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"Best Green Village" Competition

A new competition that asks entrants to demonstrate how they, as a rural community, are creating a sustainable future locally.

The Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) is fully committed to a sustainable future for the rural communities of Essex and as a result we are keen to encourage a greener and more sustainable county through our Best Green Village (BGV) Competition. The competition asks entrants to demonstrate how they, as a rural community, are creating a sustainable future locally.

The Best Green Village Competition allows community groups to assess what difference they are making at a local level to what is now widely recognised as a global issue. Entrants are asked to complete the Green Questionnaire and submit a village statement. After a scoring system is applied, our panel of judges will then visit the top scoring village in each category and choose an overall winner. The competition is open to all villages that enter the Calor Essex Village of the Year and Best Kept Village Competitions, however, it is expected that a variety of community groups or individuals will carry out the Green Questionnaire on behalf of the community.

We have been fortunate to gain the backing of Essex County Council and Inspire East in sponsoring this competition – they both recognise the importance of the ‘green agenda’ and how it has an impact on all our communities.

Deadline for Entries
28th March 2008. Entries must reach RCCE at the address below by this date.

Competition Enquiries
Rural Community Council of Essex
Threshelfords Business Park
Inworth Road
Feering
Essex CO5 9SE
Tel: 0844 4773938
Fax: 01376 573524
Email: enquiries@essexrcc.org.uk
Web www.essexrcc.org.uk

Application Guidance
Best Kept Village entrants will be encouraged to enter the BGV competition on the understanding that any member of the community can complete the questionnaire on behalf of the applicant. Entrants complete as much of the Green Questionnaire as possible ensuring that they let us know what else they are doing over and above the list provided. It is important to note that it is not necessary to complete all sections. Max points available are noted after each question (The questions asking for anything over and above will be judged separately). Applicants can rate their own performance in each category.

In addition to the green questionnaire we would ask the group to submit a ‘village statement’ telling us how, as a community, they are making a difference, what plans they have for a sustainable future, what grants applications they have made, what areas have been identified for improvement etc. What essentially makes them a green community? This will be used by RCCE in the result of a tie break on points and the competition judges will refer to the Village Statement during village tours to decide on the over all winner.

Winners will be announced at the next RCCE AGM.

Judging
RCCE will assess the completed questionnaires. Each question will be rated and the scores totalled up (in the result of a tie break on points the Village Statement will be assessed), the top village from each class will then be invited to give a select panel of judges a tour of their village, guiding them through their green agenda. The judges will in-turn complete a ‘Judge’s Form’ and, taking into account the ‘Village Statement’, make a decision on the over all winner.

Classes

• Class I. Population Over 5000, less than 10000
• Class II. Population over 2000, less than 5000
• Class III. Population 800 to 2000
• Class IV. Population 300 to 800
• Class V. Population under 300