Kensington and Chelsea Environment Round Table

• What is the Environment Round Table?
• Aims of the Round Table
• History of the Round Table
• What happens at meetings
• Forthcoming meetings
• Environment Round Table Discussion Forum
• Contact us

What is the Environment Round Table?

This is a residents' group that meets every two or three months to discuss, question and debate issues around pollution and the environment in Kensington and Chelsea. Popular topics include:

• air pollution and what is being done about it
• transport policies and public transport
• traffic management
• parking policy and problems
• waste and recycling
• Council consultations on various topics, for example community strategy

The group has had several functions in the last few years:

• A forum for formal consultation on certain council strategies and policies, for example on Air Quality Management Plans. For more information. See Air Quality.
• An opportunity for residents to speak directly to council officers about their concerns on pollution and environmental matters and to request further information or action. For example, the group expressed concerns about mobile phone masts, so council officers organised a presentation and followed up with more information as requested.
• A place where residents can learn of the latest Council policies and actions on environmental issues and can comment or make suggestions for how they might be refined or improved.
• A chance for council officers to discuss new or difficult policy areas.

The Environment Round Table was formerly known as the Pollution Round Table and was mainly organised by the Council. Now there is an independent chair and a steering group, which decides on agenda items. The Council still requests agenda items to be considered as part of its consultation exercises and the group is supported by the council administratively. After much debate within the whole group, the steering group decided on a new name to better reflect the broad number of issues of concern to The Kensington and Chelsea Environment Round Table.

 Aims of the Round Table

The Round Table is a body independent of, but working in partnership with, the Council. It has a consultative role and can also advise the Council. There is an open membership.

The agenda for meetings may be proposed by the steering group, or by any Round Table member, or by the Council. It is important that the Round Table should be free to discuss and advise on any environmental matter, besides those on which the Council is undertaking consultations.

The Objectives of the Round Table are:

• to represent to the Council, the views of residents on the quality of the environment;
• to make inputs to the Council on environmental issues including its policies and programmes, particularly:
  • reduction of air and noise pollution
  • reduction of traffic and of the effects of traffic on the Borough's roads
  • promoting reduced use of energy
  • increasing recycling of waste
  • enhancing and protecting the living environment (open spaces, plant and animal life)
  • conserving and enhancing the built environment and all public space
• to review progress towards sustainability by residents, business and the Council
• to raise awareness of environmental issues in the Borough.

History of the Round Table

The Pollution Round Table was originally one of several consultation panels run by the Council on issues such as waste, air quality and such like that contributed to the Environmental Policy Statement 93/95. 

Afterwards the panels were brought together to form one large group under the umbrella name, Pollution Round Table, although the group considered environmental issues other than pollution.

Although the format of consultation changed, the Round Table continued to provide a valuable input into the policies and actions of the Environmental Policy Statement. Therefore the objectives of the Round Table are very similar to the Council's own objectives in its Environmental Policy Statement.  See Our Policy Statement. 

In the Spring of 2002 the Round Table recognised that the relationship with the council needed to change again and the group struck out to become more autonomous, electing their own chair and steering group and setting their own agenda. The group has recently started to write letters to councillors or central government departments to express their views.

There are now about 30 active members and another 40 that occasionally attend meetings.

What happens at meetings?

The meetings are held on weekday evenings and usually have one or two presentations from council staff, or visiting speakers, followed by a discussion. 

There is always an opportunity for residents to voice issues of immediate concern, usually at the start of the meeting. Sometimes the group divides into smaller groups to thrash out views and give feedback on policies or strategies.

The group meets

• Four to six times per year
• Weekdays: 6.30 to 8.30 pm
• Usually at Kensington Town Hall, except for occasional area meetings

Forthcoming meetings

Date Venue Time 11 September 2006 Kensington Town Hall 18.15pm 11 December 2006 Kensington Town Hall 18.15pm

If you want to find out when the next meeting is please email the Community Environment Officer.

Contact us

If you are interested in joining the group or simply want to be on a mailing list for information please contact the Community Environment Officer:

• By email Community Environment Officer.
• By phone 020 7341 5684
• By post
  Community Environment Officer
  Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Environmental Services
  Council Offices
  37 Pembroke Road
  London W8 6PW

Consultation

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