RIVER YEALM & DISTRICT ASSOCIATION

Registered Charity No 262929.

 

 

The Minutes of a Committee Meeting

Held on Wednesday12th July, 2006

At Lomcroft, Stoke Road, Noss Mayo

 

Present:          Robin Hogg                            Chairman                    (RH)

                        Alan Lomax                            Treasurer                   (AL)

                        Christopher Bradley                                                  (CB)

Janet Martin                                                              (JM)

                        Rod Carter                                                                 (RC)

 

1.         Apologies:      Eric Rodmell

 

2.         Minutes of the AGM These were circulated to the Committee and will be submitted for approval at next Year’s AGM.

 

3.         Chairman’s Report.

 

a.         Community Housing. The Chairman briefed the Committee on progress made by the Community Housing Working Group (CHWG). A similar briefing would be given to the NNPC on 13th July.  The first of the “Work-in-Progress Reports” by the CHWG and minutes of their last Working Group Meeting would be published on the NNPC Website

 

b.         Video Record of the two villages.     RH  had organised the transfer of all the available video material on to a series of 7 DVD’s. This would ensure that there was no further deterioration in the quality of these images.

 

RH explained that the Chairman of the NNPC, Jeremy Brown, had volunteered to view the material and to create a “Village Video” that could then be sold in aid of Church funds. This was in accordance with Helga Brown’s wishes and there was unanimous agreement that this was the right course of action. There would be no further outlay of RYDA Funds until this project was completed . Eventually, there would be a call for duplication and other costs once a final version had been agreed. These were unlikely to be large.

 

c.                   The RYDA Village Directory.  Christopher Powlett, the Editor of the next edition, due for publication in January 2007, has asked a number of questions of the Committee. In general discussion it was decided that:-

 

·                    The format for the new edition would be A4. It was felt generally that, though C5 might be easier to handle, the A4 version was widely popular since it was the same size as conventional Directories with which it tended to be pigeon-holed. This format also allowed a larger font size, making it easier to read for those with poor eyesight.

 

 

 

·                    The Cover.  It was felt that the present cover suffered from a number of  drawbacks :

 

*          The area covered by the back page, showing the local Postcodes, was very useful but should be extended to include Membland, Butts Park and Collaton and, if practicable, should be further extended to include Battisborough and Puslinch.

 

*          The front cover could do with some re-design, mainly in terms of the font size for the various entries.

 

*          Advertising.    The Yellow Pages are now repeated in many forms, the village web sites, the Parish Magazine, Signpost and elsewhere but had always been a form of Free Advertising in the Directory. It was agreed that this should continue to be at no cost to those seeking to be included.

 

*          The Print Run.            After some discussion it was decided that we should aim for a print run of 650 copies. This would consist of 400 copies for free distribution to members of the RYDA and 250 copies for sale at £5.00 per copy through the usual outlets.  The Editor would be asked to let the Committee know the actual costs of such a print run.

 

*          The Contents. In a discussion that covered privacy issues and similar matters it was decided that e.mail addresses would not be included and that amendments would never be circulated on the Village Website but restricted to the Parish Magazine only. This had a circulation of 800 copies monthly.

 

d.         Village Benches.        CB had suggested that the RYDA might propose to the NNPC a rolling programme to provide benches around the perimeter of Noss Green as funds allowed. The aim would be to create more of a “Village Green Effect” and to provide seating for those using what was at present little more than a small field. The Green was owned by the SHDC and the Parish Council would have a view. The Chairman would write seeking NNPC opinion and asking them to get clearance for such a project from the SHDC.

 

4.         Treasurer’s & Membership Secretary’s Report.                AL reported that a trawl through the membership for unpaid dues  had been very successful and that the funds stood at £2,100.00. The Membership has stabilised at 380, a small drop from last year due mainly to deaths within the Villages.

 

            There was one dispensation from the funds: £47.29 for the transfer of the Ray Brown video material to DVD.

 

            RYDA Harbour Clean-Up Costs.      In the past the RYDA has had to pay £180 to secure public liability insurance for all those (some 90 people) who volunteered to take part. The NNPC and the RYHA had, in the past made a small contribution to help offset these costs which clearly did so much to benefit the environment of the estuary.  It had been suggested that we could save money by joining the “Adopt-a-beach scheme” run by the Marine Conservation Society and so gain cover from a public liability insurance scheme underwritten by the Government. On investigation, however, it was discovered that this scheme only covered a quarterly survey of 100 yards of selected beach and would not apply to the wide ranging clean up of an entire estuary which has always been our aim.

 

            It was decided, therefore, to write to the Chairman of both the NNPC and the RYHA, informing them of the situation and asking for support for the Harbour clean-up once more in 2007.

           

5.         Planning Report.        RC had nothing special to report and all members had seen the latest list of applications for planning permission.   It was, however, well understood that there were likely to be two major commercial applications for new housing in Newton Ferrers; Briar Hill Farm and, maybe, the Fairway.

 

6.         Any other Business.               The Chairman mentioned a letter that had been received from the South Hams Society. RC had attended such meetings in the past . Their next meeting was scheduled to be held in Totnes sometime in the autumn. 

 

            There was also some discussion of the need for further Tree Preservation Orders. With the prospect of much new building, particularly in Newton Ferrers, it would be important to ensure that existing trees did not fall victim to “Improvements” !

 

7.         Date of Next Meeting.          It was agreed that the next meeting would take place at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 27th September, 2006 at Colston Gate, Newton Ferrers thanks to the kind invitation of JM.

 

The Meeting closed at 2100 with thanks to AL for his hospitality

 

 

 

            Approved                     Robin Hogg, Chairman.