AWCC SE Region.

 

Minutes of Regional Meeting held on Friday 26th October   2007

8.00pm Northampton Boat Club.

 

Members Present. Paul Le Blique Chairman, TBC, Jenny Sullivan Sec. OCC, John Henley Treasurer WMCC, Sylvia Henley WMCC, Clive Rowlands Quartermaster. OCC, Ralph Sullivan OCC,

Alan Kemp DDBC, Mick Blackwell NBC, John Brown NBC, John Penn SECC, Arthur Kersey LCC,

Apologies. 

  Alan Ross TCCC, Julian Tether CutWeb.

 

Minutes of Previous Meeting.  Two errors in the Minutes were pointed out. The Treasurer’s Report should have read Cash in Hand £5.09 and Sylvia’s name had been recorded as Shirley. The Minutes had been circulated to all clubs and accepted by all present. Proposed Clive Rowlands, Seconded Ralph Sullivan. Signed by the Chairman..

 

Matters Arising

  • Crick Boat Show. Paul LeBlique confirmed that it would be cheaper to have a Stand outside but we would need to look into better anchorage to combat adverse weather conditions. As a region we want to express a preference to where we were sited as we were the ones who manned the stand. The idea was discussed whether the ANRC should have some involvement but remembering that the ANRC Rally was held on the same weekend. The point was raised as to the value of circulating advertising to non members of the AWCC.
  • Aylesbury. No developments.
  • Affiliation with GOBA and ANRC. There was a positive reaction to this from myself and John Brown ( we hold the positions of Capt. and Vice Capt.) so this would be looked into before the next meeting but Paul would ask David Pearce to contact GOBA.

 

Correspondence.

I have written to the Commodore of Peterborough Cruising Club re their potential membership of AWCC but had had no response. It was suggested that I should also write to the Secretary which I shall do.

 

Chairman’s Report.

 

  • The last meeting of the NEC was cancelled due to illness so nothing to report.
  • The licence fee is due to increase by over 40% over the next 3 years which has a serious implication for boaters. (See AOB).
  • Moorings Tenders. 3000 boats have now registered. (See BW Handout).
  • Fuel increase is set to rise.
  • Boat Safety. A trial of alarm systems would be set up in boats. Cruisers have different agendas to steel boats. John Brown would look at fire safety, carbon monoxide and gas specifications as he works with systems in his work. He would investigate integrated systems. It was felt that alarm systems would become statutory in time.

 

Club Reps. Report.

OCC.

Club opened in Sept. for the return of boaters from Nat. Festival. There was an increase in moorers on return trip which boosted club funds. We listened to boaters comments regarding the difference between the River Nene and the canal system and these were passed on to EA. The main comments were:

  • Lack of facilities on the RN
  • Lack of moorings on the RN
  • Fierceness of locks, often raised safety concerns.

There has been a reply from EA but it did not really address the issues. Despite the above a large percentage of boaters said they would return but would not change from the canals to the RN.

All quiet at OCC as winter approaches with very little boating done in 2007.

(Report from Harry Wright – Club Sec.)

NBC.

Events.  Conker championship and Barn Dance with Laying Up Supper.

Membership is nearly full with boaters coming for cheap moorings especially from Billing Aquadrome.

WBC.

Events, Cruise to Stoke Bruerne, end of season dinner, icicle cruise, mulled wine and mince pies.

Sylvia remains in her job as secretary until April but now John and herself are associate members as they have moved their moorings. Because of club rules there may be a new rep. from the club but Paul expressed a wish that John is able to continue as our Treasurer, a job he is happy to continue in.

DDBC

Alan Kemp circulated copies of his club’s newsletter. In it he described a club visit to the Basingstoke Canal.

Other events: Harvest Supper Social, Conker Championship, Laying Up supper and Christmas dinner.

 Sadly he reported the death, in a road accident, of a former Commodore of the Club.

SECC.

Events: 28/09. Club lunch at Edward’s Restaurant at  Crick, 20/10. Outing to Sonning Mill on the Thames which included a meal and a  play. A highly recommended venue.

To come: Pre season cruising lunch at Shillingford.

Lionhearts.

The club is preparing for winter. There has been a new roof on the shed and a Laying Up Supper. Each Thurs. a group of pensioners meet at the club for cakes.

Taverners.

A social evening was held to celebrate the new clubhouse opening and the club’s 40th anniversary. The event was a great success. The annual dinner is to take place at the Navigation Inn and a full programme of events is planned for next year.

Treasurer’s Report.

Treasurer’s Account: Balance £45.39 then £16 returned to Cut Web making a new balance of

                                  £29.39

Money Maker: Int. £9.92

                        Balance £1189.15

Cash in Hand: £6.02

Total :£1224.56 (I’m asking John to check these figures!)

 

Quartermaster’s Report. Nothing to report.

 

SE Waterways User Group Meeting. (See circulated report.). Our Chairman expressed concerns that the format of the meetings are taking the form of a BW presentation and there was little scope for discussion. Handouts from the meeting were available for club reps.

 

Any Other Business.

·        Licence Fee Increase (2008-2011). A discussion took place on how to approach the concerns.  Maybe other waterway users should contribute towards use such as cyclist and anglers. The government need to put a proper funding strategy in place.

·        EA.Funding. At a meeting with the Nene Task Force, John Brown suggested that to encourage more boaters to come to the RN a discount should be given to families. This was rejected by the EA reps. The committee then discussed ways to encourage families to the waterways. If the current trend continued boating on the RN would gradually die.

·        Milton Keynes/Bedford Link. Unfortunately there will be no lottery funding for the link so its future is in doubt. Not everything has been abandoned and there will be an effort to look for funding elsewhere.

·        Mooring Fine. Mick Blackwell reported that a boater with a disabled daughter who moors on the Buckingham Arm can not access the Arm at times because of high winds and so makes use of the  48h.mooring facility nearby. Because of this he has been issued with a ticket. This should be challenged.

 

Date of next Meeting: This will be decided at a later date but will be in February, depending on the NEC Meeting.

 

 

     Jenny Sullivan

     SE Region Sec.