Sunday 19/11/23 13.30 pm
Whatton Jubilee Hall, Church Street, Whatton in the Vale, Notts, NG13 9EL
AGENDA
1. Apologies
2. Minutes of the previous AGM on 15th January 2023
3. Matters arising from the Minutes
4. Chairman’s report.
5. Secretary’s Report
6. Treasurer’s Report
7. Membership Secretary’s Report
8. Publicity Officer’s Report
9. Walk Co-ordinator’s Report
10. Footpath Officer’s Report
11. Ramblers and Nottinghamshire Area Ramblers
Ramblers Strategic Ambition for the Next Decade
Ramblers Draft Walk Leader Guidance
12. Election of Officers
13. AOB
2. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting
Sunday 15/01/23 at Hose Village Hall.
Present: Rab Bird, Sue Cobley, Dave Cobley, Steve Deacon, Paul Fenton, Heather Fletcher, Dave Hobson, Elaine Hobson, Dave Jacklin, Ann Johnson, John Johnson, Barbara Jones, Brenda Mitchell, Gail Parkinson, Jim Robinson, Janet Rea, John Rea, Tina Russell, Scott Saxelby, Brian Sowter, Phil Streeter, Jan Tilsley, Angela Turner, Rod Vooght, Howard Wilcock, Linda Wilcock, Maggie Williams, John Young, Kim Young.
1. Apologies – Brian and Ann Durrant, Rose De Fusto, Steve Goad, Susie Pyle, Heather Watts.
2. Minutes of previous AGM held on 16/01/22 read and agreed as correct, proposed by Sue Cobley, seconded by Heather Fletcher.
3. Matters arising from the Minutes – None.
4. Chairman’s Report – (All reports already viewed by members on Blog). John wished to thank all Committee members for their extra efforts to keep programme on course this year after post covid problems. Reminder of protocol on walks and to stay behind walk leader who will set the pace. Jim Robinson enquired about walk shadowing. A ‘buddying up’ system is already available, we are pleased to provide leader development.
5. Secretary’s Report – Brenda stated that we wish to resume holding future AGMs in November, as this is easier for working practices, and was only altered for covid restriction purposes , so another ‘second AGM’ will be held in November 2023, and then in November 2024. We hope to plan social events during Summer, so please keep up with blog for information.
6. Treasurer’s Report - Sue advised that mileage rate has been increased and can be claimed by walk leaders for recces, claims encouraged.
7. Membership Secretary’s Report – Barbara still has problems with Zen desk, due to additional security matters ongoing, which are being addressed.
8. Publicity Secretary’s Report – Rebranding completed but new Walks Manager not ready & Groups pages on CO website not updated. Dave continues to keep Risk Assessments and Walks registers. Derbyshire walks weekend ( previously held in August) will be held in May 2023 instead. Updated walks programme from Jan 2023 to appear on the blog very soon.
9. Walks Co-ordinators Report – Not an easy three years to manage, but regular programme maintained and well supported by members. Maggie and Heather have now stepped down from the role, Chairman John thanked them for their work in post during such a difficult period. A ‘buddy’ system for new walk leaders is available.
10. Rights of Way Officer’s Report - Paul is working with many issues including footpath diversions around solar farms. Praise due for Area colleague Steve Parkhouse whose hard work has been instrumental in our success.
11. Ramblers and Notts Area Ramblers - Area meetings attended and good discussion forums.
12. Election of Officers - We have volunteer for Walks Co-ordinator, Gail Parkinson, and Committee member , Scott Saxelby, and other Committee members are willing to continue in existing roles, Chairman suggested we vote ‘ en block’ Unanimous agreement all voted in.
13. AOB. Weekend Away - we have been offered priority booking for 2024, any preferences , please let Scott know, further info to follow.
Dave Cobley raised the issue of spacing on walks. Protocol of walks re-iterated, leader to set the pace, liase with backmarker, and options for middle marker / splitting the group (if spare leader present) to ensure all participants can continue, details in Walk leader’s guide.
4. Chairman’s Report (John Young)
Compared to some of the previous years, 2023 has been much like we used to be before Covid. We have had a walk every weekend, a full programme of evening strolls, a weekend away and a full calendar of social events. Long may this continue and thanks to everyone that helped make this possible.
I am pleased we have managed to get back to producing a 6 month walk programme. This has been a great achievement and I thank Gail our Walk Programme Coordinator and Dave Hobson for leading on this. Of course, the walk programme requires walk leaders and my thanks goes to everyone who has helped provide such a varied and enjoyable programme. We have continued the favoured formula of 1 long, 2 medium and 1 short walk each month interspersed with evening strolls in the summer, the weekend away and a programme of social events. From chatting to many members everyone seems happy with this format and we shall continue in this vein as it meets members wishes.
