Present: Mr Peter Wagstaffe (Chairman for the meeting) Cllr Ticker Harris

Mr Ken Green,      Mr David Torrens,

Cllr Andrew Richardson    Mrs Lindsay Green

Mrs Kathryn Coddington (part-of)   Mrs Dinah Anderson

Ms Therese Hickland

Mrs Dinah Anderson and Ms Therese Hickland, members of the Chamber of Trade and Commerce were welcomed to the meeting.

1. Election of Chairman for meeting:  AR proposed PW for Chairman, seconded by KG.

2. Apologies: Ms Kay Mitchell; Mr Peter Brown

3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting: PW signed the Minutes as being an accurate record.

4. Matters Arising: None

5. Treasurer’s Report:  Outlay on laser printer and paper for production of brochures.  Rally made approx. £500.00. Cost of printing brochures £35.00 per 100. LG proposed accounts be accepted. AR seconded.

6. Secretary’s Report:  Reported that  a supporter of the Trust, had died in April and had left the Trust £1,000.00 pounds in his will.  Agreed that Mr Bob Sumner be asked to join project committee and attend the group’s next meeting.

7. Membership Report:  Up to end of August 129 members are paid up along with 4 corporate members.  A prototype membership card was circulated for comment with logo on one side and a label with name, address and membership number on the reverse. Cards can be purchased and printed on a computer. It was recommended that reminder letters be sent to members a month prior to due date and a thank you letter along with membership card be sent when payment received.

8. Connection fee:  LG to write to Ron Kaiser at British Waterways and invite him to next meeting to explain why we pay 40% of our mooring fees to them and to provide a breakdown of what they have supplied to us in the last five years. DT suggested they could do more for the 40%. AR suggested we could apply under the Freedom of Information Act for the information.  PW mentioned the boom at the Arm junction at the BW User Forum in April and BW were sending an engineer to look at the problem.  KG did the same at November User Forum but nothing has been heard.  


9. Border Dispute:  LG read letter from Dr Robson’s solicitor and letter from our solicitor.  It was proposed by PW that LG write to Hibberd Durrad & Moxon instructing them to proceed with an application to Land Registry.  Proposed by KC, seconded by KG.  Dr Robson’s solicitor’s letter stated that the plan produced by PlattWhite did not show the boundary as instructed therefore the Trust would withhold payment.  

10. Canal Corridor:  In view of Shropshire becoming a Unitary Authority LG wrote to NSDC on 29th August asking for confirmation that the canal corridor was being held for the Trust.  The deeds are held by NSDC but nothing in writing has been found that states the land is held for the Trust.   NSDC have offered the Trust the land at market price.  PW proposed that a meeting be arranged with NSDC to clarify the situation.  DT asked if the Trust had to own the land.

11. Project Report. KC reported that the brochure had been delivered to houses adjoining the proposed lake.  Children at Sir John Talbot’s school had each taken one home.  Heritage Centre and Library have been given some.  Visit to Stanwick Lakes being arranged for March to discuss running costs and relevant matters.  Peter Martin is looking at areas for grant.  KC attended seminar in Shrewsbury looking at funding. It is easier to get funding for individual sections rather than overall project.  KC is examining fishing for disabled anglers.  There has been a small but positive response to the brochure.

12. Arm Report:  The Chamber of Trade is interested in advertising in new board.  KC suggested photos of shops or owners to correspond with numbers on map. Price for advertising will be discussed at next Arm meeting along with changes to mooring applications and prices.  LG to write to Mr  & Mrs Williams about the outcome of their meeting with KC & AR. TH asked for information to be sent to Chamber about stalls for the rally.  KC suggested joining with the Chamber to produce an up-to-date survey of boaters needs and spend.  AR told us that an initiative with young offenders is being trialled in Whitchurch and they may be able to help around the Arm.

13. Date of next meeting:  Wednesday February 6th 2008

Present: Mr Andrew Richardson (Chairman for the meeting)  Mr Ken Green
  Mr Peter Wagstaffe      Mr Peter Brown
 Mrs Kathryn Coddington (part of)    Mrs Kay Mitchell

Election of Chairman for the meeting:  AR was elected

Apologies for Absence: Mr David Torrens; Mr Ray Hatton; Ms Therese Hickland; Hon Sec. reported that Mrs Dinah Anderson will no longer be representing the Chamber of Trade on the Committee.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting:  PW proposed the Minutes be accepted as a true record, seconded by KG. All agreed.

Matters Arising:  LG reported that WWT is already a consultee on the LDF but in Chris Goodwin’s name and this will be changed to LG. No reply from Chamber of Trade reference visitor survey.   Wood Insurance will contact us nearer renewal time.

Secretary’s Report:   It is a legal requirement for an annual report to be written. A pro-forma form had been obtained from the Charity Commission’s web-site but the time-scale is too short to implement it before the AGM. LG & KG will attend the BW
Forum and ask about the 40% of mooring fees paid to BW.  Mr Bob Sumner has been nominated to stand for election to the Committee at the AGM.

Membership Report:  Two new members and three renewals.

Treasurer’s Report:  The Treasurer circulated the end of year accounts with balance sheet and profit and loss account.  There was an amount of £81.69 which was carried over from last year.

Land Registry:  Letter read from solicitor and Land Registry querying plan. Surveyor asked to answer.

Project Report: Outing to Stanwick Lake to be arranged for April.

Arm Report:  Successful litter pick on 1st March.  Less rubbish collected than last year but a bicycle and a farm gate was recovered from the culvert.  The old staging from the towpath by the moorings has been excavated and put down at the end of the canal for ease of access.  Some more rubbish has been removed from the canal but some left for the frogs and toads to spawn on. LG asked about the provision of a bench for the towpath.  PW suggested writing to the Support Group Treasurer.  AR would give LG contact details of a youth offenders group in Telford who are making benches first.

Whitchurch Arm Opening 6th July 1808:  It was felt that something should be done to commemorate the opening of the canal but no decision was made. LG will contact the Whitchurch History and Archaeological Group.

Plane Sailing:  KC asked for permission to purchase an old copy of Publisher if necessary.  As long as it was registered to WWT PW proposed and AR seconded that a copy be purchased. All were in agreement.  The name ‘Plane Sailing’ does not currently reflect the Trusts objectives.  The name Whitchurch Waterways was chosen instead. KC and LG are mounting a display in the Library on 27/28th March as part of a Shropshire County Council initiative for advertising local organisations.