SISCo Study Tour Day 3 - the Environment Centre

SISCo Study Tour Day 3
Business Support Network Annual Conference: How Green is
Your Business?
Council Chamber, Southampton City Council, 20th November 2009
Chris Watkins, Chief Executive of the Environment Centre (tEC,) welcoming delegates
40 people attended the event at the Southampton City Council Chamber. Delegates included
the EU project partners on the SISCo UK Study Tour, members from tEC’s Business Support
Network, Solent Energy and Environmental Management Group (SEEMG), Southampton City
Council, as well as individuals and representatives from NGOs.
John Mitchell, Head of Environment, Blake Lapthorn.
Environmental Legal Update
John Mitchell gave a short update on changes to current environmental legislation,
including:
• The DEFRA consultation on civil sanctions and the responses to this.
• Environmental Damage Regulations and the problems faced by an organisation
wanting to report an incident.
• Sentencing guidelines (new version of ‘Costing the Earth’ published) and the lack of
relevant case studies at all levels of severity.
• Environmental permits.
John Mitchell
Alan Whitehead MP
The Feed-in Tariff
Alan Whitehead MP talked to delegates about the Feed-in Tariff (FiT).
As of April 2010, <50kW capacity devices will transfer from Renewable Obligation
Certificates (ROCs) to the feed-in tariff, which covers electricity generation. Currently, the
FiT does not apply to any heat-generating technologies, however, a similar tariff has been
proposed for heat-producing micro-generation, which is likely to be brought in during April
2011.
• Feed-in tariffs cover the following micro-generation installations:
o Wind
o Solar PV
o Small-scale hydro
o Electricity production of Biomass CHP
o Anaerobic digestion
• Renewable Heat Incentive covers the following micro-generation installations:
o Solar thermal
o Ground Source Heat Pumps
o Air Source Heat Pumps
o CHP
o Biogas anaerobic digestion
The Feed-in Tarriff applies to micro generation (below 50KW), and Renewable Obligation
Certificates (ROCs) apply to larger scale generation, (usually 50KW – 5MW).
The new FiT system covers both on-site generation as well as any electricity which is
exported. Therefore, those who opt-in to the tariff will receive an overall generation tariff for
all the electricity they generate, and a further smaller tariff on the electricity that is exported
back to the grid.
Over time, the feed-in tariff rate may decrease; however the tariff received upon sign-up will
remain constant for the whole life of the micro-generation installed. Any micro-generation
method installed from summer 2009 onwards will be eligible to sign-up for the feed-in tariff.
Alan Whitehead MP
Dr. Richard Williams, IDeA Accredited Peer
Green Tendering Support for Public Bodies
Dr. Richard Williams
Dr. Williams spoke about Green / Sustainable Procurement, with particular reference to
Public Bodies. His talk covered the following topics:
 What Does Sustainable Procurement Mean To Public Bodies?
o Most / all public bodies want to influence the “well being” agenda (social,
economic and environmental) and procurement is their biggest weapon with
c£150 billion spent each year.
 The Flexible Framework
 Five elements are defined
o People
o Policy Strategy & Communications
o Procurement Process
o Engaging Suppliers
o Measurements and Results
• Five “levels” of maturity are defined
o Foundation
o Embed
o Practice
o Enhance
o Lead
• Public bodies set targets for achievement in attaining higher levels of outcome in the
framework as part of their policy lead on procurement
• Key interface for suppliers to use to engage with public bodies they wish to tender
work for
 Green Tendering and The Law
 UK Public bodies are obliged to follow relevant Public Procurement Regulations
 The UK regulations set a threshold for contracts above which certain procedures
must be applied to the tendering and award of contract – organisations must bear
this in mind in advance of submission.
 Rules relating to OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) Notices
 How Can My Tender Be Greener?
 Proof of environmental accreditation/standards such as an Environmental
Management System
 Demonstrate clear figures relating to environmental performance such as carbon
reduction statistics
 A Green Tendering Tool
 Dr. Williams discussed a green tendering tool which has been developed to evaluate
tenders neutrally and logically, across the UK, whilst being transparent to all users.
