Committee Minutes Dec 2010

INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION IPSWICH BRANCH Committee Meeting Date: Friday, 3 December 2010.

Venue: ‘The Chequers’, Great Blakenham.

Present: Chard Wadley (Chairman), Charles Stride (Secretary), Spencer Greystrong (Treasurer), Brian Holt (PRO), Diana Holt (Social), Clive Saville (Memberships), Susan Brown (RST), Brian Cornell (Pickerel), Gerry Crease, Carolyn Wadley (Minutes).

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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Lewis Tyler.

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MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 1 OCTOBER 2010 The Chairman duly signed the minutes for 1 October 2010 as being a true record of the proceedings.

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MATTERS ARISING NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA. None.

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COMMITTEE REPORTS Chairman Chard referred to the Branch Officers Workshop to be held in January 2011 saying the he will attend with Spencer Greystrong despite the distance. Charles said he had responded requesting they be held in the south occasionally and had received a reply to say his comments had been passed on.

Secretary Charles had received and circulated branch minutes for: Milton Keynes – October.

Cambridge – September.

Peterborough - November.

IWA information had been received and circulated as follows: HO Bulletin Committee Vacancies Charles said he had responded, for the branch, to the Volunteer Survey for Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA), Planning items received: Suffolk County Council new Strategic direction (ref cuts etc).

Waveney final draft on the Louth Lothian Outer Harbour at Lowestoft.

Mid Suffolk Newsletter also received.

Charles explained that the following committee members due for re-election at the AGM in February are Diana Holt, Brian Holt, Clive Saville and Lewis Tyler Treasurer Spencer distributed copies of the accounts and explained that part of the donation left to the branch by Doug Tomlinson had been used to purchase various tools. Spencer continued saying that the memorial bench to Doug is now in position by the River Gipping and once the weather improves there will be an official opening.

Spencer explained that HO will help with the postage costs of the branch magazine and told the committee how this would work. On reflection it was agreed that this was not cost effective when considering the cost of getting the magazine to Chesham.

Spencer gave those present a copy of the Branch Asset Register, namely tools and equipment,

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saying this is required for Insurance cover. He continued saying this list gives the cost of replacing new and replacing secondhand and explained the insurance cost from HO and how we are covered. A photograph of each item is kept on record by Chard and Spencer.

The possibility of purchasing a Trench Sheet Drive Cap and Hammer Stem was raised by Spencer and after some discussion it was agreed by the Committee that this purchase could go ahead.

Public Relations Officer Brian reported that all forthcoming events are on the web page and Radio Suffolk and Norfolk and the waterways magazines have the itinerary for all future meetings.

Social Secretary Diana started by saying that since the last committee meeting we have had two branch meetings. The first was in October with a talk by Friends of President when 36 members attended, the second was in November the talk being the Dilham Canal Past and Present and 35 members attended. The next meeting is on Friday, 10 December when the talk will be The Lydia Eva Trust.

Most meetings are now booked for next season and are on the web page.

Editor, Anglian Cuttings Charles said he requires reports by end December 2010 for the edition due out in mid January 2011.

Membership Secretary Membership figures are as follows: September – 522 members, 332 memberships October – 517 members, 329 memberships.

Clive reported on the reply from HO regarding letters being sent to lapsed members. Three letters are sent out from HO one before the renewal date and two following the lapsed date so it was agreed that further correspondence from the branch was unnecessary.

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REPORTS ON OTHER BODIES River Gipping Trust Chard reported that 2 work parties had been cancelled due to weather conditions.

An email had been received from Martin Bird confirming that the Onians Trust will pay for materials for installing a wooden fence for Miss James.

Gerry reported that Brian Annis OBE had been invited to be Chairman of the RGT as the previous Chairman had stepped down due to ill health. It is proposed that Gordon Paton will be made Life Vice President.

River Stour Trust Susan reported that the boat trips and tearoom have now finished for the summer showing a good profit which, along with other fundraising events, has ensured the Trust’s finances are sound.

A new Chairman had been elected to council namely Andrew Richardson.

Spencer said he had attended his first meeting as IWA representative and was impressed with Andrew Richardson and overall Council is back to what they should be, however new members are required.

Broads Forum Brian Holt reported that he had attended the Broads Authority Forum at Dragonfly House, Norwich saying the first point raised was the drop in funding expected in the coming years. It is not known how big this cut in funding from DEFRA will be.

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The feedback for the consultation on the draft Broads Plan should be on the BA website; this will be analysed with the spending cuts and the result will be published in the New Year to allow further comment.

There were long discussions on Global warming and the BA’s area carbon footprint.

For the boaters BA will be installing a landing stage outside Dragonfly House and just above the mooring Jarrolds will be installing a ‘J’ shaped footbridge across the river, Brian was assured that this will have full navigation clearance equal to the next bridge downstream.

The UEA are investigating water quality of Hickling Broad as recent years have seen an alarming decrease in plant life.

The full minutes of this meeting will be published on the BA website.

Brian said that the Aylsham meeting regarding the navigation centenary was postponed and a new date is awaited.

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ANY OTHER BUSINESS Brian Holt asked where the new equipment is to be kept. Chard replied explaining that the lock-up garage is no longer available and a discussion continued with various ideas being put forward. Chard is to progress this problem.

Gerry asked if the equipment should be UV marked and he is to look into how this works regarding the conditions the equipment is used in and the cost.

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NEXT MEETING Friday, 4 February 2011.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 2.55pm.

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