
whoops sorry there Ray, got my Ray's and Carolyn's mixed up :-)
x


don carlin said:
Thanks Carolyn, was wondering what the outcome of such a meeting might be (not with a great anticipation of any government involvement or backing - that's not how our governments usually operate)

A worthy attempt but I'll be surprised if government do engage at any meaningful level with anything transitional, Despite their words they're simply not that interested in anything that hands real power to communities. As far as I can make out, Peter's list seems more like a wish list than a serious agenda for governmental involvement, ergo he's appreciating that we have to do it our way, not 'theirs?. The Zeitgeist Movement tried this route, admittedly in the knowledge that such an approach would certainly fail and I see nothing in transition that would appeal in any way to our elites and their specialised classmates. Individual MP's will I fear be interested in talking and encouraging, beyond that not a great deal, though they'll talk a good show when it's election time (MP's don't actually have any real power at community level to effect change) Local councils on the other hand have a vested interest in their local communities, we should stick with that as a level of possible involvement, backing and perhaps some financing.
Further, it behove all involved in transition to understand the nature of the beast if we would change it's spots - and a glance at our long histories shows that meetings with government in no way demonstrates that. And frankly, what Peter 'feels' is what Peter feels, I'm a lot more interested in what a consensus of informed TI's feel rather than an individual, but as yet I see no mechanism in place to do that.
An inteesting conformation nevertheless that TI wishes to involve itself in a lot more than peak oil, and that's about the only good point on offer so far. We would do better to stay within our communities and gain strength from our links at county and regional level until we are both established properly and have an effective voice by virtue of our locally based actions.
I beg to differ :-)
d
Permalink Reply by Belinda Irons on November 17, 2010 at 16:08
East Herts District Council are currently consulting on their Core Strategy. This is your opportunity to have your say on what you want - and don't want.
As a Transition Group, you could request to be a consultee to the Strategy - anything is worth a go!
You may wish to quote from Zero Carbon Britain 2030, and Local Sustainable Housing by Chris Bird when you respond to where 8,500 houses are to go.
I agree that focussing locally and working with what is already present is the best way forward - change it from within.
Regards
Belinda
Permalink Reply by don carlin on November 17, 2010 at 22:29
Great linkage and advice Belinda - as an adjuct I'd also reccomend - for those who haven't read it yet -

COMMUNITIES, COUNCILS AND A LOW-CARBON FUTURE:
what we can do if governments won’t
by Alexis Rowell
available at Transition Books


Alexis worked originally as a BBC journalist, but was then appointed as Camden Eco Champion and Chair of the council’s all-party Sustainability Task Force. He has led the transformation of Camden’s Development Control Committee (Planning) which now requires every new development to install a green roof, rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling, and 20% on site renewables or CHP, and is a member of Transition Belsize. What Councils can and acn't do, what works and what doesn't, an absolute must for the stage of transition we are fast approaching in HT
imo
:-)



Belinda Irons said:
East Herts District Council are currently consulting on their Core Strategy. This is your opportunity to have your say on what you want - and don't want.
As a Transition Group, you could request to be a consultee to the Strategy - anything is worth a go!
You may wish to quote from Zero Carbon Britain 2030, and Local Sustainable Housing by Chris Bird when you respond to where 8,500 houses are to go.
I agree that focussing locally and working with what is already present is the best way forward - change it from within.
Regards
Belinda
Permalink Reply by Ray Bomber on November 18, 2010 at 11:20


Belinda Irons said:
East Herts District Council are currently consulting on their Core Strategy. This is your opportunity to have your say on what you want - and don't want.
As a Transition Group, you could request to be a consultee to the Strategy - anything is worth a go!
You may wish to quote from Zero Carbon Britain 2030, and Local Sustainable Housing by Chris Bird when you respond to where 8,500 houses are to go.
I agree that focussing locally and working with what is already present is the best way forward - change it from within.
Regards
Belinda
Permalink Reply by don carlin on November 18, 2010 at 15:14
When the assumtive 'Chair' of TN attends a parlimentary group as spokesperson for TN I think we have a duty to examine carefully what transpires. I'm particularly addressing this aspect, as reported here, about views expressed in the aftermath of what can only be described as a rejection of the points that were made, presumably on our behalf (though I remeber no one asking for our opinions about those points) - namely -

Peter Lipman's views on T's links with govt. bodies



don carlin said:
Thanks Carolyn, was wondering what the outcome of such a meeting might be (not with a great anticipation of any government involvement or backing - that's not how our governments usually operate)

A worthy attempt but I'll be surprised if government do engage at any meaningful level with anything transitional, Despite their words they're simply not that interested in anything that hands real power to communities. As far as I can make out, Peter's list seems more like a wish list than a serious agenda for governmental involvement, ergo he's appreciating that we have to do it our way, not 'theirs?. The Zeitgeist Movement tried this route, admittedly in the knowledge that such an approach would certainly fail and I see nothing in transition that would appeal in any way to our elites and their specialised classmates. Individual MP's will I fear be interested in talking and encouraging, beyond that not a great deal, though they'll talk a good show when it's election time (MP's don't actually have any real power at community level to effect change) Local councils on the other hand have a vested interest in their local communities, we should stick with that as a level of possible involvement, backing and perhaps some financing.
Further, it behove all involved in transition to understand the nature of the beast if we would change it's spots - and a glance at our long histories shows that meetings with government in no way demonstrates that. And frankly, what Peter 'feels' is what Peter feels, I'm a lot more interested in what a consensus of informed TI's feel rather than an individual, but as yet I see no mechanism in place to do that.
An inteesting conformation nevertheless that TI wishes to involve itself in a lot more than peak oil, and that's about the only good point on offer so far. We would do better to stay within our communities and gain strength from our links at county and regional level until we are both established properly and have an effective voice by virtue of our locally based actions.
I beg to differ :-)
d
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