Communications Working Group

Minutes 

Communications Working Group

Minutes of the meeting on Tuesday 09th March 2003

at English Nature, Devon House, Dartmouth Street.

Present:

Anne Homyer. London Biodiversity Project Officer (Chair). BTCV

Rachel Cook. Conservation Officer (English Nature)

William Moreno. Project Officer (LBP)

Joe Bikerstaff. London Publicity Officer (BTCV)

Apologies: Adrian Thomas (RSPB), Claire Percy (LWT)

1. Changes to the group

As Anne is leaving, she introduced Joe Bickerstaff from BTCV would will be joining the group on a temporary basis until Anne's replacement has an opportunity to attend. The group discussed who will Chair the group after Anne leaving and it was suggested that in the interim this is rotated between the members. We also discussed opening up the opportunity to join the group to representatives from other partners on LBP, who have a clear Communications remit. It was suggested approaching the Communications Officer for the Royal Parks.

2. LBP Annual Report and Launch

Jo is going to assume Anne's role on the sub-editing group for the annual report, which William is going to circulate on Thursday 10th April for comments back by the 17th April. William requested assistant with gathering images for the publication. He is going to come up with a list of topics that need images, such as the Thames Tidal HAP. Jo is going to send out an email to the BTCV volunteers to see if they can submit any photographs that could be used. The launch is to be held on the 1st week of June, although the venue is still to be confirmed. William has approached the London Zoo, but is also going to be visiting the Canal Museum on 10th April 2003.
3. Terms of Ref

The Terms of Ref needs to be drawn up for the working group. As an action for the next meeting it was decided that the group would read the information that had been put together to-date and refer to those submitted by the Tidal Thames HAP and the "Action" section in Volume one of the BAP. The group will then draft the doc at the next meeting in May.

4. Publicity Spreadsheet

It was agreed an events calendar should be finalised and posted on the website. The excel spreadsheet will be developed as a timetable to assist planning for the Communications Group. It is envisaged that the spreadsheet will become the cornerstone of the work that the group undertakes. The spreadsheet can be used for the group to identify opportunities for publicity can then pro-actively approach Leads to discuss possible opportunities. The publicity spreadsheet will be developed and sent around to all the Leads to guide them with possible events coming up that they could get involved with.

5. Poster

The group discussed feedback from the Project Board regarding the London Biodiversity Partnership "Poster" idea, that the group had discussed producing. The idea needs further clarification before it could go back to the project board. However, the group's idea is that the poster would advertise the website as well as promoting keys wildlife sites for SAP species ie where to see Herons. It was agreed that because of the forthcoming work for the launch and annual report, this idea would not be taken forward in the short-term.

6. LBAP Funding Strategy

The group decided that it would not put in a bid for the Funding Strategy on the basis that it is not the remit of the Comms. Working Group to implement the publicity and communications arm of the partnership, but to underpin and support the actions within the individual plans. This is to be reflected within the Terms of Ref that are currently being drawn up for the group.

7. Any other business

The group had a look at the draft press release that the Canals HAP was sending out for the forthcoming event.

Date of next meeting

Tuesday 12th May 2003 Venue: English Nature's offices

Home