Unfortunately, we are seeing a few of our regular walkers and past walkers suffering from various ailments and injuries or undergoing treatment and I wish them all a speedy recovery and hopefully will see them on a walk sometime in the future.
This year saw the Ramblers introduce new walk programme software and other changes aimed at rebranding the Ramblers. Through all of this, the importance of having an effective means of communicating with our group members has been clear. Our blog goes from strength to strength and we are very grateful to have this excellent publication and method of keeping members informed and up to date with forthcoming walks via the walk programme and a great record of walks completed. Thank you to Dave Hobson for maintaining the blog and everyone who contributes to it. The pictures and commentaries are great!
Our social programme continues, and we had a great night in August at the VBR Skittles event, the lunch in the garden at Brenda’s was enjoyed by those attending. In September a number of our members went to the Alnmouth for the annual weekend away. Thanks to everyone who helped organise the weekend and in particular Scott who did a lot of the preparation work. Next year we are planning to go to Whitby which is always great fun and of course we have our Christmas social in December.
Thank you to all the Committee members for their efforts over the last year. Our vibrant group benefits from having such willing committee members and group members who are prepared to assist the committee in running the group. Thank you everyone.
I am happy to continue as Chairman if the group wishes. However, as you know, I do travel a great deal and am away for a good period of the year. I intend to continue my travels and the group members need to be aware of this and consider whether it would be beneficial and/or preferable for the group for another person to take on the Chairman role. If this happens, I will step down as Chairman and support whoever takes on the role.
5. Secretary’s Report (Brenda Mitchell)
I have held this post since AGM 2011, with thanks, also, to other Committee members for friendship, humour, lifts, and support throughout the year .
Committee contact is mostly by email, chats on walks, and some by face to face meeting, in daytime, hosted by Committee members, informal, with tea & cake, and not too lengthy.
2023 has, overall, been a good year for the Group, social events have been a success, picnic in my garden (July) Skittles at East Bridgford (August) and Away weekend in Alnmouth, Northumberland (September) all were very enjoyable and in good weather. Christmas meal is arranged.
The Area AGM was held on 5/2/23 at Epperstone, most of Committee and others, were there, after joining pre- arranged local walks in that area.
We always appreciate more help on the Committee, so please, if any of you are able to help in any capacity, including planning individual events, this will be very welcome. I realise many of you have already served as Committee members in the past, and do not wish to over commit yourselves, but continue to assist the Group in other ways, e.g. as Walk Leaders
I am willing to continue as Secretary for a further year.
6. Treasurer’s Report (Sue Cobley)
As you can see from the annual financial statement for the year ending 30th September 2023 (VBRaccounts 2023 sheets 1 and 2) our Unity Bank balance is £2253.86 with £1725 owed to HF for Whitby weekend deposits, leaving £422.85 (down from £840.55 last year) and the HF Shares balance is still £106.01, giving a total of £528.86. The self-funded amount of this is £240.85.
Please note that our committee has now agreed to decrease the amount paid for recce mileage back to 25p per mile. Since carrying out a recce is a necessary activity to ensure we are covered by Ramblers’ insurance, please claim for this mileage if you wish. The reduction has come about since we have had no income these last 2 years due to high end of year balances. However, this year I have asked for the basic allowance (£198) from HQ, so our finances may improve.
Activity on our bank account revolves mainly around HF holiday receipts/ payments and recce mileage with a few occasional extras. I would like to request that monies for HF holidays are paid promptly into our VBR account, when asked. This is especially important for cheques as they take longer to clear with Unity Bank than for normal High Street banks and deposits can only be made at Nat West, so I try to minimise visits and take all cheques in one go .
Although I said only one year, nine years down the line I will continue to act as Group Treasurer if nobody else is willing to take on the role.
7. Membership Secretary’s Report (Barbara Jones)
Membership currently stands at 107 a rise of 4 since last year’s AGM.
New members contact details are sent to Dave so he can add them to his list for the blog.
8. Publicity Officer's Report (Dave Hobson)
Magazines – Every 6 months, the Group submits an abbreviated form of the Walks Programme (date, general location and distance) to the following journals: Bottesford Village Voice; Buttercross; Harby Journal; Into The Vale; Life Magazines; Link Magazine; Radcliffe Link; Southstyle Magazine; The Cross at Cotgrave; Village Link. We also advertise similar information on posters in Bingham, Ratcliffe and Bottesford. Readers are encouraged to contact us by email, phone or online for more information but take-up is small.
