Meeting held on Saturday 28 February 2009 at BASC Head Office, Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham at 10.00 a.m.

Present:  

Lee Freeston – Chairman 
Richard Dicks
Ken Ball
Graham Crompton-Howe
Dave Nichols
Eric Begbie
John Graham
Richard Playle 
Alan Jarrett 
Michael Rae
Paul Evans 
Mike Sherman 
John Dryden 
Paul Culley
Tim Russell
John Harradine 
Phil Pugh
Mark Greenhough
Paul Williamson
Janette Lowrie
Simon Hamlyn and Jeffrey Olstead joined the meeting briefly for two items

1. Apologies

Apologies were received from Tom McGoldrick, Nick Millman, Graham Downing Tom Wylie and Steve Copeland.

Nick Millman will be standing down from the committee due to personal commitments.                                                                                       

2. Introduction to Paul Williamson, Rural Land Development Manager

Paul Williamson introduced himself to the committee and gave a brief resume of his career to date. 

It was confirmed that Paul will cover  Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as England and Wales.  The Chairman suggested that Paul make a visit to Scotland in due course.

3. Declaration of interests

None were declared.

4. Minutes of the last meeting

The minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record.

The Secretary reviewed the action points from the last meeting as follows:

4.1 AP1 - HLS

Mark Greenhough attended a Joint Council meeting with clubs in the Broads area and briefed them on HLS.

4.2 AP2 - Suggested draft rule on carrying cartridges with lead

These rules were placed on the BASC website and communicated to clubs.

4.3 AP3 - Graham Downing had asked for case studies of clubs who have taken their local MPs out wildfowling.  Graham was not at the meeting to comment.

4.4 AP4 - Electronic communications

Covered under item 17 of the agenda.

4.5 AP5 - Corporation tax and wildfowling clubs

Agri payments will be discussed with Philippa Bursey and a letter sent out to clubs advising them on corporation tax. An article will be placed in Shooting and Conservation.

4.6 AP6 - CLA game fair – plans for next year

Covered under agenda item 18.

4.7 AP7 - Figures for wildfowling membership over the last 10 years

The Wildfowling magazine goes out to all affiliated wildfowling club members plus other BASC members who are interested in the sport.   Records only go back to 2003.  Membership would consider further investigation if there was a pressing need for establishing historical figures but this is likely to be very time consuming.

Year
2003 – 9015
2004 – 9294 and 9361
2005 – 10201
2006 – 10921
2007 – 11387 and 11299
2008 – 11655 and 11441

4.8 AP8 – Wildfowling Video

The Secretary has spoken to Chris Green about his current wildfowling video and any future wildfowling videos will be made in consultation with our media team.

5. Anna Merritt, Archant (publishers of Shooting and Conservation and Wildfowling magazines) – cost implication of producing Wildfowling and the possibility of including this in S&C

Anna made the committee aware of the cost of producing Wildfowling magazine. There was a short debate before the committee made a recommendation to Council for Wildfowling magazine to be incorporated into Shooting and Conservation.  These pages will be particularly addressed to the committed wildfowler and do not preclude additional wildfowling features of a more general appeal. However, it was made clear to the committee that the success of this would depend on their support in ensuring that there is a steady flow of material. A minimum of 3 pages would be guaranteed centred on core wildfowling plus other wildfowling features.

One member voted against this recommendation.

Job Seekers Allowance

Simon Hamlyn joined the meeting and made Committee members aware of the concessions agreed by Council for members claiming the job seekers allowance.

A letter will be sent out to club secretaries informing them of the job seekers allowance concession.  The concession will be reviewed on an annual basis along with the review of subscription rates.

Concern was raised that clubs in general collect membership subscriptions well before they send them to BASC. It would be possible for an individual to claim the concession when paying the club, but for the same individual to be in employment several months later when the club sends their subscriptions to BASC. The committee asked for assurances that BASC would honour the earlier concession and not seek reimbursement from the club if an individual was in employment at the time subscriptions were sent to BASC. Simon Hamlyn agreed to discuss this with Philippa Bursey and David Ilsley and inform the committee of their decision.  (Secretaries note: BASC have agreed that  “The Jobseekers’ Allowance entitlement must be current at the date on which their club subscription renewal falls due or when their application for membership is made”

6. Matters arising not on the agenda.

No points were raised for this item.

