Committee minutes 31 january 2014

INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION IPSWICH BRANCH Committee Meeting

Date: Friday, 31 January 2014 Venue: ‘The Chequers’, Great Blakenham.

Present: Chard Wadley (Chairman), Spencer Greystrong (Treasurer), Brian Holt (PRO), Diana Holt (Social Secretary), Clive Saville (Memberships), Brian Cornell (RST), Gerry Crease and Stefanie Preston (IWA, HO).

The Chairman welcomed Stefanie Preston to the committee meeting.

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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Charles Stride and Lewis Tyler.

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MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 22 NOVEMBER 2013 The Chairman duly signed the minutes for 22 November 2013 as being a true record of the proceedings.

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MATTERS ARISING NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA Brian Holt stated that the South Norfolk local plan has no impact.

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COMMITTEE REPORTS Chairman Chard reported on the membership figures going down over the past few years. Stefanie explained that at the end of last year HO recruited a new membership officer who is now working on different ways to recruit new members.

Eastern Region now has a new Chairman namely Richard Collet-Fenson and Chard said he has invited him to the AGM in February and he has duly accepted.

Secretary Chard reported on behalf of Charles on the following items received: Minutes received and circulated: Great Ouse for December 2013 Peterborough for December 2013 and January 2014 Milton Keynes for November 2013 and January 2014.

Planning notices received: South Norfolk Plan – Brian reported that it comes near the river in Diss. One point is designated as open land with a riverside walk which is very good. The other piece of land, a car park and old transport yard, already has planning permission for a care home but the river edge is in the flood risk area so cannot be built on. It also must have a habitat barrier so should be OK. Stowmarket – Mill Lane, discussed with the Trust. Lodged request with planners to upgrade towpath/footpath suitable for wheelchairs. Gerry explained in more detail what is planned for the Mill Lane proposed development and long term plan for mixed housing and Industry.

Spencer said the Council were not going to upgrade but just feed from the new development to the towpath so Spencer, as a representative of the RGT, has written to the Council saying it is not acceptable to connect their path to the old one and do nothing as it needs to be upgraded.

Ipswich Borough Council – 1. Core Strategy and Policies Development Plan Document Focused Review.

2. Site Allocation and Policies Development Plan Document.

3. Ipswich Garden Suburb Supplementary Planning Document. Details can be seen at www.ipswich.gov.uk Colin advises that as far as he can see no proposals threaten our ambitions for the river.

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Babergh/Mid Suffolk – Draft Statement of Community Involvement, setting out how they will consult on planning.

IWA HO, various bulletins circulated: National Chairman appealed for volunteers for Eastern Region Chairman and Richard ColletFenson has been elected.

Bulletin Consultation (sent direct to members) Various Bulletins.

Other items circulated: Waveney Trust – Various messages AGM 2014 Committee members due for retirement at the AGM in February 2014 are Diana and Brian Holt, Clive Saville and Lewis Tyler.

Treasurer Spencer supplied a copy of the Accounts, which will be presented at the forthcoming AGM, to each committee member. There were no questions.

Public Relations Officer Brian said that all forthcoming events are on the website.

Social Secretary Diana reported that 21 members attended December’s branch meeting and 19 attended January’s meeting. Diana confirmed that the meeting room at Needham Market is booked for November and December 2014 and February 2015. Geoff Doggett is to talk at the November meeting. Spencer said the coach is now full for the September Trip.

Editor, Anglian Cuttings Chard reported that a very good winter edition has now been published and the next edition will be May/June 2014.

Membership Secretary Clive gave the following membership figures: November 2013 – 449 members and 300 memberships December 2013 – 450 members and 301 memberships Clive said that over the year the branch had averaged 356 members and 302 memberships.

Spencer enquired about when we had 500 members and Clive replied that in 2010 we averaged 519. Chard asked if this was when free memberships were given to WRG work camp volunteers and this was agreed as it was the year the branch had two work camps. Spencer asked Stefanie if HO had taken into account that the freebies do drop out later. Stefanie replied yes, and that this was something they were working on as at the moment they are giving out free memberships at boatyards, etc. and they need to take this up and maintain the membership.

