COMMITEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Jules (Meeting Chair), Lynn (Communications Officer), Fiona (Secretary)
OTHERS PRESENT: Laurie, Philip, Allen
1. Chair for the meeting
The committee elected Jules to chair the meeting. It was noted that Jill had stepped down as project leader for the Rivers & Brooks project, but would still like to attend future committee meetings as a member without portfolio. Action: Jules to look through our list of over 200 TDEG members for potential chairs. All to speak to attendees at whole group meetings about TDEG’s need for a chair.
2. Apologies
Apologies were received from Neill (Treasurer), Helen (committee member) and Sue (Safeguarding Officer).
3. Matters arising
None
4. Hon. officers' reports
a. Fiona (Sec) reported that TDEG now had 513 facebook followers. She had been passing on and replying to information from the TDEG email inbox as appropriate. TDEG had been invited to meet the new Derbyshire Dales Community Energy manager. The meeting was pleased to accept Sheelagh, Bill and Philip’s offers to represent TDEG at a meeting. Action: Fiona to reply to DDCE and the three volunteers.
b. Treasurers report.
In Neill’s absence, the committee reviewed his report, including four grant awards for the Library of Things. Fiona reported the bank balance for 1 October. Paperwork to add Neill as an account administrator was being processed by the bank. Action: Fiona to circulate the project allocations to the project leaders.
The committee considered a funding request from Village Voice for £200 per year to help cover the cost of the publication. The committee expressed concern about using TDEG funds for a wider community initiative that wasn’t wholly environmentally focused. Members of the committee felt that people making donations direct to TDEG might be uncomfortable with this. However, we recognised the value of promoting TDEG activities in the Village Voice, particularly for those who needed a paper-based outlet. So, the Committee did want to support the Village Voice.
c. Lynn (Communication officer) reported that we now had over 200 members, who had all just received the latest newsletter. It would be good to persuade more of the facebook followers to sign up for the newsletter and so become TDEG members. Gerard from the Rivers & Brooks group had been trained in Mailchimp and so would now be able to send emails to the group on behalf of TDEG.
5. Project progress and permissions
a. Ethical consumer projects
Most of the latest progress on Buying for Good (from Lembas staff-owned bulk wholefoods company), Repair Cafe, Seed Swap and Library of Things was published in the TDEG email newsletter.
We haven’t heard from Kelda about the TDEG Nappy Library, understandably as she is busy with two young children. Action: Jules to seek an update from Kelda
John Whitby had been invited to the Repair Cafe on 18 October. He had already signed the national Repair and Reuse Declaration. The meeting discussed points to brief him on, and what we might ask him to help us with. It was agreed to raise the issue of workforce training and cooperation with the East Midlands mayor on this topic. Action: Jules to write a briefing note for John Whitby MP and take forward a request for support on workforce training in Derbyshire Dales.
The Library of Things had done brilliant work in winning four grant awards. It was unable to spend the money immediately because there was uncertainty about the availability of the room at the Sport’s Pavilion. The committee sought clarity about whether a joint or separate reservation point and storage facility were needed. The Library of Things did not need any further funds from TDEG at the moment, but did expect to need around £2,000 for running costs in due course. Action: Philip and Laurie to clarify the space requirements, then all to help find appropriate space/spaces.
Progress on the Wildlife Projects and Rivers & Brooks projects were reported in the TDEG email newsletter.
A discussion on filling project group leader vacancies for Rivers & Brooks, Climate Action and Recycling was deferred to the next meeting. [Post meeting note – there is also a vacancy for the TDEG Schools Liaison role.]
6. Whole Group Meetings
The next meeting would be on How to Futureproof Tideswell? on 21 October at 7.30pm in Fountain Square Church. It would be lead by the Carbon Literacy Project’s co-founder and Director of Advocacy, Phil Korbel. Fiona was liaising with Phil and would ask for a publicity photo. She would meet him at FSC at 7.00pm and could introduce him to attendees at the start of the meeting at 7.30pm. Allen agreed to arrive at 7.00pm to help set up the lap top and projector. Lynn agreed to design a poster. Jules would bring the banner and refreshments. Fiona, Rob and Lynn would serve refreshments. Jules, Lynn and Neill had agreed to help with breakout group facilitation.
The committee discussed an offer from Severn Trent Water to speak at a future meeting. It was agreed that the meeting should be held in mid February, subject to speaker availability. The committee would meet two weeks prior and the talk would be published in a TDEG email newsletter four weeks before the WGM. Tuesdays were preferred. Action: Lynn to liaise with the speaker. Fiona to book the WGM and committee meeting venues when we have a date.
7. Any Other Business
The committee was delighted that Allen had enjoyed his first meeting, and would take an item to formally coopt him as a committee member at its next meeting in 2026.
8. Date of Next Meetings
Whole Group Meeting – mid Feb 2026 (committee preferred Tuesdays).
Committee meeting – two weeks prior to the WGM, preferrably on a Tuesday.