7. Review from around the coast

The reviews were mixed with some areas having their best season yet, and others their worst.

Mike Sherman gave his thanks to Dennise Shepherd for all the effort she has put in with his club crown leases. 

8. Natural England - consents for wildfowling/HLS

Discussions with NE have been ongoing on the subject of consents and we are waiting to here back from NE regarding our latest points. The important point is that the key points presented at the last Wildfowling Conference by David Harrison remain the same. The paper will be presented at the Conference this year.

Whilst we have been discussing the issue of consents the paper on HLS has been circulated within NE and accepted and signed off by senior staff. This has now been circulated to all HLS advisors and has been posted on the NE intranet with other guidance notes.  This will be sent out to relevant clubs next week.  

9. Consultations and advisory committee involvement

To respond to the increasing number of consultations BASC get involved in we will start to ask committees for their views as and when the need arises.

Various committees were consulted over the recent general licence consultation and thanks were given to the committee members that responded.

The committee were asked to respond as fully as possible when consultations are circulated in the future.

10. Julia Newth, WWT Wildlife Health Research Officer, Illegal shooting of Bewick's Swans and Whooper Swans along their flyway

BASC recently held a liaison meeting with the WWT at Slimbridge and Julia gave this presentation there.  Julia is keen to promote her findings to as wide an audience as possible, to help find ways to reduce the problem, and presented her research to the committee.

The presentation highlighted the methods used during the research and evidence for continued illegal shooting of Bewick’s and whooper swans, somewhere along their flyways. It is not yet known where or why such shooting took place.

The committee agreed that this evidence was concerning and a suggestion was made that sizing the shot could help identify circumstances of the shooting .

The WWT are intending to publish a paper in the Spring and then issue updates.
They will consult with BASC before releasing information.

11. Wildfowling conference update      

Plans for the conference are going well and despite the economic depression we have 93 wildfowlers attending.

The Secretary asked for views on moving the conference next year. The committee supported a central location and would be happy to see the present location used again for an annual conference.

Liaison will take place with BASC Regional Directors to ensure the date for the conference does not clash with other significant events.

12. Views on plans to release white tailed eagles (WTE) in East Anglia  

William Heal has identified the following key concerns amongst
 shooters in East Anglia:

• The increase in the number of bird watchers likely to appear on the
•  Norfolk coast and the fact that this will impact on the wildfowling community.
• Disturbance to wildlife on the coast.
• Loss of lambs and piglets (several outdoor pig units in the area)
• although compensation should be available.
• Impact on sea trout running through Blakeney harbour.

Natural England (NE) have no plans to release WTE this year, it will be next year at the earliest. NE continue the work of feasibility studies and are open minded about sites between  Norfolk and Essex.

It is always difficult to predict accurately how the introduction of a new species will impact on other wildlife and land management interests. WTE are large clumsy birds that will go for the easiest meal possible, they are unlikely to pursue birds, but will certainly take birds that are stationary or sick, if available.

Concerns expressed by the committee were, secondary lead poisoning, if WTE eat shot or wounded gamebirds, a PR disaster the first time a WTE is found dead. In addition, there are not as many dead animals as in the past so they would be more likely to take live animals.

The committee recommended a neutral stance but NE should follow legal process.  

13. JPH report on SNH/GWFGS workshop to update Greenland white-fronted goose management plan

JPH attended a workshop on Islay comprising Greenland/Iceland/UK/Ireland representatives (scientists, civil servants etc) held to update the original 1992 management plan that has never been implemented. The GWFG population has declined from c36,000 in 1999 to c23,000 now. Under AEWA this requires member states to give it full protection. The problems appear to be on the breeding grounds (climate change/competition from Canada geese) but remarkably few birds ever breed successfully (5%). Any additional mortality, including hunting, has a disproportionate impact. Iceland has stopped its hunting (3,000+ per year) so this may help restore the population. The clubs’ 30-year shooting moratorium on the one remaining Welsh (Dyfi) population was widely applauded and will be acknowledged in the new action plan.

