Minutes of meeting held on Saturday 21 July 2007 at BASC Head Office, Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham Starting at 10.00 a.m.

Present:

Lee Freeston – Chairman
Graham Crompton-Howe
Graham Downing 
John Graham
Alan Jarrett
Tom McGoldrick
Michael Rae  
Eric Begbie
Tom Wylie
Nick Millman
Dave Nichols
Aidan Ward (Observer)
Mark Greenhough
Peter Marshall
Tim Russell – Secretary
Janette Lowrie – Minute Secretary

1. Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Paul Culley and Michael Sherman.

Keith Scott has decided to stand down from the WLC.  He has sat on the committee for the last 17 years.  A formal thank you letter will be sent from the committee to him.

2. Declaration of interests

None were declared.    

3. Minutes of last meeting

Graham Crompton Howe would like to have his apologies recorded.  The minutes were then accepted as a true and accurate record.

4. Matters arising not covered in the agenda

4.1 Avian Influenza (AI) – Peter Marshall

Peter Marshall gave an update on AI. The committee wishes AI sampling to continue.

4.2 Wildfowling communications

4.2.1 The Wildfowling Officer will be organising regional events and road shows and will need assistance to run these events from WLC members, all agreed to help when called upon.

4.2.2 All agreed that the Wildfowling Magazine continues to improve, the secretary stressed the importance of keeping the stream of articles coming forward from the committee.

4.2.3 There was a discussion about starting an electronic news letter to send out to clubs as a way of improving communication with wildfowlers. The general feeling was that many wildfowlers did not have access to computers and those that did would probably delete such a publication. It was agreed that improving the web site would be much better, a link to the BASC website could then be emailed to club secretaries, this could then be circulated to other club members with internet access. The fact that the website had been improved could also be highlighted in Wildfowling magazine and people could be encouraged to register their emails, so that the Wildfowling Officer builds up a list of electronic contacts.

4.2.4 Re-print of the BASC leaflet helping wildfowlers
 
The Committee agreed that an update of this leaflet would be a good idea.

4.3 Wildfowling survey – Peter Marshall

The Committee discussed the forthcoming wildfowling surveys and agreed that they would be worthwhile.

4.4 Mapping

The Committee received a report on progress of the mapping project which has been well received by clubs so far.  The Committee were informed the project could take up to 2 years. 

4.5 EA Consultation re Ouse Washes

Following the last meeting further discussions were had with Pat Somes from the Environment Agency (EA) and it is clear that the EA are looking to put the creation of 100 ha of compensatory habitat out to tender and the organisation that wins the contract will be responsible for all the work and will have control over subsequent management.  The only way wildfowlers can get involved is to win the tender. 

Pat Somes confirmed that the Ouse Washes would not be forgotten and allowed to degrade further.  The designations remain, so this will not happen.

5. Coastal access

The Committee were informed that the timelines for a response were as follows:

Closing date for the consultation is 11th Sept 2007
Responses from clubs to be in by Friday 10th August (6 so far)
First draft will be available by Friday 10th August
Comments from Council who would be represented by two members by Friday 24th August
Final response by Friday 31st August which will go on BASC’s web site for use by clubs

6. BASC 5 year plan     

Following the SWOT analysis at the last meeting three key areas were identified:

Development and support of the club structure
Marketing the sport
Land purchase, leases and the creation of new wetlands.

There were a number of suggestions proposed and discussed including the employment of an additional member of staff to support wildfowlers and the creation of a dedicated wildfowling team.

The Committee were told that any proposal for a new member of staff would have to go through the normal bidding process and the post would have to be fully justified. The Committee were asked what work they thought a new person would do. Some of the Committee thought there was a need for somebody to help clubs buy land and get grants from agri-environment schemes. Others felt that there was insufficient work amongst the clubs to justify employing somebody. It was recognised that when applying for Higher Level Stewardship grants a sum of money was available to applicants to pay consultants, effectively making the application process cost neutral.

7.  Higher Level Stewardship

Following the last WLC meeting BASC met with Natural England and discussed their revised draft guidance on the wet grassland options.  The new guidance was recognised as being much better than the original document and BASC were congratulated for that.

The Committee was asked to agree a form of words that explains what ‘sustainable wildfowling’ might be over wet grassland. Following some discussion it was agreed to send the Secretary any alterations to the form of words that was tabled at the meeting by Wednesday of the following week. The Secretary would then agree this with the Chairman and circulate to NE for their comment.

9. Creating and running joint councils  

One of the first jobs for the Wildfowling Officer will be assisting clubs to set up joint councils. The Committee endorsed this idea to encourage clubs to work together where this is not happening.

The Committee and BASC need to create joint councils to improve information flow and help with the development of club structure so clubs can raise their standards. 

The Committee were asked where they thought joint councils were working well and where there was a need to provide assistance to either create them or help get them running effectively.

10. The 2008 (Centenary) wildfowling conference

10.1 Plans for 2008 so far

The conference venue has been booked for Saturday 1st March – St David’s day – joint conference with Wales 
The venue is the Ramada Hotel & Resort Birmingham located in Sutton Coldfield

11. Any other business

11.1      BASC wildfowling book

BASC are writing a book on wildfowling and this was reviewed in the early stages of production by some of the Committee.

Date of next meeting – 16 February 2008.