Power up Wales

The day will run from 10am to 4pm and there will be three main sessions and breakout groups. The final agenda and map will be sent to delegates closer to the time.

Right to know – Freedom of Information and Environmental Information
Regulations
This workshop will help you discover how to use ‘Right to Know’ laws to get important information that you want about your local area - when you want it. In this session we will look at how to make a request, who to make requests to, the different laws in outline, costs and time limits. For example you may want information e.g. on waste management or air quality.

Right to Participate - The Planning System
This workshop will lay out the planning system and explain its structure within the local, regional and national arena and will highlight where you and your community can influence decision-making. Your local plan is an important part of the way the local council is making decisions about what development happens where in your local authority area. It is important to get involved early on to influence where and how development will happen locally.

Right to Challenge – Judicial Review
Judicial Review is a frightening and prohibitively expensive mystery to most people. You will leave this workshop with an understanding of what judicial review is, how it works and when you might think about using it. We will look at the strengths, weaknesses, risks and opportunities of judicial review. Judicial review is the single most important way of holding public authorities to account in law for their actions.

Breakout sessions
· Opencast – an opportunity to discuss your concerns around opencast.
· Waste – an opportunity to discuss Welsh policy and practice on waste.
· Legal advice – an opportunity to get some legal advice relating to the environment.
· Planning advice – an opportunity to get some planning advice relating to planning applications and the local and national planning systems in the UK.

Please contact Bleddyn Lake with any enquiries:
Address: Local Groups Development Officer
Friends of the Earth Cymru
33 Castle Arcade Balcony
Cardiff
Wales
CF10 1BY
Tel: 029 2022 9577
Fax: 029 2022 8775
E-mail: bleddyn.lake@foe.co.uk
As places are limited, they will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Fill in the form below to apply for a place and return to the above address by Monday 25th January 2010.