 The tool will be available in 2010 as it is currently undergoing legal scrutiny
Jane Ollis, Head of Sustainable Business, Business Link
Selling Your Business to Local Authorities
Jane Ollis
Jane Ollis focussed on how SMEs can sell their business to local authorities. Topics
covered included:
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What the public sector buys, and what public sector bodies exist in the local area.
The example of Ridge Crest Cleaning, which won the UK’s first “green” cleaning
contract with Maidstone Council. The company uses only environment-friendly,
biodegradable, products that have not been tested on animals. In addition, they
make greater use of the latest steam and microfibre cleaning systems.
The 2012 Olympics in London as an opportunity to sell your business through
CompeteFor, an online Brokerage service between buyers throughout the London
2012 supply chain, and potential suppliers.
How to register for CompeteFor, and the opportunities on offer.
Other contract opportunity portals, such as the South East Business Portal and
Supply2.gov.uk.
Training options and support available through Business Link and affiliated
organisations.
Business Link website: www.businesslink.gov.uk
Audience Participation
The event concluded with a panel discussion, where all delegates had the opportunity to
question the morning’s speakers.
Panel Discussion
Networking
Speaker Biographies
John Mitchell, Head of Business Regulatory
Blake Lapthorn
John qualified in 1979 and has spent his entire professional career involved working in
Magistrates and Crown Courts. In his early professional years he specialised exclusively in
criminal defence work.
Since 1992 he has focussed on advising, assisting and representing businesses in those
areas of commercial life where the criminal law is used to regulate business activity and in
matters such as abatement and enforcement notices. He also advises on aspects of good
practice, due diligence and general regulatory compliance.
His work regularly involves him in negotiations with regulatory authorities and in conducting
the defence of prosecutions regarding health and safety, trading standards, product liability,
water pollution, waste, food safety, noise, smell, environmental health and road transport.
He appears at public enquiries relating to road transport operators licensing.
He is recognised by Chambers as a leading defence solicitor in the field of environmental
law. He prosecutes for a number of marine based regulatory authorities, using his
knowledge acquired as an experienced sailor.
John is a keen advocate and, when clients appear in court or before an enquiry, prefers to
represent them himself.
Numbered among his clients are several national multiple outlet commercial organisations
in the retail, food and leisure sectors.
Alan Whitehead MP
Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group
Alan graduated with a degree in Politics and Philosophy from Southampton University and
went on to achieve a Ph.D. in Political Science. In 1980 he became a city councillor and
then Leader of the Council when Labour took control in 1984.
Between June 2001 and May 2002 he was Under Secretary of State in the Department for
Transport, Local Government and the Regions, responsible for local government, the
regions and the Fire Service. His special interests now include Further and Higher
Education (Lifelong Learning), Local Government, Constitution (Democracy), Environment,
Energy and Transport.
He is currently Chair of the Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Group; Co-Chair, Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resources Group; and Chair of the
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Poland.
He is also a member of the Justice Select Committee and the Standards and Privileges
Select Committee.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Waste Management, and member of the Board for The
Environment Centre (tEC) (Southampton), the Third Age Centre (Southampton), and
Southampton Sustainable Energy Limited.
He served on the Climate Change Public Bill Committee in 2007 and on the Energy Public
Bill Committee and the Joint Committee on the Draft Marine Bill in 2008. He is currently
serving on the Marine and Coastal Access Bill Committee.
In 2007, he was appointed by the Prime Minister to run the Labour Party’s manifesto group
on local government. Alan was appointed to the Energy and Climate Change Select
Committee in January 2009.
Richard F. Williams, Ph.D.
IDeA Accredited Peer
Dr. Williams gained his Ph.D. in Environmental Science at Southampton University in 1982,
researching flood risk across the UK. Richard has been involved in energy policy
development for a number of years.
