Windmill Angling Club – 20th January 2025
Meeting Minutes
The meeting was held at the Bulls Head, Mottram St Andrew, and commenced at 19:30. Mark Bowden opened proceedings, expressing his gratitude to the members for attending in such large numbers.
Apologies were received from: Glenn Gibson, Pete Boyce, Andy Moore, Paul Abela, Lee Parrot, Mick Braddock, Adam Sebes, Steve Foreshaw, Ray Roden, and Chris Cheney.
The minutes of the previous meeting held on January 24, 2024, were read by Stuart Drabble and subsequently proposed for approval by Andy Southern and seconded by Bob Hallworth. The minutes were formally approved.
Matters Arising:
Issues that were raised at the AGM regarding the trustees not being registered with the land registry have now been fully resolved by the club’s new solicitors, Jane Ambler. This work was completed efficiently and at no additional cost to the club.
Secretary’s Report:
Mark Bowden and Andy Southern presented the Secretary’s Report on behalf of Pete Boyce, who was unable to attend.
Andy has submitted an application for an Environment Agency Grant from the 2025 budget, seeking financial assistance for the ongoing renovation of the small pool. The funding request covers essential improvements, including bank repairs to the East Bank, silt removal, and the installation of a silt trap to protect the pool’s long-term condition. However, Andy expressed concerns about the likelihood of success, given that the Environment Agency has significantly reduced its budget this year and the club has already received substantial financial support relative to its size. Consequently, the committee anticipates that it may need to self-fund these improvements.
Treasurer’s Report:
Andy Southern reported that preparations for the 2024 accounts have been completed, with the final audit and sign-off already done by Ray Boden.
The club currently has approximately £3,200 in its bank account (as at 20th January 2025), with around 15 senior members yet to renew their memberships. Planned expenditures include approximately £1,100 for the stocking of Ide and Tench in the coming weeks. The club’s only other major forthcoming expense is insurance, expected to be in the region of £500, with an anticipated increase due to inflation. Despite these outgoings, the club remains in a strong financial position.
Match Secretary’s Report:
Stuart Drabble expressed his appreciation for the strong participation in matches over the past year. He intends to finalise the dates for this year’s matches before the AGM and is once again looking to schedule an additional match at Gawsworth Fisheries. Additionally, Macclesfield Waltonians have suggested a potential joint Challenge Match at their Turks Head venue, which Stuart will explore further. Mark Bowden requested permission to hold another match for the Thales Recreation Club, and the proposed date of Saturday, June 21st, was approved.
Fisheries/Working Party Report:
Bob Hallworth thanked members for their continued dedication and hard work at the working parties. Planned maintenance for this year is expected to follow a similar pattern to last year, with general upkeep and repairs currently focused on the dam.
Special thanks were given to Stuart Drabble for single-handedly moving approximately three tons of clay delivered over the winter to secure the dam. The remaining clay, currently stored in the car park, will be used to create banks in the margins of both pools to facilitate reedbed and bulrush growth, thereby enhancing spawning habitats. An additional ad-hoc working party will be arranged in the coming weeks to assist in relocating the clay.
Members who supported the club’s efforts to monitor predator activity in the run-up to Christmas were also thanked. The response to this request was exceptional, and the committee was pleased to see the membership rally together to safeguard the fish stock. Dates for this year’s working parties have been set and are available on the club website Please click here.
Safeguarding Officer’s Report:
Craig Watson-Parke reported that all safeguarding policies remain up to date and should provide sufficient coverage for the next five years. During the meeting, Nick Metcalfe raised the potential need for the club to implement a formal risk assessment for Work Parties and introduce a signed waiver to clarify that the club bears no liability for any injuries or accidents. The committee agreed to consider this measure before future Work Parties.
Any Other Business:
On behalf of the Committee, Andy Southern introduced a number of proposed rule changes for discussion ahead of the AGM, allowing members to provide initial feedback. While most proposed amendments are minor, the key changes include:
- Removing the current cap on senior membership numbers, instead allowing the committee discretion to manage applications. The reasoning behind this proposal is to prioritise younger members, particularly those with children, to ensure the club’s long-term sustainability.
- Increasing the senior membership fee from £20 to £30. However, after discussion, members felt it would be fairer to implement a single membership fee of £40 for all adult members, so the proposal has been updated to reflect this change.
- Requiring members to pay match fees upfront when booking onto competitions to confirm their place.
A full reference for these proposed changes is available here. The committee has agreed to circulate the proposed changes to the wider membership and seek any significant objections before the AGM. If no substantial objections are raised, the changes will be formally voted on at the AGM.
The changes have formally been proposed by: Andy Southern and seconded by: Bob Hallworth and await ratification at the AGM
A member also suggested the possibility of closing the pools during the carp spawning season, in line with practices at other local clubs. The committee has agreed to consider this, particularly for the small pool.
The meeting concluded at 21:15.
Next meeting: AGM, 7:30pm at The Bull’s Head, 24th March 2025