Summary of work June 2013 Malmo Workshop Newcastle GAIA
work
Slide 2
Starting Out The agenda seemed vast Yet many activities have
already been delivered Aimed to link Newcastle GAIA with
sustainable food agenda WHY: At the time of joining GAIA, plans
were emerging to develop a new initiative in Newcastle A
Sustainable Food Policy Council The City Council does not have
strong coordination of sustainable food plans Looking to change the
way we deliver services/manage land Cooperative council Budget
pressures
Slide 3
Stakeholder Engagement Has been complex and slow Trying to work
with an initiative that is being driven by external parties
Difficult time in the City Council with significant budget cuts and
management restructure Impact on roles, priorities and working
arrangements Hard to start working on new policy areas Discussions
with: Fairtrade Partnership Newcastle Eat Well Group Greening
Newcastle Gateshead Food Nation Various Council services Newcastle
University
Slide 4
Sustainable Food
Slide 5
Slide 6
Slide 7
Progress to date Established a Food Policy Steering Group Draft
Action Plan for Council actions Some outline Strategic Enquiries
Supported external partners to deelop bid and secure national
support from Soil Association Food Policy Council on 9 th May at
Newcastle University Planned Food Charter launch in July 2013
Appointing Project Manager start 17 th June Member support for this
direction
Slide 8
Challenges Difficult to engage stakeholders Hard to articulate
why participate in GAIA Working with social enterprises they need
budgets to survive (and therefore projects/ownership) Not opened up
to full stakeholders, yet national food manufactures are based in
the city are they the right partners? Newcastle workshop was poorly
attended, even by City Council officers Time consuming to
understand territory & previous project successes, failures and
ongoing activity
Slide 9
Our current Strategic Enquiry How can we increase the amount of
food produced in the region? How can weraise awareness and
encourage action to make Newcastles food system fairer and more
sustainable to ensure Newcastle citizens use the most sustainable
and fair sources of food? -reword to reflect waste & food
systems What mechanisms does the council have to strengthen local
food production in the city What FURTHER potential does the green
and brown field AREA IN AND AROUND NEWCASTLE HAVE FOR PRODUCING
LOCAL FOOD?
Slide 10
Explore how to develop an Ecosystem services valuation of
potential new allotment sites Explore how to secure a financial
contribution from large scale events/organisations towards long
term sustainability (including accountancy method) Develop a land
assessment methodology for identifying sites suitable for food
production -Land ownership? - council land -Land use data
-Topographic OS data -What makes ups up suitability for growing
-Land earmarked for development -Flood site might be more suitable
-SSSI etc to be let out Speak with those leading on regulatory
issues / planning (Peter Cockbain / Nicola Woodward) Types of soil
(Phil Hartley & Chloe Light?) Assets transfer programme Graeme
Losh / Elaine McMullin Asset Management Team Explore potential for
wider residents benefits of potential changes in land use (e.g.
allotment next to me, how do I benefit?) Explore setting up
workplace buying groups
Slide 11
Understand role of CIL Ensure allotment strategy data fed into
Know Your City document Promote giveaways of allotment association
produce on NCC website Organise internal meeting to explore
feasibility of allotment hub project as a replacement for Jesmond
Dene sapling nurturing service Write an NCC Food Policy Statement
Map current understanding of NCC supply chain Explore understanding
of citys role in pollination of wider food production in the region
and map current state. Gather Council spend on Food from various
services (quantities, types, sourcing) and Grainger Market Explore
external datasets available to inform Food System work Appliances
data retail Transport Defra ONS Data on regional agriculture Meet
with walker Technology College and Hilton Primary to explore
appetite for becoming Beacon schools in this agenda
Slide 12
Capture sourcing, ecological impact etc during NCC Food
Contract renewal Discuss/explore role of food with planning policy
Start scoping Policy Cabinet on Food - One page thinkpiece of
future of food prices/policy Develop task and finish group to
explore datasets that could inform who feeds Newcastle? Soil types
across the city how important? Topography Contaminated Land Extra
potential in existing allotments Land ownership PAM NCC land
availability Underused land and spaces ALC Grades? post 1988
(examples in Who Feeds Bristol) Speak to Sheffield University about
www.myharvest.org.ukwww.myharvest.org.uk Meet with Greening
Wingrove on Food Map out work of Edible Elswick speak to Rob Delapp
and Tony Robinson Review the asset transfer register
Slide 13
Meet Newcastle Allotment Forum Speak with Bill Kirkup about
work with WRAP and Public Sector Food procurement Scope aggregation
of Carbon Footprint of Food Procurement with Northu mbria and
Newcsatle Universities, and Newcastle City Council Explore Well
Fair Day Centre - Speak to Chris Dugdale closing of Hair Hills Talk
to Martin Surtees/Deb Tyler on Schools Forum Explore Blakes CSR
offer with Wayne Tessier Explore the content of the website and
central site of information to share on activities in the city
Clarify public health role in Environmental Sustainability food
action plan Explore links with African city on urban agriculture
and links with Martins connections. Actions for the preparation of
the multi-stakholder workshop (in September tbc) to: -Draft invite
letter -Speak with invites on 1-to-1 basis -Speak with Elin and
Karin on their approach -Capture lessons from other partners June
workshop
Slide 14
Undertake series of management buy-in meetings to gather
greater support from different departments Collaboration with GAIA
partners (specific actions): -Urban agriculture cooperation -
labour market scheme for unemployed and develop business models-
-Evaluation of eco-systems services Martins colleague an expert in
this area (links back with the above methodology action above) -
Exchange ideas on procurement and standards for environmental and
social dimensions in procurement -Explore course content that may
have been delivered in Malmo related to growing. -Collaboration
with an African city -
