Sustainable Cottenham is still working hard to convince people that there are offers available to get cavity wall and loft insulation installed FREE!!  No age or benefits qualification!  Lynda, who is Chair of the group, says: 'The money won't last for ever so act now and be ready for winter'. Click on the icon below for more information.

The group is also holding the second of its events this year on Saturday 26 May.  Again the venue is Cottenham Community Centre. Lynda says: ' The first event in January [Cosy Cottenham] was very well attended and we are hoping that this next event 'Greener Cottenham' will prove equally popular.  We have some great speakers again as well as activities for the children and advice and information on sustainable living.' Click on the icon below for more information about this event.

Click on the icon below for the Cottenham District Councillor’s Report March 2012.

Click on the icon below for the Cottenham District Councillor’s Report January 2012.

Sustainable Cottenham shared the disappointment felt by many on hearing the government’s plans to reduce Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) for photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation. The decision to bring forward the cut-off date to 12th December prevented many households from installing PV panels at the FiT rate they had planned for and also had an adverse effect on many of the small companies engaged in their installation.

 

South Cambridgeshire District Council took a decision not to proceed with the installation of PV panels on the roof of South Cambridgeshire Hall. The contractor that they employed to install panels on the roofs of SCDC housing stock also withdrew, leaving the council and many of its tenants bitterly disappointed. 

 

But the news is not all bad for those of us interested in conserving energy (and saving money):

 

•      The cost of photovoltaic panels continues to come down and, even with the less generous tariff, is approaching the point at which it will still be economically sound to consider their installation on our homes;

•      Generous grants are available to improve household insulation.  How many of us have adequate insulation in our lofts?  Most of us have some, but have you checked whether it is the recommended 270mm (approximately 11 inches)? This is something that costs far less; there are grants available to all; for some the work can even be carried out free of charge;

•      The Renewable Heat Incentive is expected to be launched in the domestic sector later in 2012 to incentivise solar hot water and heat pumps; and

•      The government is also launching a new programme in 2012: The Green Deal, which will offer benefits to householders.

 

Sustainable Cottenham will be one of the first members of SCDC's Sustainable Parish Energy Partnership to promote the new programme designed to increase the number of well insulated homes.  This will be one of the features of Sustainable Cottenham's Village Energy Day, ‘Cosy Cottenham’, on Saturday 14 January 2012, 10.00 to 14.00 at Cottenham Community Centre.  Details of the organisations participating and the speakers contributing to the day can be found on our website: www.sustainablecottenham.org.uk.

 

Lynda says: 'This will be an event worth attending. The coffee shop will be open throughout and there will be activities for children. We very much look forward to seeing you there.'

 

Click here to download a poster.

Click on the icon below for the Cottenham District Councillor’s Report November 2011.

Click on the icon below for the Cottenham District Councillor’s Report October 2011.

Click on the icon below for the Cottenham District Councillor’s Report September 2011.

Click on the icon below for the Cottenham District Councillor’s Report August 2011.

Total Arts is a creative group for young people aged 11-18 years with disabilities. This creative programme is presented by Inspire (wellbeing through the arts) in conjunction with The Junction. Professional artist-facilitators lead a range of varied and exciting arts and media activities.

Please see the Summer and Autumn term timetable attached. 

Lynda says: 'There is a lack of provision in the Arts for children with physical and learning disabilities.  What little there is needs to be utilised to the full in order that any funding that it benefits from is not withdrawn due to under-use being interpreted as lack of need.'

For the first time in its history South Cambridgeshire District Council is running a ballot of all its tenants and leaseholders in October 2011 to elect tenant representatives onto the Tenant Participation Group (TPG).

The TPG has been running for over 10 years but until now has been a group of interested and committed but unelected tenants and leaseholders working with the Council to shape and improve housing services.

Given the challenges and changes ahead, and SCDC's commitment to involve tenants much more in areas such as scrutiny, value for money and performance monitoring, a decision was taken to run an independent ballot to elect tenants onto a refreshed TPG.

Dave Champion – Chair of TPG has been quoted as saying: 'As Chairman I think we need to be an elected group so we are able to work closer and better with the Council and have the backing of all the other tenants. I think this will open more doors to us when we are working with the council'.

Elected TPG members will hold a mandate from all the other tenants to represent their views at the highest level and act as advocates for tenants as a whole and will work closely in partnership with the Council to look at future governance arrangements within the housing service.

Lynda says: 'I welcome the decision to move to an elected TPG.  SCDC has benefitted from participation by the TPG in past projects and the fact that members will be democratically elected in future will add to their status by increasing confidence that they are representing the views of tenants as a whole.'