VBR on Ramblers website – The Group Walks and Events Manager (GWEM), which is used to advertise walks nationally on the Ramblers website, has morphed into the (disappointingly similar) Walks Manager (WM). As a trial, the Summer 2023 Walks Programme was uploaded to the WM website but subsequent updates and alterations proved to be very slow and tedious and we have reverted back to advertising only on our blog. Ramblers insurance still covers us as this is public. Only one or two people have contacted me after visiting the Ramblers or Nottinghamshire Ramblers Area websites as opposed to our own.
A discussion on VM was held at a recent Nottinghamshire Area Ramblers meeting. One group devolved input to individual walk leaders with some success, others planned only weeks in advance and some did as we do.
VBR Website and blog - Up to date information is published on the weekly blog, in particular information about recent and future walks. In 2022 there were 70 blog posts with photos and routes of our 68 walks. An interactive map showing start points and routes of most of our walks since 2014 (~600) has been updated. Thanks to our assistant photographers and track recorders, in particular Steve D and John J.
Several walks have had to be cancelled or substantially altered recently. Members are advised of major alterations to the Programme by email but they should check with the blog before coming on a walk.
Although I keep a walk register, VBR relies on Walk Leaders retaining their written Risk Assessments for the required three years. However, some draft guidance has just (14/11/23) been received from Ramblers which might change our approach:
Do I still need to complete a risk assessment? When the new approach is in place, it will no longer be necessary to complete a risk assessment for every single walk. As part of the new approach, walk leaders will be given all the information they need to decide whether a risk assessment is necessary to ensure they’ve managed the risks on their walk. Groups may choose to hold generic risk assessments for walks which are reviewed and updated every year, or a walk leader might choose to do their own risk assessment for their own peace of mind. Either way, Ramblers will provide some generic risk assessments to support groups and walk leaders in their choices.
9. Walk Co-ordinator’s Report (Gail Parkinson)
Thanks to members for their input, from which current walks programme was formed. More walks will be required please, after 1/3/24, for programme from April to Sept 24, same format of short/medium/longer walks each month. Turnouts have been good, only a few recent changes due to adverse weather and ground conditions.
10. Footpath Officer's Report (Paul Fenton)
Footpath problems reported in our half of the Rushcliffe area have been investigated and reported upon as usual. Cross-field paths have been of concern. Field edge paths have also been a problem owing to the strange weather this year.
As representative of VBR, I objected to the proposed solar farm at Muston and attended the planning meeting in Melton. If the farm went ahead, the impact on the footpaths would be considerable – paths would be in a reasonably wide corridor between the hedge and the fencing but views across the fields and especially of the Belvoir ridge would be lost. The scheme was refused but an appeal may well be lodged.
At the recent Area Council meeting, Gail Parkinson and I represented the group. There was a proposal that Notts Area Ramblers should automatically object to any solar farm application that was in the green belt or that affected a long distance footpath. Representatives of those groups attending the meeting were, in general, not in favour of such a proposal and it was not put to a vote.
I have attended a day’s training on rights of way regulations at Epperstone village hall.
I will be attending training prior to taking part in a NCC Ploughing & Cropping survey in the spring. (The County have appointed a new Enforcement Officer to deal with these issues.)
In my role as Rushcliffe District Coordinator on the Rights of Way Committee.
I attend monthly Zoom meetings of the Rights of Way Committee.
Speaking on behalf of Steve Parkhouse, I attended and spoke at the management team meeting prior to the last Area Council meeting. Issues pertaining to solar farms are of particular interest to me. There is a proliferation of applications for these solar farms in this region – their impact on the countryside is causing considerable concern.
My main work is looking at all planning applications in the Rushcliffe area that affect rights of way. Those falling in the half of Rushcliffe allotted to the Rushcliffe group are forwarded to Howard Lloyd, their footpath secretary. Where necessary, I go out to walk the area and then submit a report to the planning office. Often it is ‘no comment’. Quite often I will make recommendations to be considered, and occasionally I make an objection. Where planning applications are refused, there seems to be a growing tendency for these to be taken to appeal by the applicants.
Looking to the future – there is a need for the condition of rights of way in the Rushcliffe district to be better monitored. The Rushcliffe group are working towards there being ‘parish wardens’ in the parishes for which they are responsible. Perhaps we need to look at being more watchful for the paths in the parishes for which we have delegated responsibility.
