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FOLLOWING its decision not to support declaring a Climate Emergency back in June this year, as promised Thame Town Council has now adopted an Environmental Policy which, it has stated, ‘applies to all aspects of the work of Thame Town Council’.

The policy goes on to state: “Thame Town Council will use its available powers and resources to protect and enhance the well-being of local people and all that comprises the natural and built world (our environment). Accordingly we will at all times seek maximum sustainability in all our dealings affecting the environment.”

On ‘Decision-making’ the policy states that the council will: “Ensure all Thame Town Council decisions take into account environmental impact and wellbeing.”

The council’s Policy and Resources committee, at its meeting on Tuesday (12/11), voted unanimously for the policy’s adoption, with minor amendments of clarification, but agreed not to include a suggested amendment to the policy to include a review of the council’s Investment strategy ‘to consider moving to investments that support ‘green technologies’ that are likely to be needed to mitigate against climate change…and to act upon that advise’.

However, it was agreed that the council will look separately at its current Investment strategy at a later date.

Cllr Sonja Francis, who originally put forward the lost motion to the council to declare a Climate Emergency, said: “Although I was very disappointed that the town council did not see fit to declare a Climate Emergency back in June, I am delighted that the town council has now produced this far reaching policy and look forward to its swift implementation. I should like to pay tribute to Cllr Helena Fickling who put in much of the work to produce an Environmental Policy that the whole committee could get behind. We all have the interests of the town at heart, and through working together, we have produced a policy that I hope, along with the Green Living Plan, show the town that the council is serious about tackling the challenges of climate change.

“I accept that asking for ‘a policy about a policy’ to include my amendment about ‘greener investments’ would be more appropriately dealt with separately, and I look forward to a robust discussion with fellow councillors and seeking professional advise on the benefits or otherwise for Thame council tax payers.”

The complete Environmental Policy reads:

1.Background/ Principles

1.1. This environmental policy applies to all aspects of the work of Thame Town Council.

1.2 .Thame Town Council will use its available powers and resources to protect and enhance the well-being of local people and all that comprises the natural and built world (our environment). Accordingly we will at all times seek maximum sustainability in all our dealings affecting the environment.

1.3. Environmental wellbeing will be considered with all other factors such as social wellbeing, public safety, prevention of crime and disorder, equality provision etc. in all that the Town Council does.

2. Commitments

Thame Town Council commits to:

2.1. Green Living Plan–Adopt a Green Living Plan for Thame (GLP)and implement it in a time frame appropriate to the challenges faced, including the review and continued development of the GLP on an ongoing basis, as required by the existing Thame Neighbourhood Plan

2.2. Decision-making –Ensure all Thame Town Council decisions take into account environmental impact and wellbeing.

2.3. Procurement–Ensure that all procurement decisions contain weightings for sustainability, consider embodied energy, eventual disposal by recycling and avoid (or, where impracticable, seek to reduce) use of any unsustainable materials.

2.4. Development / Planning–Take such action as is within our power and resources to support and encourage sustainability in all forms of development and in our planning recommendations, where appropriate seek environmental assurances beyond the requirements of relevant legislation.  Town Council will expect TNP2 to have higher building standards than the existing.

2.5. Council estate and facilities–Manage our land and activities using environmentally-friendly practices that promote biodiversity and enhance habitats, in line with already documented policies and procedures.

2.6. Energy generally –Minimise energy use in all activities and buildings. Maximise the use of renewable energy and minimise waste, pollution and use of fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources. Equally sub-contractors must comply.

2.7. Climate Change, Pollution and carbon neutrality: Work with other relevant Thame based organisations, and particularly Thame Green Living and the GLP to encourage ‘Carbon Neutrality’ and reduce pollution in the air, water, the ground and from other sources within the Thame/ Moreton area by no later than such date as may be determined by the government or otherwise be practicable locally.

2.8. Biodiversity  Gain is the aim!

2.9. Awareness and information–Work in conjunction with relevant partners to inform, encourage and promote environmental information across the Council and community. To train Officers and contractors to respond appropriately to feedback and utilise the process as an aid to progress and an evolving consensus.

2.10. Monitoring and reviewing–Establish and implement suitable practices and checks to monitor compliance with these objectives/ commitments and improve our environmental performance.

