Minutes of the Lydney Area in Partnership (LAiP) Special General Meeting (SGM) held on Thursday 25th November 2010 at 7.30pm in the Victoria Centre, Lydney
Introduction
As the Annual General Meeting (AGM) convened on Thursday 7th October 2010 was not quorate, in accordance with LAiP rules, a SGM was arranged and took place on Thursday 25th November 2010. No business was conducted at the AGM but a presentation was given by the guest speaker, Peter Adams, of Dean Forest Railway (DFR), about opportunities and challenges facing the railway which was well received. The Chairman thanked Mr Adams for his contribution and looked forward to assisting DFR in its work to bring benefit to Lydney and the Forest of Dean.
SGM
Present – Derek Biddle, HesterJoubert, Alan Preest, Bob Watters, Dave Street, Joy Simpson, Val Hobman, Judy Davies, Rob Beswick, Bill Hobman, Roger Deeks, Sally McGoon, Joyce Waldgrave, Harold Symonds, Brian James, Pat Lowe, R Turley, J Turley, S Frodsham, T Hyett, H Hyett, R Warren, S Warren, Stephen Sayers
Apologies – Gary Wildin, Alastair Chapman, Rob Millar, Omar Watkins, David Owen, Geoff Capps, Mr Lawless, Mrs Lawless
The elected chair was unable to preside over the meeting and members present elected Bill Hobman on a majority vote to act in that capacity for the duration of the meeting.
Chairman’s Report and Overview of Activities
Derek Biddle reported that Nigel Gibbons launched the Lydney Area Action (LAA) plan at the LAiP 2009 AGM but since then the progress has been painfully slow with the second consultation being at Lydney Docks at the Yacht Club Rally / Festival Music Day in June 2010. FODDC has little capacity to progress the work and the delay to the FODDC Core Strategy by at least 3 months will apparently further delay the LAA.
The Wind Anemometer gained planning permission in January 2010 and an Expression of Interest for Local Action Group (LAG) funding had been granted, subject to the LAG board wishing to see more public consultation and a 20 % match funding. The latter was proving difficult to raise in the current climate. Recently a company Green Wind Trust (GWT) specialising in wind energy had revisited the work for the wind generation completed by Kierson Wise from Severn Wye Energy Agency. GWT are to decide if they consider the project with all its constraints will give an economic return. GWT reported in November that they considered the buffer of 400 metres between the proposed 1.5Mkw wind turbine and the nearest houses was not sufficient and recommended the project be shelved, as a smaller turbine would not be economical as the infrastructure expenses are very high.
The Lydney Coop is investigating the feasibility of a Hydro scheme in the river Lyd close to the store. This has stimulated the revisiting of the work completed by Kierson Wise on a small Hydro Scheme at New Mills Forge for a small Archimedes turbine of 9.5kw which would produce £8k – £10 K annually. The riparian owners, Lydney Park, have given their permission in principle to install a turbine as long as the stonework of the dam is not affected together with the Environment Agency allowing use of the water as Archimedes Turbines are slow turning and considered fish friendly.
Rob Millar of the Environment Agency (EA) attended several meetings concerned with the offer from the Inland Drainage Board of a £10k grant and some manpower to clear weed and mud creating more moorings in the canal. It resulted in the EA carrying out a full survey of the mud depth and heavy metal content, as well as the state of repair of the swing bridge. There is still a great deal of repair work to be undertaken to the second basin which would enhance the moorings. At a recent Lydney Docks meeting it had been agreed that The Yacht Club will attempt to gain planning permission and necessary finance for toilets and café for public use on land in the Yacht Club compound.
During the year Louise Curry the manager of Lydney Dial A Ride outlined the possible countywide amalgamation of the Dial a Ride (DAR) as advocated by the GCC in the search for more efficiency. She reported that Lydney DAR had taken on Social Enterprise work on a full market return basis to maximise full use of the transport for the community.
Questions were taken from the floor about the future of potential wind turbines and especially in connection with potential sites. It was not possible to give a definitive response but an assurance was given that full community consultation would be undertaken before any decisions are made. Some members thought this to be unacceptable and left the meeting.
The meeting continued in accordance with Rule 21
Approval of the Report moved by Bob Watters, Seconded by Val Hobman and agreed unanimously
Treasurer’s Report
Bob Watters presented the accounts for year ended March 2010. He advised that the LAiP Board of Trustees at its meeting held on 17th June 2010, resolved to dispense with an external accountant to prepare its Financial Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2010 given the level of transactions during the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 and LAiP’s current financial position. He said that in preparing the accounts he had maintained the accounting conventions applied since the inauguration of the Partnership to sustain consistently.
All members present received a copy of the Financial statements within the Report which comprise the Profit and Loss Account and the Balance Sheet. He advised members that under its rules, LAiP is exempt from the statutory requirement for an audit of the financial statements for the year. A full audit had not therefore been undertaken, however, in producing this Report the daily accounting records had been scrutinised and in his opinion the Report provides a true and fair view of the financial affairs of the Partnership for the year ended 31 March 2010.
Funding for LAiP’s activities during the year had been a considerable challenge due to the current economic climate and ever decreasing grant aid and fall in donations. It had not been possible to move forward as quickly as the Board would have liked with community projects but it has continued to work hard in its efforts to raise funds for investment and continues to refine initiatives currently in its portfolio based on future expectations of financial support.
Income for the year has been generated from the Christmas Fare fund raising event and sale of Lydney Book of Walks. Administrative expenses accounted for all expenditure and had been kept to the absolute minimum with more unpaid work being undertaken especially the Secretary and by other Board Members. Despite this support LAiP returned a trading loss of £2,510 for the year. LAiP had secured a tax free Government Grant of £2,500 ringfenced for the production of the Lydney Book of Walks during 2009 but production cost of £2,105 fell into the current accounting period and is the major factor resulting in the operating loss reported. He advised that the books are on sale in Libraries, Post Offices/Newsagents and Tourist attractions and have stated to generate income during this accounting period and will continue into 2010/11. The year closed with a gross balance of £1,624 carried forward. This is a weak financial position to be in but one that is manageable and the Board is working on a bid to the Rural Development Fund for a renewable energy project for Lydney which in years to come will provide the Partnership with sustainable funding.
A discussion followed about other opportunities to raise funds for the Partnership and activities being undertaken by other community partnerships to ensure their survival which might provide ideas the LAiP to adopt.
Approval of the Report was moved by Harold Symonds, seconded by Sally McGoon and agreed unanimously
Announcement of Valid Nominations to the LAiP Board
The following were nominated to serve on the Board and duly elected:
Derek Biddle, Bill Hobman, Val Hobman, Harold Symonds, Jim Simpson, Roger Holmes and Bob Watters.
The Chairman thanked members for their attendance and closed meeting closed at 2115.
