Agenda item

The Committee welcomedDonnachadh McCarthy from 3 Acorns Eco-audits to the meeting.

Mr McCarthy advised that eco-audits assessed current environmental performance, noting good practices already in place and devising a detailed plan for improvements and reducing costs in the process. Members noted that eco-audits took the form of a site visit and walkabout, along with meetings with staff, managers and lobbyists to ensure a holistic approach. A follow-up meeting was carried out after a year to ascertain what had been successful and what hadn’t, and to secure feedback for the eco-audit process. 3 Acorns Eco-audits also offered workshops for charities working with vulnerable people to enable workers to offer eco-tips to the users of the charity, thereby supporting them to reduce their personal outgoings in addition to the other assistance given.

In response to Members’ questions, officers advised that the Trust funded the costs of eco-audits for all London-based third sector organisations (not just CBT grantees) and Mr McCarthy detailed some examples of the positive outcomes of eco audits and confirmed that 3 Acorns Eco - audits had carried out an eco-audit of the CBT team and its office area and the results would be acted upon by the CBT team.

The Chairman thanked Donnachadh McCarthy for his presentation.