RIVER YEALM & DISTRICT ASSOCIATION
Registered Charity No 262929.
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HELD ON Wednesday 11th April 2007
At the Women’s Institute Community Hall, Newton Ferrers.
The Chair was taken by the Chairman, Robin Hogg.
1. Apologies for absence.
Colin Drew Bill Taylor Mary Wilcox
Felicity Garth Caroline Taylor Mr & Mrs Markham
Jeremy Spooner Colin Smith
Sally Spooner Rosemary Smith
2. Minutes of the 2005 Annual General Meeting held on 20th April 2006.
The Chairman reminded the meeting that the last AGM had been dominated by the issue of Affordable Housing and that he would cover recent progress during his address.
The Minutes were taken as read and signed by the Chairman
3. The Chairman’s address.
The Chairman did not wish to repeat the contents of the 2007 RYDA Newsletter, sent out with the Agenda, though this Newsletter would be attached to these Minutes as a matter of record.
He then made a series of points:-
* The New Village Directory. Those attending the AGM received their copies of the new Village Directory, a completely re-designed and more impressive volume than its predecessors. This had been made possible by the very generous contributions made by a number of people and organisations but also by the drive and enthusiasm of the Editor Christopher Powlett, assisted by his wife Jenny.
Special thanks were in order:-
· To Marchand Petit, the Estate Agent, who had paid for all the printing and whose staff in Newton Ferrers, Claire Northmore and Kash Borden, had undertaken the bulk of the work. The Chairman presented them with Champagne & Flowers in recognition of their efforts.
· To Judy Jillard for allowing one of her paintings to be used on the front cover.
· To The A-Z Mapping Company for allowing the RYDA to use and modify their maps free of charge.
All received a special round of applause. The Chairman reminded the audience that any errors should be reported to the Editor and that amendments would only be published in the Parish Magazine. In so doing, we were not only observing the Data Protection Act, but also ensuring that this Directory remained what it had always been; a “local asset for those who lived here”.
* Affordable Housing. The Chairman reviewed progress made since the last AGM. The RYDA Presentation in 2006 had spawned the Community Housing Working Group, which had reported to the NNPC in October. The NNPC had gone forward with proposals, based on this Report, to the South Hams District Council.
The situation now was that the SHDC, having had their “Core Strategy” reviewed, were now working on Local Development Plans for each town. Villages like ours would be considered much later.
Were there to be any Landowners who wished to come forward with proposals for “Affordable Housing” on their land, they should consider doing so sooner rather than later before the Local Development Framework kicks in and there will be less flexibility for “mixed housing”, something most of the membership would prefer.
* Sherford New Community. This was still very much a “work-in-progress” since the SHDC was now having to consider the “Overlapping” between the Co-Op and earlier proposals.
He warned that the ratio and number of Affordable Houses being proposed for this new community (50%) would be crucial to its final shape and form. We all needed to concentrate on the numbers being proposed (two thirds for Plymouth City Council & one third for the SHDC) to ensure that this new community was built to meet a genuine requirement.
There will be discussions, workshops and roadshows throughout the summer before “Sherford Refined” is published in the Autumn.
* The Rural Spatial Strategy for the South West. The Examination in Public (EIP) begins this month and will last for three months. It will make recommendations to Government that will affect us all from Housing and Transport to ‘what sort of Region do we want to be ?’
* The Harbour Clean-Up. Chris Bradley outlined plans for this annual event on Saturday 21st April. There was a need for more and younger volunteers to come forward to take part in what was a thoroughly worthwhile and, weather permitting, fun event.
* Benches at Noss Green. The Chairman explained that an application for a grant from the Revelstoke Trust, together with an investment by the RYDA of some £780, could enable the Association to obtain 4 Oak Benches for Noss Green and one for the RYDA plinth in Newton Ferrers. The SHDC Landscape Department was prepared to combine with the RYDA to both purchase and install these benches at rates that we could not achieve for ourselves. There was general support for this concept.
* The “Village Video”. Jeremy Brown had now transposed the original video into a more useable form and would, over the summer, be seeking to reduce the material to the sort of length that could be sold for the benefit of the Church.
* Shoreline Management Plan (SMP). This plan is now due for review and, coupled with the Yealm Estuary Environmental Management Plan (YEEMP), will require many Agencies and Groups to make a contribution. The RYDA is being consulted by both the Teignbridge District Council (SMP) and the South Devon AONB ( YEEMP). There is potentially a lot at stake since Government funds will be needed to implement any recommendations.
The SMP is looking at the coastline between Durleston and Rame Heads and will consider four options :-
· Hold the existing Defence Line: Maybe with some enhancement.
· Advance the existing Defence Line. This would require considerable investment.
· Managed realignment. Allow retreat with some control
· No active intervention.
The Chairman said that the Committee would be happy to forward any contributions from members towards either study.
* The Village Websites. The Chairman reminded the audience that these web sites were now the main means of communicating both to and from the membership.
4. Adoption of the Accounts. The Chairman reminded the audience that they had all had an opportunity to scrutinize the accounts which had been circulated with the Agenda. He asked whether anyone had any questions for the Treasurer, Mr Alan Lomax. There being no questions, the accounts were duly adopted with an appreciation for all the work undertaken by Alan Lomax.
Proposed by Mr Roger Hallett
Seconded by Mr Mike Merritt
5. Appointment of an Honorary Auditor. The Honorary Auditor, Mr John Wilson, had kindly agreed to continue in this position for the years 2007- 2008. His appointment was warmly welcomed and approved.
6. The Election of Officers and Committee Members. . There was still a vacancy for an Honorary Secretary of the RYDA, whose work was currently being undertaken by the Chairman. Whilst being happy to continue in both roles of Chairman and Secretary, there would be a need to find replacements for both posts since the Chairman would be retiring at the next AGM and his successor would need an Honorary Secretary.
The Chairman then asked that the Chairman, Treasurer and the committee composed of:-
Chairman & Hon Secretary Robin Hogg
Treasurer & Membership Secretary Alan Lomax
Members Christopher Bradley
Rod Carter
Eric Rodmell
Janet Martin
Bill Taylor
Should be re-elected en bloc.
Proposed by Dick Bensted- Smith
Seconded by Mrs B Merritt.
Unanimously agreed.
7. Any Other Business. There being no other business, beyond deciding the date of the next AGM, the Chairman suggested that the meeting should adjourn for a short break before two short presentations.
8. Date of the next Annual General Meeting. The Chairman suggested that the choice of a suitable date in April 2008 should be left until nearer the time.
Following a short break there were two Presentations:
* Brookings Down Wood. Christopher Woodd-Walker spoke of the year’s progress and made the following points:-
· The finances of the Brookings Down Wood Trust, of which the RYDA is Head Lessee, were in a very healthy state.
· There were two new members of the committee; important since the original committee had been in post for many years and there was a need for “New Blood”.
· The wood itself was in a very satisfactory condition and about to be full of bluebells. All were invited to have a look around over the next few weeks.
· There was a programme of general maintenance and some minor replanting in hand.
* Energy. Mr Tim Hale, Chairman for Devon of the CPRE and Founder Member of the Renewable Energy Foundation, gave a short presentation on the UK’s Energy situation. Inevitably controversial, there was much discussion on completion as to the role that each type of Renewable Energy (Wind, Solar, Tidal, Hydro and heat) could best play in cutting both carbon emissions and contributing a worthwhile level of power for the community.
Following a round of thanks and applause and, there being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.50pm
Robin Hogg, Chairman.