Windmill Angling Club – June 20th 2022

Meeting Minutes

Introduction
After a very fruitful two hours of hard work by the attending members, Andy Southern and Bob Hallworth thanked them all for their efforts and started the meeting around the picnic bench. It was unanimous how good Hunters Pool looked and a lovely evening for an informal meeting.

Apologies for Absence
The apologies for absence were read out, but, as the list was extensive due to members other commitments and Covid related issues, Andy raised the point that, in his opinion, this was an out-dated point in the meeting and should be scrapped going forward. It has an air of a school register and, ultimately, anyone that isn’t at the meeting is absent. However, apologies were received from Stu Drabble, Mark Bowden, Pete Boyce, Craig Watson-Parke, Ben Crosbie, Steve Scott, Gillian Beard, Chris Plant, Pete Pantiledes, Brian Smith, Paul Davies, Richard Stanford, Mike Braddock and Tony Bardsley.

Minutes of the last meeting (AGM)
The abridged minutes of the last meeting were read out, detailing the Secretaries comments about the amount of work that has been completed in the last two years and also included the financial status of the club at the AGM as well as the Working Party Officer’s report and confirmation of the Committee being re-elected, albeit with two changes of roles – Mark Bowden moving to Chairman and Pete Boyce moving to Secretary. There were no matters were arising from these minutes.

Secretary’s Report
The Secretary was absent due to a prior engagement, so Andy summarised that, as we stocked twice last year, we won’t stock again in 2023.

Treasurer’s Report
The current Financial status of the club is £1,075.27 in the bank with approximately £500 to be spent further on the sand in and around the small pool. The grant we applied for has been won and we are midway through implementing the works. The Treasurer did not envisage any further spend to come out of the bank account unless we have an emergency.

Match Secretary’s Report
Andy explained the Junior’s match seemed to be in some doubt as the response has been lacklustre, but the members present were anxious it continue and Adam Sebes and Nick Metcalfe both mentioned they would be interested in their children/grand children and possibly nieces and nephews would be interested as many of them have expressed an interest in fishing. It was agreed that we’d put it out to the rest of the membership on the group and gauge interest. Andy mentioned that any Junior fishing the match will have to be made a member, but that was free of charge.

Working Party Officer’s Report
Bob commented the repair of the West Bank near the boat with the fallen tree has been a great success. Wild plants rhododendrons and iris are growing well around the pool. The dam has been sealed with clay and doesn’t appear to be leaking anywhere. He again thanked all there and additionally put out another request for any compatible plants anyone has to be donated to the club. We discussed the next work to be done could be Handrails on both bridges, however, there was a concern that they could interfere with carrying equipment across and Bob replied that we’ll obviously keep that in mind, even to the point we may devise a system where a Handrail could be removed should we need to – i.e. for the purpose of the Digger etc going over the bridge, so that would also apply when people have an abundance of equipment. We’ll keep the membership informed on these developments.

Nick Metcalfe raised the issue of cars and vans being at risk when parking in the car park near to the stream and asked for an increase in the “barrier” so as to be either a visual aid to the end of land, or an audible aid should the vehicles have parking sensors. Bob committed to increasing it as and when we have materials to do so.

Bob announced he would like a mini Working Party, with the date T.B.C. When the long-arm Digger dumps the sand near the shed, we’ll need it distributing around Hunters and, at the same time, we’ll thin out some Lilly beds etc and plant them in other areas in the Pool.

A.O.B.
Andy read out the waiting list of people that want to join Hunters. It was discussed and agreed that the membership level as set out at the AGM is regarded as the right balance for the time being and we should only allow new members in as spaces become available.

A change of venue for our meetings was also raised. It was felt that Turners is too loud, especially if someone comes in to play pool, and we need people joining us remotely to hear conversations. Alternates were the Windmill pub, or the Bulls head. However, we’ll need to bear in mind that we need a venue for only two or three meetings a year, that will give us a quiet space/private room free of charge that has wi-fi and, preferably a TV screen so we can attach a computer – assuming more and more people will start to join us via Zoom or Skype.

Meeting Closed 19:31