We have to expect the Welsh/UK governments to seek full protection as they are obliged under AEWA. They have been encouraged to talk with BASC/Welsh clubs as part of that process. We will endeavour to ensure that the European whitefront will not be caught up in any legislation changes. We have also sought that the action plan provides for restored sustainable shooting as and when the population recovers adequately.

14. Severe weather review

John Harradine briefed the committee on the severe weather and voluntary suspension calls this past season. Broadly the arrangements worked well but were somewhat hampered by the many new officers in relevant organisations that have not experienced the system before. BASC has prepared a specific management plan to guide its own management responses for the future.

The Welsh Assembly Government is expected to act independently on severe weather in future (as Scotland). JPH and Glynn Cook have met with WAG and urged them to act entirely consistently with England, i.e. using the same weather data, criteria and procedures, acting differently only in exceptional circumstances affecting Wales.

It was heard, with some concern, that voices in Scotland are calling for some regionalization for managing severe weather in that country. There was a general view that this was unwise from biological, political and administrative points of view. 

Two specific developments were welcomed – the ability now through the BASC website etc to indicate when severe weather spells/restraint calls come to an end; the accumulation of e-mail contact addresses for all clubs to facilitate rapid communications during severe weather.

15. Lead update

JPH updated the Committee on Defra’s contract to Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust to attempt to assess current compliance with the England lead shot regulations. It will do this by buying shot waterfowl and analysing for lead. BASC is sub-contracted to WWT to survey both BASC members and landowners (through appropriate organisations) to assess levels of awareness of the regulations and how they are being followed.

Northern Ireland is preparing to introduce regulations similar to those in Scotland this coming season. BASC has had much influence on its thinking and is currently assisting with the information leaflet being prepared (as in Scotland) to inform and guide shooters in NI on the regulations.

JPH informed the Committee on the growing issue of lead contamination of shot game and deer, in both wildlife and human foodchains. This sprang particularly from the US Peregrine Fund conference in 2008 (which he attended) and which is being actively promulgated by WWT and RSPB. BASC is working closely with GWCT, and other shooting/countryside organisations, to manage the issue as it develops. For more information visit:  http://www.peregrinefund.org/lead_conference

JPH reported on his efforts to arrest the CIP’s ever-increasing regulation of steel and steel-like cartridges, particularly in large-chambered 12 and 10 bore guns. His report had not been well-received by the UK Proof Authority but the latter has since sought to increase limits on 10/89 cartridges, and to liaise more closely with SAAMI. These are positive outcomes and still may lead to improvements for the future. JPH is a member of the CIP Lead-free Working Group.

16. Wildfowling forward plan, copy circulated with agenda. This plan is for information and to receive comments on the day.

The plan will be continually under review and as part of that process will be presented to the Committee each year. 

The committee fully supported the plan.

17. Update on wildfowling communications – news letter, joint councils and mapping.

Two editions of the newsletter have been sent out.  In future newsletters will be sent out at least quarterly.

The Broads Joint Council have had three meetings, with their next meeting scheduled for October. There is improved relations between the clubs and BASC.

Clubs in South West Wales will be contacted with a view to setting up a joint council in their area. 

The mapping is progressing well, and 75 clubs have been mapped, Lis Burgess is putting the information on the system and hopes to have it completed by 2010.

Another form of communication is text messaging where one message can be sent to everyone in the phone book, this method of communication could be considered because not as many people change their mobile number as their email address.

18. CLA Game Fair.

Due to the cost to BASC the size of our stand at the CLA will be reduced this year, there will still be a wildfowling presence.

19. Any Other Business.

Date of the next meeting Saturday 15 August 2009.