IWA Ipswich Minutes 4th February 2011

INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION IPSWICH BRANCH Committee Meeting Date: Friday, 4 February 2011.

Venue: ‘The Chequers’, Great Blakenham.

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

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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Brian Cornell.

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MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 3 DECEMBER 2010 Under Secretary; Waveney final draft should refer to Lake Lothing not Louth Lothian. With this amendment the Chairman duly signed the minutes for 3 December 2010 as being a true record of the proceedings.

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MATTERS ARISING NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA. Chard reported that he had not as yet found a suitable lock-up replacement.

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COMMITTEE REPORTS Chairman Chard referred to the Branch Officers Workshop held on 22 January 2011 saying the he and Spencer had attended and had been disappointed with the meeting. The information about the NWC was informative but did not compensate for the distance they had travelled, a round trip of 430 miles. There were group discussions following the main meeting and Chard said that within their group not one speaker said anything that was relevant to the topics in question and there was no proper control over the discussions with those who spoke loudest getting to talk at length.

Spencer commented saying that electronic communication could have been used with the presentations being put on the website. Spencer said he has set out his grievances in a letter to Jo Gilbertson at Head Office.

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

Cambridge – November.

Peterborough – December and January.

Other items received and circulated: River Action Group minutes for December.

Pickerel Project Group minutes for January.

Mid Suffolk Countryside Events 2011 leaflet and the leaflet for Events at Thornham 2011 were distributed at the meeting.

IWA’s Access to Grants document had been passed on to the River Gipping Trust.

Planning notices received: Waveney District Council Local Development consultation had been adopted with just some legal queries outstanding.

Consultation document on Ipswich Cord Development had been circulated.

Treasurer Spencer distributed copies of the accounts which will be put forward at the branch AGM on 11 February 2011 and explained various items on this document.

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Regarding the collection of scrap metal, Spencer stated that a licence is now required and after making some enquiries had found that the licence is free of charge to charities. The appropriate licence has now been acquired for the River Gipping Trust.

Public Relations Officer No report.

Social Secretary Diana started by saying that the December meeting was well attended with 25 members enjoying a talk given about the Lydia Eva Trust. January was our social evening and quiz night and 33 members attended. Chard gave a thank you to John and Joan Finch for doing the quiz and to Joan Finch, Gerry Crease and Diana Holt for organizing the food.

The AGM in February will be followed by a slide show on the middle level.

Chard said that on average we have an attendance of 28 members at our meetings and he feels this shows good support for the branch. Sue said that this is due to Ipswich being a very friendly branch which makes the evenings enjoyable. Chard said well done to the committee who always make an effort to welcome people to the meetings.

Editor, Anglian Cuttings Charles reported on the recent edition saying that the print run was 250; with electronic distribution this has almost halved the amount being posted. The next edition will go out late May or the beginning of June.

Membership Secretary Membership figures are as follows: November – 521 members, 333 memberships December – 518 members, 331 memberships.

January – 521 members, 332 memberships.

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REPORTS ON OTHER BODIES River Gipping Trust Lewis started by saying that Brian Annis will be a good Chairman for the RGT. Regarding work at Badley Lock, Lewis explained that as yet there has been no response from the owner.

The next meeting of the Trust is 1 March to discuss the Long Term Plan. The AGM will be held on 13 May and this will be attended by Ben Gummer, Ipswich MP, who will give a talk.

Events to be attended by the Trust are Ipswich Maritime Festival 20/21 August, Suffolk Local History Society’s walk 10 September and Heritage Open Day 11 September (the latter two will be at Baylham Lock).

Lewis explained that regarding the River Care Project mentioned in the Pickerel Project minutes, Spencer had contacted them regarding membership but has had no response as yet.

The Trust is considering appointing a representative on the Pickerel Project Group and had suggested Chard as he already represents the IWA. River Stour Trust Susan started by saying that the new Chairman, Andrew Richardson, has a priority to get committees working again. The boats are undergoing maintenance ready for Easter. Brian Cornell is looking for a larger boat to carry more passengers (up to 12). The Henny Swan has new owners who are keen to have boat activity.

Susan reported that Flatford Boat Committee are now known as the Lower River Group and they are hoping to expand their operations this year with Dedham Boathouse.

‘Managing a Masterpiece’ ran training for volunteers to do surveys of historic structures along the Stour (a 3 year project). Timber for the lighter restoration has been obtained and is drying.

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Martin Lees is negotiating with the EA to get permission to restart work at Stratford St Mary lock in April. Four new drawings have been done for revised land drainage consent. An early start appears unlikely as negotiations with the EA are still continuing.

The cause of the VEC verandah subsidence is still being argued between the architect, engineer and contractor. Repairs to the Granary balcony are being planned but the extension to the Granary landing stage is held up due to a new building being planned at the Quay Theatre.

Spencer had attended the last meeting and stated that new members are required on the committee but overall he found the new chairman to be in control and keen so will hopefully sort the problem. Spencer feels that the RST has turned a corner.

Susan continued saying that the finances are sound and the new treasurer is keeping a tight control.

Aylsham Navigation Fergus Muir is our representative at the meetings of this organisation and at the last meeting reported that they no longer intend to restore the navigation as a new waterway but is now interested in a walkway along the navigation to commemorate the closure in 1928.

Broads Authority Forum Brian Holt reported that the next meeting of the forum is Thursday, 10 February.

Regarding the Regulation 25 consultation on the site allocations plan from Norwich City Council, Brian said that he had raised concern saying that the river side development should have access to the river. This has now been incorporated saying a bridge is planned for cyclist etc and this will be at navigable height.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS Lewis reported that work had started on a bridge crossing the river to Sproughton Mill.

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NEXT MEETING Friday, 15 April 2011.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 2.55pm.

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