IWA Ipswich Branch Committee Meeting Minutes 26th September

INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION IPSWICH BRANCH Committee Meeting

Date: Friday, 26 September 2014 Venue: ‘The Chequers’, Great Blakenham.

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

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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE There were no apologies received.

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MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 27 JUNE 2014 The Chairman duly signed the minutes for 27 June 2014 as being a true record of the proceedings.

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MATTERS ARISING NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA There were no matters arising.

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COMMITTEE REPORTS Chairman Chard reported that a member of the branch had come forward to say he would be interested in being a committee member. Charles said he would like to put something in Anglian Cuttings saying that a new member has come forward as this could encourage other members to join the committee.

Chard read out an email from Stefanie Preston in which she asked if we had thought about doing a press release, in the email Stefanie offered to write the press release for the branch in the form of ‘Local Branch of Waterways Charity Celebrates 40th Anniversary’.

Chard said that the Volunteer Leaflets had now been sent through and he passed them round to each member of the committee.

Secretary Charles reported on the following items received: Minutes received and circulated: Peterborough Minutes for June and September 2014 Milton Keynes Minutes for September 2014.

Planning notices received: Broads Authority Cattle Bridge on River Waveney, supported request for navigable height and confirmation received. Charles had received a response yesterday from Mr Bootman saying that the applicant had now submitted more details for the agreed air draft, this is now sufficient for the reed cutter to pass beneath the bridge and exceeds that recommended by the British Canoe Union. The EA has therefore issued a flood defense consent for the project on that basis.

IWA HO, circulated: Various Bulletins and Press Releases received.

Other items circulated: Waveney Trust – various messages.

Correspondence Thank you received from the River Waveney Trust for equipment donation.

Thank you received from North Walsham and Dilham Canal Trust for equipment donation.

Treasurer Spencer supplied a copy of the accounts giving an overview of money, events and fund raising.

Spencer then gave everyone a copy of an account sheet giving detailed information on the coach trip 1

expenditure. This was explained and discussed.

Chard gave a vote of thanks to Spencer for all his hard work on a very successful weekend coach trip.

Public Relations Officer Brian commented on the Press Release regarding Doug Hamilton-Cox who has walked the Dilham as part of his sponsored walk of the inland waterways for charity.

Regarding Stefanie doing a press release Brian said could Chard check that it would be for local press as well as the waterways press. The committee agreed this would be a good idea and Chard is to contact Stefanie.

Social Secretary The winter programme was discussed including the AGM to be held in February 2015.

Editor, Anglian Cuttings Charles said that the next Anglian Cuttings would be produced in late October and would possibly be the last edition. Charles went on to explain that in January a 1 or 2 page A4 letter should be sent out detailing the AGM. Charles continued saying that after the AGM, if the Branch closes, the retiring committee needs to meet to close the Branch down officially. Following this meeting a final letter would be sent out to the members explaining the situation. This was agreed by all present.

Membership Secretary No report.

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REPORTS ON OTHER BODIES River Gipping Trust Lewis said the Trust hopes to have an article in the Suffolk Magazine and a freelance journalist, Lindsay Want, is to visit Pipps Ford on a Wednesday to meet the team and take photographs.

The condition of the towpath was discussed and Lewis said he had had a full discussion with Keith Verlander, the Area Rights of Way Officer.

The application to the Heritage Fund is progressing but more information is required. Local Councils are to be contacted and a public straw-poll is to be carried out regarding running a trip boat.

Due to the uncertain future of the Ipswich Branch, the idea of Open Meetings of the Trust had been discussed.

There is difficulty accessing the sluice gates at Baylham owing to a new padlock and the inability to contact Miss James; this was discussed.

Spencer said that there is a problem with permission to do work at Pipps Ford as the Lady dealing with the process is now off sick for the next 3 months. There is a statutory duty to respond to the application in 6 weeks. The EA has spoken to Martin Bird with 2 choices, one is to respond when the 6 weeks is up which will mean permission will not be granted. The second is that the Trust withdraw the application and resubmit it again to Will Todd who will start on the application immediately.

Martin has agreed to withdraw and resubmit in order to start the 6 weeks process again.

Details had been received on Restoration Skills Courses which are being held at Hatton under the auspices of the Heritage Futures Group of University Campus, Ipswich, this was discussed.

The next RGT meeting will be held on Tuesday, 2 December 2014.

Chard said that a lady from the Wildlife Trust has been to Pipps Ford Lock and said that there are signs of Voles and Otters in the area.

Broads Authority Forum Brian started by saying that he had received an email saying that the Secretary of State has put an application out for 2 more members for the Broads Authority and Brian had been requested to advertise the fact.

Brian said that unfortunately he missed the planning application for ‘Riverside Pontoons’ at St Olaves Marina and now it is too late to respond. However, the number of objections total 48. The problems were discussed at length.

The next meeting of the Forum is in November.

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River Stour Trust.

Brian Cornell said that the lock gates being made will have a special key for the River Stour Trust to use.

Brian explained that the EA is no longer looking after the tilting gates at Flatford Mill and Dedham.

The John Constable trips have raised enough money from the Strawberry teas to pay for this year’s licence.

Waveney Trust.

No report received.

North Walsham and Dilham Canal Spencer reported that Ipswich Branch had been asked by the EA to mediate in the dispute about restoration of the NW&DC. The NW&DC Trust, the Old Canal Company (Laurie Ashton) and the EA are all keen to break the current deadlock. A Stop Notice has been applied to the Old Canal Company and, despite an appeal, has been upheld by an independent inspector. The EA wish to lift the stop notice but are unable to reach agreement on mitigation works they consider necessary before work can commence. Spencer has tried to arrange a meeting with the Trust on 2 occasions but so far without success.

Pickerel Project Group Lewis had attended the AGM of the PPG as he had been asked to give a talk. Brian suggested that the contact for the PPG should now be with the River Gipping Trust and this was agreed.

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40th ANNIVERSARY – OCTOBER 2014.

Spencer started the discussion with the printed programme for the forthcoming celebration lunch.

Chard explained the menu and said he would update the Cedars Hotel on total numbers and the seating plan.

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ANY OTHER BUSINESS Gerry gave a vote of thanks to Spencer for all his work regarding the Anniversary Lunch.

Brian asked about Halesworth, River Blythe, and Spencer replied that on the 25 August, Gerald Burns wrote to IWA HO. He said he represented a group of people interested in the possible restoration of part of the Blyth Navigation. The message was forwarded to our branch and Vaughan Welch. On behalf of the Branch, Spencer responded with a link to our Branch web site which contains information about the Navigation and a link to Brian Holt’s report from several years ago. Spencer said he also offered to meet him and his colleagues. Gerald has responded thanking us for the offer saying he will get in touch at a later date.

Brian explained that John Wonfor is doing a sponsored trip named ‘Tour de Broads 2014’ using an electric boat to travel every navigable stretch of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. This is to raise money for The Macmillan Cancer Trust and will start on Wednesday, 24 September 2014.

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NEXT MEETING Friday, 5 December 2014

The Chairman closed the meeting at 2.45pm

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