Committee Meeting Minutes September 2011

INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION IPSWICH BRANCH Committee Meeting

Date: Friday, 30 September 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), Brian Cornell (Pickerel) Gerry Crease and Carolyn Wadley (Minutes).

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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Lewis Tyler and Susan Brown.

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MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 17 JUNE 2011.

The Chairman duly signed the minutes for 17 June 2011 as being a true record of the proceedings.

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MATTERS ARISING NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA. Chard mentioned that the minute’s secretary wished to resign as of the AGM in February 2012. It was agreed that this would be put to the members at the first meeting of the winter programme.

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COMMITTEE REPORTS Chairman Chard raised the subject of an IWA representative being required on the EA Anglian Regional Navigation Group. This was discussed and agreed that as there are already 3 IWA members present at the meetings why there was a requirement for another representative to attend. The members of the Ipswich Branch committee already have many commitments but if it is possible for the Navigation group to hold at least one meeting near Ipswich then we would try to send along a representative.

Secretary Charles reported items received and circulated: RAG Minutes for June and September.

Pickerel Project Clean Up dates.

Cambridge Minutes for June.

Peterborough Minutes for September.

HO email regarding the condition of local facilities for boaters.

Planning Notices received: East Anglia’s one off shore wind farm, Charles has logged interest on consultation of the cable route.

Waverney District Council, Lake Lothing Outer Harbour.

Ipswich Cord update.

Norwich City Council amendment to housing boundaries showing they have taken on-board Brian’s comment on the need for river access.

List for Felixstowe Port branch line.

Broads Authority Oil split contingency plan review.

Norwich City Council consultation on site changes.

Broadland District Council has commenced consultation on local development framework items.

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Treasurer Spencer distributed the latest accounts and explained some of the expenditure. Spencer reported that various items of equipment which are required for the restoration work have now been purchased.

Public Relations Officer Brian stated that he had spoken to Helen Whitehouse regarding the IWA cards listing 10 reasons for joining the IWA which was sent to branches. Brian said time and money could have been saved by including them in the Waterways magazine for each member. Brian’s comments have been taken on-board. Charles said he had printed the 10 reasons in Anglian Cuttings.

Brian reported that he had contacted all the Waterways magazines and local radio with the branch meetings’ information.

Social Secretary Diana reported that the Needham Market Community Centre has been booked for the 2012/2013 season and that Speakers are arranged. Peter Hesketh has agreed to give a talk at the end of 2012 on Container Ship Travel.

Editor, Anglian Cuttings Charles said the Autumn edition will be published on Monday and he thanked all those who had contributed.

Membership Secretary Clive reported the figures as follows: June 502 Members and 326 Memberships July 506 Members and 329 Memberships August 501 Members and 326 Memberships Clive queried the cost of printing of the map, showing the Branch meeting location, which is sent to new members, asking if it should be in black and white or colour. It was agreed by the committee to keep it printed in colour.

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REPORTS ON OTHER BODIES River Gipping Trust Spencer reported that the walk and presentation on 10 September for the Suffolk History Group was very well received and he has since received a donation of £160. On the 11 September the RGT had their Heritage Open Day and over the day 75 people had attended.

People had seen the event advertised on the website and heard about it through Suffolk Radio. The day had been a great success. Charles gave a vote of thanks to members of the RGT and IWA who had made the recent events for the Trust so successful.

Spencer stated that restoration is progressing well and the lock itself is nearly finished. At the request of the lock owner work is to been carried out on the sluices and this has been agreed with the EA. On Saturday, 24 September, Spencer organized a walk from Ipswich to Needham Market, using the Marpa Walks, and 35 people attended. There is to be another walk from Needham Market to Stowmarket on Saturday, 1 October 2011.

Spencer reported that the Cruise on the River Deben on 17 September went very well with a full boat comprising on RGT, IWA and RST members.

River Stour Trust Spencer had been asked to report on the restoration of Stratford Lock. Spencer explained the situation as it exists and has sent a report to the Chairman of the RST.

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Broads Authority Forum Brian said he is due to attend a meeting next week.

Regarding the Broads Authority Navigation Committee, Brian said he feels there should be a representative from IWA on this committee.

Brian reported that he receives listings of planning requests for the Broads area.

Pickerel Project Group Branch working party members had helped out at a river clean-up with the Pickerel Project Group at Stowmarket and during the morning a reporter from Radio 4’s ‘Making History’ had come along to do a report on the connection of the river with John Rennie.

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ANY OTHER BUSINESS Spencer said that during the recent walk of the River Gipping he noticed that the EA had been clearing weeds for approximately 6 miles and that the river is in good condition.

Spencer wrote to the EA saying how good it looked and hoped that more would be done.

Chard reported that he had been approached to help in clearing the River Rat in Rattlesden.

The Committee agreed this is a good idea as this River is within the area of the Ipswich Branch.

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NEXT MEETING Friday, 25 November 2011

The Chairman closed the meeting at 2.55pm.

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