RIVER YEALM & DISTRICT ASSOCIATION
Registered Charity No 262929.
Held on, Wednesday 22nd November 2006
At Church Cottage, Newton Ferrers.
Present: Robin Hogg Chairman (RH)
Alan Lomax Treasurer (AL)
Rod Carter (RC)
Eric Rodmell (ER)
William Taylor (WT)
1. Apologies: Christopher Bradley and Janet Martin
2. Minutes of the Meeting 27th September were approved.
3. Chairman’s Report.
a. Community Housing. The Chairman reminded the Committee that the NNPC had accepted the Final Report of the Working Group and that this, along with all the previous material, was now available on the Parish Website.
b. The Video Record of the two villages. The Chairman of the NNPC, Jeremy Browne, had been given the DVD Master disks and would be editing the material into a short DVD over the winter months. There would be no cost to the RYDA and the final DVD would be offered for sale to benefit the Church.
c. The New Version of the Directory. The committee was shown some preliminary designs for the front and back covers and was briefed on the likely costs and options open to the committee. In a wide-ranging discussion the following was decided.
* The Covers. Both front and back covers should be in colour.
* The Format. Christopher Powlett, the Editor, had looked at several possibilities which ranged from full professional printing and binding to a combination of professional cover printing with interior pages printed separately, bound by a local volunteer team using a spiral binding machine to be purchased by the Committee for about £50 .
It was decided that every effort should be made to make this next edition of the Directory as attractive as possible with colour covers, front and back, spirally bound and professionally produced.
The team at Marchand Petit had the capability and had offered to do the colour printing of the covers at no cost to the RYDA but would like an acknowledgment to that effect. In discussion, it would appear that the company might undertake the entire production with the RYDA defraying some of their expenses. Chris Powlett would be asked to negotiate a solution with Marchand Petit keeping the committee informed of progress.
* The Map. Having decided to go for colour there was some discussion as to the scale to be selected. The Chairman undertook to experiment with at least two different scales overlaid with Post Codes for decision at the next meeting. It was suggested that some post codes might be in error. Those errors should be reported to the chairman on 01752 872366 as soon as possible.
* Contents. Chris Powlett was well advanced in collecting and amending the data. A poster campaign around the villages would be launched shortly to ensure that no one who wished to be excluded missed the opportunity to say so.
* Timing. The aim remained the same: to have the new Directories ready for distribution at the Annual General Meeting on the 19th April 2007.
d. Village Benches for Noss Green. The Chairman circulated an example of a maintenance-free bench (The Phoenix) made from recycled Enviropol material by Glasdon- www.glasdon.com . This would cost £375.26 and was thought to be very good value. It was also possible that the VAT could be reclaimed either by the RYDA or certainly by the NNPC.
The Committee decided to await the return of CB but that, with his agreement, we should start to fund a rolling programme of such benches at Noss Green.
e. Newton and Noss Voss. We had the support of the NNPC and the Harbour Authority for this safety improvement proposal. It was agreed that the Chairman would organise a working party to tackle the slippery rocks on the morning of the 2007 Harbour Clean-up.
f. The RYDA Committee Membership and Structure. The Chairman welcomed His Honour, Judge William Taylor as a new member of the committee and went on to discuss the post of Secretary, vacant for some time now. After some discussion, it was agreed that it would be sensible to combine the duties of Chairman and Secretary. Neither appointment was particularly onerous and such a combination helped to smooth the administration of the Association.
4. The Treasurer and Membership Secretary’s Report. AL reported that the Associations funds were in a very satisfactory condition following his annual trawl for outstanding Membership fees. There was some debate as to whether a further transfer of funds from the Current to the Savings Account would be sensible, but it was decided that we should retain some flexibility until we had a surer grasp on the likely costs of the new Village Directory.
5. The Planning Representative’s Report. RC brought the Committee up to date with current planning applications and pointed out that Planning Application Number 2172/06/F, at Middle Lea, was the first for a “Domestic Wind Turbine and Generator” at a property in the Parish.
In the subsequent discussion it was agreed that, whilst the RYDA would not wish to appear unfriendly to any environmentally useful additions to the Parish, there were general issues that should be discussed early on and raised with the NNPC and, if necessary, with the SHDC Planners. In particular; there were concerns about local noise levels in high wind conditions, similar to those currently encountered with much smaller wind turbines on yachts. There were also considerations of visual impact similar to those encountered with the advent of early television aerials in the UK. It was felt that there should be a set of general “rules” governing such installations before the Parish got the appearance of a series of private wind farms ! The Chairman was invited to write to the NNPC raising these issues.
6. Other Business. The Chairman invited debate on what role the RYDA should take in the face of future large scale Planning Applications likely in the wake of the CHWG Report. He felt it important that the RYDA, as an Association, should take a view that would have the general support of its membership. This would require a Draft Letter to the NNPC setting out our general views to be placed on the RYDA Website and the Notice Boards inviting comment.
There would be several advantages in such an approach. Such a letter, widely agreed, would carry considerable weight, could be quoted in correspondence to the Authorities and used as evidence in planning enquiries. It would also show that the RYDA was not just a self-serving association, but cared about and supported the general thrust of the NNPC’s attempts to create “Affordable Housing” for those who needed it. It would also re-enforce the agreed aims of such attempts; to create small groups of housing, widely dispersed, eco-friendly and of good design. The Chairman distributed a draft of such a letter and it was agreed that it should be placed on the website and notice boards inviting comment and agreement from the membership. This draft is attached for comment to these minutes.
In further discussion, the committee debated what other areas of village life and appearance were likely to be worth pursuing. One area worthy of further effort would be the eventual elimination of overhead power and telecommunication wiring. Many areas of the two villages were festooned with very ugly poles and wiring that interrupted views and made the village look very “ cluttered and messy”. Modern technology enabled underground cable laying to be achieved without digging up the surface and it was felt that the companies themselves would be content to consider such cable-transfers. There may well be some legal difficulties to do with “Easements” but it was thought a subject worth further discussion at the next meeting.
7. Date of Next Meeting. In view of the amount of current business it was agreed that the next meeting would take place at Anchor House, Noss Mayo at 7.30pm on Tuesday 19th December 2006.
The meeting closed at 2030 with thanks to Rod and Pam Carter for their hospitality.
Approved. Robin Hogg. Chairman.
Attachment: “Draft” letter to the NNPC on the subject of “Affordable Housing”.