Committee Meeting 12th April 2013

INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION IPSWICH BRANCH Committee Meeting

Date: Friday, 12 April 2013 Venue: ‘The Chequers’, Great Blakenham.

Present: Chard Wadley (Chairman), Charles Stride (Secretary), Spencer Greystrong (Treasurer), Brian Holt (PRO), Diana Holt (Social) Lewis Tyler (RGT) and Gerry Crease.

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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Clive Saville and Brian Cornell.

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MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 1 FEBRUARY 2013 The Chairman duly signed the minutes for 1 February 2013 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 said he had received the minutes from the AGM of the Eastern Region and read out points of interest. Chard said he had also received notification of the forthcoming Region Meeting saying that he was unable to attend as he will be away. Chard continued saying that an email from Alistair Chambers, Chairman, had been sent to all members of Region saying that he is retiring from Eastern Region. Brian asked if he had resigned from both Region and Peterborough and Chard said he was not sure of this, however having read ‘Hereward’, Peterborough’s magazine, it states that at the forthcoming AGM the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer are retiring.

Secretary Charles reported on the following items received: Items received and circulated: Great Ouse minutes for February and April 2013 and AGM minutes for March 2013 Peterborough minutes for February and March 2013 Northampton minutes (via Chairman) for February and March 2013.

Planning notices received: Stowmarket Area Plan has been adopted.

IWA HO, various bulletins circulated: Recruitment Workshop to be held 13 April 2013 National Trailboat Festival on 25 to 27 May 2013 at Bodiam.

Other items circulated: Rag Report for March 2013 Southern Canals Association meeting papers for March 2013 Pickerel Project meeting for March 2013.

Other Items Essex Water – Notification of work on Langham Water Intake from May to September 2013, Charles reported that the River Stour Trust had been advised.

Charles had received an email from IPscene community website asking if the Ipswich Branch would like a free listing on the website. Following a discussion it was agreed that Charles would organize this and put us under the heading of navigation.

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Charles had received an invite to the branch from the River Stour Trust to the inauguration of the John Constable on the 12 May 2013. Charles had declined the invite on behalf of the committee saying they have other commitments that weekend.

Treasurer Spencer gave everyone a copy of the Accounts and explained various items.

Spencer explained the £1,000 on the accounts saying that in about 3 weeks the River Gipping Trust is in need of a large injection of cash for various materials and the hire of equipment for work being carried out at Pipps Ford Lock. Therefore a request had been sent to HO, IWA for £1,000 from the Doug Tomlinson fund for this restoration work, Spencer said that this had been sent to the Branch and then donated to the Trust.

Public Relations Officer No report.

Social Secretary Diana reported that the meeting room has been booked for the next season and various speakers had been contacted. Diana continued saying that 33 members had attended both the AGM in February and the Dinner in March.

Diana then gave an update on the progress of the forthcoming coach trip in May 2013.

Editor, Anglian Cuttings Charles said that he required reports for the May edition of Anglian Cuttings by 6 May at the latest and the report on the coach trip by the 16 May. Membership Secretary Chard gave the membership figures as follows: January 2013 – 466 members and 310 memberships February 2013 – 469 members and 311 memberships.

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REPORTS ON OTHER BODIES River Gipping Trust Lewis reported that a quote for the Feasibility Study is to be discussed at the next meeting on Monday, 15 April 2013; this could be in the region of £15,000 to £20,000.

Lewis said the display in the Museum of East Anglian Life, which had been arranged by Les Howard, is very good and he recommended that everyone visit the museum to view said display.

Lewis said that Julie Truelove, Suffolk County Council, had donated, from her budget, £450 for the production of the leaflets of Marpa walks (Mid Anglian Rail Pass Association).

Broad Authority Forum Brian reported that he had attended a meeting on the 7 February and the draft minutes are on the website. Brian said the main point which came up in the minutes, with regard to the navigation, was the unrestricted speed testing area at Brundel that runs passed the RSPB reserve and Brian explained this in detail to the committee members.

The next meeting is 25 April 2013.

River Stour Trust Inauguration of passenger services on the 160 year old restored Stour Lighter, John Constable, with Griff Rhys Jones, Vice President of the RST, performing the opening ceremony on Sunday, 12 May 2013 at 2-3pm and Cadbury will also be in attendance.

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Pickerel Project Group Chard and Spencer had attended the last meeting of the PPG. Chard reported that their main work is path and river clearance and they have a program of clean-ups, bridge painting, Balsam clearing and various walks throughout the year.

Bure Navigation Fergus Muir had emailed a report from the latest meeting of the Bure Navigation Conservation Trust held on 5 March 2013 and this was discussed by the committee. The main items were firstly, the report from the members who successfully established at a local enquiry that the right-of-way, originally the towpath, does indeed follow the riverbank across the front of a summerhouse near Brampton. These members were proceeding to a hearing before magistrates in an attempt to compel the County Council, in turn, to force the landowner to make this stretch of path easier to walk. Secondly there was a general discussion regarding the EA’s interest in returning the river to a more natural state.

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40th ANNIVERSARY – SEPTEMBER 2014 Spencer gave everyone a report on the proposed 3 day coach trip for September 2014.

It was agreed that the date for the lunch would be Saturday, 4 October 2014 and Chard is to confirm the date with the Cedars Hotel, Stowmarket, and speakers are to be booked. A separate meeting is to be arranged to discuss both in more detail.

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ANY OTHER BUSINESS Spencer raised the subject of holding a Trail Boat Festival and the consensus was that the branch did not wish to take this on.

Brian asked if under the heading of ‘Other Bodies’ do we have any contact with the Waveney Trust as they are rapidly spreading their tentacles and trying to get things moving. It was agreed to investigate further via the internet.

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NEXT MEETING Friday, 28 June 2013.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 2.25pm.

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