2.11. Resources–Make available reasonable budget and staffing resources to facilitate local environmental initiatives and support relevant volunteer community groups and local organisations furthering those initiatives.

2.12. Other authorities–Promote Thame’s environmental awareness and initiatives with the district and county councils, nearby parish councils and other official and unofficial bodies. Share best practice with (and learn from) other Town and Parish Councils and relevant national bodies. Plus follow any specific guidance issued by Central Government for Town and Parish Councils, following Central Government’s declaration of a Climate Emergency.

AS Thame gathered for a Service of Remembrance, friends of Thame from the town’s twin town of Sinaia, in Romania, sent a heart-felt message to the people of Thame.

** More images from Sunday’s Service of Remembrance in Thame, HERE

The message from Sinaia reads:

“MEMBERS of the Socio-Cultural Association, ‘Prahova Excelsior’ and of the Literary Club ‘Lucian Blaga’ have always felt connected to Thame’s cultural realities and are impressed by the way the English people commemorate Remembrance Day.

“We would like to join you to honour those who lost their lives in World War One. At the same time we are impressed how a flower – the poppy – came to symbolise the sacrifice of those who died for their country.

“Recently a delegation of ASPE members participated in the TAL Festival and gave a presentation on the most beloved Queen of Romanians, Queen Marie. This is why we thought it would be important to point out our Queen’s image as ‘The Soldier Queen’ during World War One, the Queen who visited the front line, who went on to the battlefield, who talked to the wounded officers in the grounds of hospitals and who offered gifts to soldiers; the Queen who loved Romania so much, so deeply and who had a significant role in the construction of a war Monument, The Commemorative Cross For The Romanian Heroes of the First World War, also known as the Heroes’ Cross, erected on Mount Caraiman, in the Bucegi Mountains. The monument was built between 1924-1928 at an altitude of 2,291 metres and with a height of 40 metres. It was built to honour the memory of 30,000 Romanian soldiers who died during the battles along Prahova Valley.

“In 2013, the monument was chosen by Guinness World Records as the highest cross in the world.  The legend has it that Queen Marie had a dream in which she saw the Bucegi Mountains ‘being drenched with the blood of heroes’ and she decided to have the monument built so that our heroes will always be remembered. The Cross has been standing for almost 100 years, looking straight down on to Prahova Valley where a wide panorama of cliffs or tall majestic trees unfolds before our eyes.

“We feel that nature echoes our feeling, that the Cross is a promise, a promise to pay our respects to our heroes.

“In 1919, The Cult of Heroes Society was established under the name of ‘Fallen Heroes’ in the War, and in 1927 was renamed as ‘The Cult of Heroes’. Queen Marie wanted to keep alive strong memories of all Romanian Heroes who died in World War One.

“On this commemorative day, 11.11. 2019, the ASPE board of Directors and Lucian Blaga Literary Club from Sinaia, twinned town with Thame, would like to bring a pious thought for the English and the Romanian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their countries.

From Claudiu Istrate
translated into English by Felicia Mirza – coordinator of cultural relationship ASPE-ATS

OVER the next few weeks, all households in Thame will receive a questionnaire asking whether anybody within that household has a housing need and it will contain specific questions relating to those needs.

The Thame Town Councillor leading the Thame Community Land Trust project to help the council meet some of the unmet housing needs of local residents, Cllr Bob Austin, has emphasized why everyone affected must fill in the survey.

Cllr Austin said: “If you have a housing need it is very important that you let us know. As we are all aware, the cost of housing both for sale and rent in Thame is very high. This can make it very difficult for many households to afford local housing costs or meet their specific needs. In particular, many households will not be eligible for social housing but cannot afford market prices either to rent or buy.This can put barriers in the way of keeping families together and consequently cause the loss of vital inter-generational support.

“THAME Community Land Trust (Thame CLT) has been set up to help meet the housing needs of local residents. The aim is to provide some genuinely affordable housing for people with a strong local connection to the town. It has the support of Thame Town Council.

“Please fill in the questionnaire if you have a need. It will provide us with vital information to direct our efforts in the right areas as well as give Thame CLT a powerful platform to argue its case with local and national bodies.”