Minutes of Meeting held on Saturday 23rd September 2006 At BASC, Head Office, Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham at 10.00 am

Present:

• Lee Freeston
• Mark Cokayne
• Graham Crompton-Howe
• Graham Downing
• Keith Scott
• John Graham
• Mike Sherman
• Paul Culley
• John Harradine
• Stuart Hill
• Conor O’Gorman

Apologies for Absence

Apologies have been received from Eric Begbie, Russell Southward, Michael Rae, Alan Jarrett, Tom McGoldrick, Tom Wylie, Nick Millman, Tim Russell and Peter Marshall

Declaration of Interests

None were declared.

The Chairman asked if the Committee could discuss and set the dates for the WLC meetings for 2007.  The two following dates were agreed:

Saturday 3rd March 2007
Saturday 4th August 2007

Minutes of Last Meeting

The minutes were agreed and signed as a true and accurate record.

Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

Round the Regions

Committee members to supply a précis report by Friday 29th September for inclusion in the minutes and the next magazine.

Avian Influenza

At this point there is no indication of the disease spreading across Europe. Wildfowlers will again be involved in monitoring for the presence of the disease in the UK. The BASC website will again provide the most up to date information available.

Wildfowling 5 Year Plan

What do you consider BASC’s priority for wildfowlers to be written into the five year plan?  No dates or timescales have been mentioned.  Members requested that the new five-year plan would include objectives and measurable targets.  The plan is also to include a yearly review. The arrival of a Wildfowl and Wetlands officer on the scene has actually helped with the existing management plan.

BASC through its wildfowling auspices should help create an environment to enable clubs to buy/purchase more land and take over leases.  Demonstrate to clubs the opportunities that exist through the agri-environmental schemes, maintaining access to land they already have access/shooting rights over. 

We don’t have good communications through the clubs.  It appears that the Joint Councils have a very good communication system but clubs who are not part of the Joint Councils do not enjoy good communication.  Clubs need to be encouraged to communicate more. The committee debated the possibility of encouraging more joint councils in areas where there are no joint councils present at this time.

Coastal Management Groups - The biggest problem seems to be time for local stakeholders to attend as meetings are held within standard working hours.  We need to find out what the structure of these committees and sub committees are and which are crucial to attend, so that information is cascaded down through the various committees.  To be done through BASC and local stakeholders.

Legislation/Coastal Access

Egyptian Geese – should these be included on the quarry list?  The Committee discussed the question of whether they should be put on to the Defra Open General Licence.  The suggestion was made that these particular birds are causing localised problems and should, therefore, be dealt with at a local level.  Are we looking at an individual licensing agreement over a particular area?  Very mixed response from the committee.  These geese are mainly found on the east coast and the problem is growing over the Broads.

Coastal Access –BASC is working closely with EN and Defra on the consultation document regarding coastal access.  This is being looked at from the access route and health and safety aspect.  BASC is also working closely with CCPR regarding the financial impact on wildfowling clubs.  It was asked if WLC could see BASC’s response to the consultation.

Shooting on a Sunday - There is a consultation being discussed regarding Sunday shooting of game.

There are a number of named counties (which go back to 1954 or before) in which the shooting of wildfowl is prohibited on a Sunday.  Some felt that changes of way of life, Sunday trading etc that these restrictions are outdated.  There is no other sport/activity which is prohibited on a Sunday.  It should be noted that the reaction of WLC members was mixed with particular reference to Wales and Northern Ireland on this matter.  Anticipated review of Wildlife and Countryside Act may cover this issue.

What do the Committee feel in this room this afternoon?  Do the WLC want to see Sunday shooting recommended?  Overall recommendation is that this is allowed and gives clubs/wildfowlers the choice as to whether they do shoot or not.

We must remember to communicate to the clubs why we are going down this route.