Between 2005 and 2007 Richard managed the part European Union funded SUSPURPOL
(Blueprint for Sustainable Purchasing and Policy Development) Project for the 11 South
Hampshire Local Authorities which comprise the “PUSH” (Partnership for Urban South
Hampshire) consortium.
Dr. Williams has been a technical evaluator and rapportuer for EU funded research
programmes based in Brussels for over 10 years.
Dr. Williams is an accredited peer of the Improvement & Development Agency and has
undertaken a Best Value Review for the IDeA at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on
the subject of waste management, a peer review for Blackburn with Darwen on the
Comprehensive Performance Assessment and a climate change strategy review for
Newcastle City Council.
He has a close working relationship with the London Borough of Newham, where he is
engaged in research on sustainability and regeneration. He is currently preparing a
pamphlet on “Green Tendering” for the Association for Public Service Excellence in
Manchester in his capacity as the Chair of the APSE Strategic Forum on Sustainability.
He is also currently involved as an EU expert on sustainable development providing advice
and guidance to accession state organisations on sustainable business development
opportunities. Richard is also a retained expert for the Joint Secretariat of the EU (Interreg
IVC) on sustainable development and environmental management.
Jane Ollis, Head of Sustainable Business
Business Link Kent
Jane heads the Sustainable Business Team for Business Link Kent. She has an interest in
policy translation, development of service based business models and community based
energy schemes.
Jane is a Visiting Business Fellow of Oxford University, and a member of the Smith School
of Enterprise and Environment, the Kent Economic Board and the Energy Institute.
List of Attendees
Aalberts
Dolinda
Gemeente Schiedam
Baker
Carrie
EDP Limited
Beulen
Resie
Gemeente Schiedam
Brightwell
John
University of Southampton
Brown
Sara
Canning
John
Raymond Brown Construction Ltd
Cartside
Dilys
CycleWise Instruction
Christiaanse
Rob
Gemeente Schiedam
Davidson
Diana
de Reuver
Bert
Dean
Cllr Matthew
Duffy
Alaine
Hoenderdos
Ilse
Howe
Eleanor
Hulstkamp
Arthur
Greenhouse Graphics
DCMR Environmental Protection Agency
Rijnmond
Southampton City Council
the Environment Centre (tEC) volunteer
Brabantse Milieufederatie (BMF)
Smart Media
DCMR Environmental Protection Agency
Rijnmond
DCMR Environmental Protection Agency
Rijnmond
Huybregts
Rinus
Ingham
Ben
Jones
Debbie
Leigh
Rob
Greenhouse Graphics
Mitchell
John
Blake Lapthorn
Moore
Yvonne
Ollis
Jane
Business Link
Pollington
James
BAE Systems
Pope
Andrew
The Co-operative Group
Reading
Dan
The Green Blue Project
Robinson
Karen
Hampshire Constabulary
Savillewood
Laura
the Environment Centre (tEC)
Snelling
Candice
Stares
John
Thomas
Ian
Thorpe
Sarah
Hampshire Constabulary
Travers
Michael
University of Southampton
Turrell
Iain
Verstegen
Geert
Brabantse Milieufederatie (BMF)
Walter
Derek
HOCHTIEF (UK) Construction Ltd.
Walwijk
Saskia
Gemeente Schiedam
Watkins
Christine
Westall
Vicki
SBP
Ruth
Energy Saving Trust (Advice Centre Thames
Valley and Solent)
Wharton
Real Small Energy Company
Hildon Ltd
Zurich
NOC Southampton
Hampshire Constabulary
Proactive Trading (Hampshire) Ltd
SRE Limited
the Environment Centre (tEC)
Southampton City Council
Whitehead
Alan
Williams
Dr Richard
Williams
Annette
Wooldridge
Jonathan
Woolman
Tim
Cave
Gemma
the Environment Centre (tEC)
Farley
Helen
the Environment Centre (tEC)
Kelly
Peter
the Environment Centre (tEC)
IDeA Accredited Peer
SPI Lasers UK Ltd
University of Portsmouth
The Centre for Sustainable Design