INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION IPSWICH BRANCH Committee Meeting
Date: Friday, 27 June 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), Clive Saville (Memberships) and Gerry Crease.
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Brian Cornell.
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 14 MARCH 2014 The Chairman duly signed the minutes for 14 March 2014 as being a true record of the proceedings.
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MATTERS ARISING NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA Brian stated that the letters from the National Chairman regarding new committee members for Ipswich Branch had been sent out to all members of the Branch.
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COMMITTEE REPORTS Chairman Chard reported that he had received an email from Ivan Cane following the National Chairman’s letter saying he would love to help but was heavily involved with the North Walsham & Dilham Canal. A letter had been sent to Chard from Toby Gomm, Fundraising Officer, saying thank you for the £1,000 donated to the Acheman Challenge. Chard asked Charles about the Volunteer Leaflets being sent from Stefanie Preston. Charles replied that these had not been received and he had heard no more. Secretary Charles reported on the following items received: Minutes received and circulated: Great Ouse for AGM and April and May 2014 Peterborough for March, April and May 2014 Milton Keynes for March, April and May 2014. Planning notices received: Broads Authority Cattle Bridge, River Waveney – In touch with the River Waveney Trust to support their concerns. Brian said that he had been to look at the area and produced a map to explain his point. Brian had measured the height of the original road bridges at Ellingham and Wanford saying these are 2 metres and 2½ metres respectively. Spencer said that the proposal should be that any other bridge should meet with the existing 2 metres height. Charles is to send a letter to Geoff Doggett saying that Brian Holt had measured the road bridges and our proposal is that the cattle bridge should be the same height as the road bridges. IWA HO, circulated: Various Bulletins and Press Releases received. Other items circulated: Waveney Trust – various messages. Correspondence Exchanges with Stefanie Preston regarding the letter to members. This has now been sent out over the National Chairman’s Signature.
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Exchanges with the Waveney Trust and the North Walsham and Dilham Trust regarding the 40th Anniversary Donations. Charles thanked Spencer for putting the pictorial of the Chairman’s Cruise on the web site. Treasurer After distributing copies of the accounts to the committee members, Spencer explained various items including the equipment purchased for the restoration. Public Relations Officer Brian said that the 40th Anniversary Lunch invitations had been sent out. An email had been sent to the Waterways Magazines regarding the £1,000 donation the branch had made to the Acheman Challenge. Social Secretary Spencer explained that he had put together a video of approximately 30-40 minutes in length covering snippets of canal life from 1920-1970 for showing at one of the winter meetings. It was agreed to show the video at the December meeting. Editor, Anglian Cuttings Charles reported that the summer edition had been published on 26 May 2014 and the next edition would be in the autumn. Membership Secretary Clive gave the following membership figures: March 2014 – 440 members and 294 memberships April 2014 – 435 members and 288 memberships May 2014 – 433 members and 287 memberships Clive stated that the numbers had reduced by 22 members since May 2013. 5
REPORTS ON OTHER BODIES River Gipping Trust Lewis said that the RGT held a meeting on 6 May 2014. A letter had been sent to Don Brazinski informing him of his Life Membership. Lewis reported that John Ireland, River Action Group had attended the meeting. Lewis had attended a Speaker Showcase Audition with the Suffolk East Federation of Women’s Institutes and as a consequence is now included in their Year Book. The AGM was held on 12 July 2014 with 28 in attendance and Lewis reported that Nigel Crowe from C&RT had given a good speech with useful information on Heritage. Regarding restoration, Spencer said that the bridge at Pipps Ford is now in place and just requires concrete ramps. The report for the EA for work at Pipps Ford is looking hopeful. Brian asked if they are going to put their name on the bridge and Spencer replied saying that they are going to get a plaque made. Broads Authority Forum Brian said he was unable to attend the last meeting and had sent his apologies. Brian had written to the Forum giving notice to resign on 13 February 2015. River Stour Trust. Spencer reported that there has been a falling out with the La Talbooth regarding mooring their boat outside the hotel and Brian Cornell has written to them saying they will no longer be running their boat there. Spencer said that discussions continue on who owns the land regarding the lock gates at Dedham. This is restricting work on the two sets of lock gates and the Trust’s trip boats.
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Waveney Trust. Regarding the 40th Anniversary Donations, Spencer said that the Waveney Trust had requested a Wheeled Strimmer at a cost of £519 and this has been ordered and sent direct to the Trust. Geoff Doggett has agreed to arrange publicity covering the donation. Spencer asked Geoff if the Trust is a corporate member of the IWA and as they are not Geoff is to ask his Treasurer to join. North Walsham and Dilham Canal The NW&DC have requested a Stihl Long Reach Trimmer at £399 plus Stihl Loppers at £75 from the 40th Anniversary Donations. Spencer is dealing with this request. Pickerel Project Group Gerry is to check if the PPG are still in existence as nothing has been heard from them for some time. 6
40th ANNIVERSARY – SEPTEMBER 2014. Chard read out the replies received for the 40th Anniversary Lunch. Details of the day with names of those speaking were discussed.
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ANY OTHER BUSINESS Lewis said the next River Gipping Trust meeting will be held late July/early August 2014.
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NEXT MEETING Friday, 26 September 2014
The Chairman closed the meeting at 2.30pm
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