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- Attendees
- 1. Review of the March Minutes
- 2. Future Bude Coastal Project
- 3. Revised Proposals for Business Sector Engagement Strategy
- 4. Recommendations to Climate Partnerships
- 5. AOB
Attendees
- Emily Reed Devon Climate Emergency Secretariat (Chair)
- Doug Eltham Devon County Council (Environment)
- William Jackson-Nichols Devon Climate Emergency Secretariat
- Sara Gibbs Public Health Devon
- Rhys Hobbs Cornwall Council
- Claire Below Cornwall Council
- George Arnison Environment Agency
- Cara Naden Somerset Council
- Richard Sweatman Local Resilience Forum
- Donna Sibley North Devon and Torridge District Councils
- Liza Oxford Plymouth City Council
- Deborah Jones Public Health Devon
- David Boocock Dartmoor National Park
- Paul Minshull Cornwall Council
- Emily Widdecombe Westcountry Rivers Trust
- Louise Sawyer Devon and Cornwall Police
1. Review of the March Minutes
Emily has not yet liaised with the South West Business Council regarding business engagement but will do so at an appropriate time.
Feedback on monitoring indicators was sent to the University of Exeter; awaiting response.
Sara Gibbs has been in contact with UKHSA regarding relevant tools but they are not ready to share yet.
Emily updated the Devon partnership on business engagement work; Claire and Rebecca were to update their respective groups.
Claire noted that Cornwall’s adaptation steering group will be the appropriate forum for updates.
Emily is compiling a list of organisations with climate adaptation strategies and risk registers.
No updates received from Ryan regarding invitations to the Rapid Adaptation Pathways Assessments.
Minutes were accepted without amendments.
2. Future Bude Coastal Project
Rhys presented the Future Bude Coastal Adaptation Project, part of the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP) under the Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme. The project focuses on adaptation over defence, aiming to manage coastal erosion and flood risk in Bude, Cornwall.
Key features:
- Community-led planning and engagement.
- Coastal Change Management Plan and designation of a Coastal Change Management Area.
- Infrastructure adaptation (e.g., RNLI access, car parks, public facilities).
- Emphasis on monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
- Project budget: £3 million, running until March 2027.
- Strong partnership with Cornwall Council, Environment Agency, Bude-Stratton Town Council, RNLI, and local charities.
Cara Naden raised concerns about equitable knowledge sharing and collaboration across coastal regions. George Arnison emphasised the importance of learning from such projects to inform national adaptation strategies. Sara Gibbs highlighted the importance of embedding health and equity in adaptation planning. Rhys confirmed that accessibility and community value are central to the project, with baseline and impact assessments planned.
ACTION: Rhys to share a briefing note and further documentation with the group.
ACTION: Potential future session to explore community engagement methodologies in more detail.
3. Revised Proposals for Business Sector Engagement Strategy
Forum for the Future will now lead the development of a business engagement strategy (replacing Involve). The project will:
- Map existing business engagement on climate resilience.
- Identify gaps and develop a business engagement plan.
- Include a workshop, interviews, and desk research.
Sara Gibbs and others emphasised involving key business groups and umbrella organisations (e.g., Chambers of Commerce, SW Business Council). Claire Below to share contacts for Cornwall’s new Economic Forum. Donna Sibley requested clarity on the geographical scope (likely Devon, Cornwall, and Isles of Scilly). Richard Sweatman and Paul Minshull suggested broadening the scope to include natural hazard resilience (e.g., droughts, power outages) while maintaining a climate-centric focus. Claire proposed using the Climate Risk Register as a boundary for scope.
ACTION: Emily to clarify geographical scope with Forum for the Future.
ACTION: Emily to review workshop attendance and refine invite list.
ACTION: Claire to share relevant contacts.
ACTION: Emily to follow up with Forum on feasibility of broadening scope.
4. Recommendations to Climate Partnerships
Continue to update partnerships on the business engagement strategy.
No additional recommendations were proposed.
5. AOB
Emily to circulate AOB items via email due to time constraints.