Three points have been raised:

• Firstly, BASC to assess technical requirements for legislation changes that are needed.
• Secondly, BASC to put down a marker over the future possibility of removal of Sunday shooting.  ASAP.
• The committee noted the recommendations of the Welsh committee that there should to be no shooting of game on Sunday in Wales.
  
  The Committee were informed about the imminent Research department membership survey into the guns and cartridges used by members for all types of shooting, and a proposed wildfowling survey in 2007. This would be an in-depth study aimed at reporting in the centenary year and providing a valuable base on which to plan ahead on wildfowling matters. It would also provide an opportune vehicle to assess membership views on issues like Sunday shooting and status of Egyptian geese. The Committee welcomed and strongly supported the proposed survey.

Environment Stewardship Applications

HK 9 and HK 10.  Raised by an estate manager in Suffolk when considering entering land under the HLS scheme.  Brought up because of the specific issue of the loss of money because it allows shooting.  The club had offered to pay the land owner the difference in what he would get from Defra for allowing the club to shoot.  BASC are working on this.

Leases and Sporting Rights

Security of Tenure of land.  There is a way of registering the land, with her Majesty's Land Registry on which your club has the shooting and sporting rights on by paying a small fee £23 or £43.  Providing the lease has a turn over 7 years. This means that if your landlord is short of money for arguments sake and wishes to sell apiece or some of the land you shoot over, then if the land is not registered then you have diminished legal rights.  If the shooting rights are registered then this will be flagged up when the owner comes to sell the land.  The solicitor carrying out the land search for the prospective purchaser will pick up the registration.

Crown Leases and Consents

The committee received a Crown Foreshore Summary Report 2006 produced by BASC.   Lease lengths and consent lengths vary greatly depending on individual circumstances.  Generally, the trend will now be in the direction of 15+ year leases being granted on expiry of previously granted leases, with consents running concurrently with the new lease.  Management plan reviews are required approximately every 5-7 years depending on the actual length of the lease.  There were no comments.

The committee received the programme for the 4-6 Sept Natura 2000 Workshop IV – UK, which had been co-organised by BASC and the CA.  Wildfowling formed the theme of day 1 and uplands management the theme of day 2.   The objective of the Natura 2000 project, organised through FACE, is to bring together staff members of European hunting organisations working on Natura 2000 related casework to share experiences and work to the future in ensuring hunting is integrated and not restricted on Natura 2000 sites.  The impression of delegates relating to the UK is that we are in a strong position, given that Natura 2000 designation has not led to bans on hunting as it has in some other European countries, rather that in the UK it introduces management prescriptions for the continuation of hunting.  The wildfowling workshop consisted of talks from EN, Crown Estate, RSPB and BASC, with a fieldtrip to the Dee.  The website for further information will be www.facenatura2000.net

Wildfowling Magazine

The magazine has now been extended to 24 pages.  More pages mean more input is needed.  The request for an article from each WLC member was requested.

Wildfowling Manual

It was recommended that the manual be published on the website for ease of access.  What are WLC’s thoughts?  The suggestion of the Committee is that it goes onto a CDROM/DVD and be sent out to the club secretaries and chairman.

Mapping Wildfowling Estate

BASC will be approaching clubs over the next 12 to 24 months to get maps of the areas on which they shoot.  Copies given to clubs once it is done.  Issue was raised about club confidentiality as far as who gets to see the maps, ie being sent to the wrong place etc.  A suggestion of a confidentiality agreement be set up so that clubs are assured their information is not divulged to any other party.

Duplicate BASC Membership

It had been stated that this had been discussed at Council on many occasions.

Recommendation:  That each and every wildfowler who wants to recover their duplicate membership can either write or email the Membership Department to receive a refund. 

Any Other Business

The Northumberland and Durham Wildfowlers request that BASC set up a sub-committee to look into the legislation/laws etc on “How to become an approved body status” according to Government legislation, advice etc.

Date of Next of Meeting is Saturday 3rd March 2006.