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STEFANIE PRESTON, HEAD OFFICE Stefanie started by clarifying the reduction of committee members asking how many were resigning and Chard explained it was all members. Stefanie continued saying from what had been covered so far at the meeting, Ipswich Branch is obviously a very active branch so no help is needed in that respect. Spencer explained how the RGT came about and Chard showed Stefanie the letter sent out to all members saying we had received no response. Brian explained that it was about six years since anyone new had joined the committee. Stefanie offered help by publishing on Facebook and Twitter the positions available and by starting a blog, which will reach more people and spread the net as wide as possible. If everyone is happy with this Stefanie and Gemma would get this going and Chard replied he would be pleased if they would as he had been chairman for about 25 years and, although he wished to step down, he did not want to see the branch close. The AGM 2015 will be the last meeting unless new committee members come forward.

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Stefanie said that as Ipswich Branch had always supported HO it was only fair that HO returns the favour. Stefanie continued saying that as the branch is very active they can publicize what the branch is already doing and tie that in with the 40th Anniversary. Stefanie then asked for the dates of work parties and events and reports on the progress of the work on the river saying that she will put them on the website for the branch.

Chard finished by thanking Stefanie for all her input and help.

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REPORTS ON OTHER BODIES River Gipping Trust Spencer reported saying that the Trust had finally had a Consultant down to Pipps Ford to report on the Trust’s proposals. Martin Bird had met him on Wednesday at the lock and he was very upbeat about what the Trust wanted to do and could see no problems. The EA have said they want to get it through their system quickly as they are happy for the Trust to do the work. The cost for the report is £1,000 plus VAT. There will be other cost as other reports will be required. The RGT will be asking for a donation from the IWA when the final cost is known.

Chard asked the committee if they all agreed with this donation and all agreed.

Spencer updated the committee on the progress on the bridge.

Regarding talks, Spencer said that the total contribution given by Frances Hart, from her talks, this year is £850. Frances gives 2 or 3 talks a month and the money all goes to the Trust.

The AGM is being arranged and a speaker from C&RT is to give a talk.

Broads Authority Forum Brian said the next meeting of the Forum is next week with a full agenda.

River Stour Trust.

Brian Cornell explained that following a report in the branch magazine and various others the RST had been contacted by 40 interested people, 20 of which are now new members. Brian reported that the RST had received £40,000 for the restoration from Veolia. This money is coming from the landfill tax. This will help with new gates for Flatford Lock, another £10,000 is needed for completing the job which Brian believes they have so Flatford Lock should go ahead this year. Regarding Dedham, Brian said there is a big problem there, and it was suggested by the EA that as the Trust does quite a bit of maintenance on the river that they should take over the maintenance of the island at Dedham Lock. However, Brian said that since yesterday’s meeting the island has deteriorated due to high water and the EA have realised they need to do the work themselves.

The Trust has purchased a new electric boat costing £15,000, this will carry 12 passengers and 2 crew.

Waveney Trust.

Brian and Diana had attended one of the Trust’s meetings where they had hired a theatre in Bungay. Talks were given by Paul Heiney and the Norfolk Wherry Trust.

Pickerel Project Group Brian Cornell reported that there are notices posted in Stowmarket showing the dates for their clearance weekends.

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GRANTS TO OTHER TRUSTS Brian felt that the branch should support other Trusts and thought this is something we should be doing on an official basis and we should decide on a budget. Spencer explained that it is a requirement that these Trusts need to be a corporate member of the IWA to receive the donation and we, as a branch, can only offer up to £1,000 to other bodies.

Chard hopes that the Secretary, Charles Stride, will be at the next committee meeting so suggested that between now and the next committee meeting we seriously think about who we wish to make a donation to.

Spencer mentioned the equipment saying should we make a formal transfer of ownership of the equipment to the RGT. After some discussion, Chard stated that the transfer of the equipment 3

to the RGT will take place on 1 April 2014 and this will be put in writing on the return of the Secretary.

Brian said instead of giving money away to other Trusts we could offer them a piece of equipment up to the value of £500 and this was agreed. Spencer said we could get publicity from this by saying that Ipswich Branch of the IWA had donated this piece of equipment.

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40th ANNIVERSARY – SEPTEMBER 2014.

Those to be invited was discussed and a number of around 12 was agreed.

Brian had printed out a sample invitation card and this was shown to the committee who duly approved.

Spencer showed the committee the banner design saying it would be 6 foot long and explained the reasons for the pictures displayed, this was approved by those present.

The possibility of items (such as pens, mugs, etc.) to give those attending the dinner was discussed. Spencer to investigate.

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ANY OTHER BUSINESS The recipient of the Chairman’s tray was discussed and a decision made.

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NEXT MEETING Friday, 14 March 2014.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 3.10pm.

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