CORNWALL BIRD WATCHING & PRESERVATION SOCIETY

Transcription

1 CORNWALL BIRD WATCHING & PRESERVATION SOCIETY Minutes of 24th Board Meeting of the Trustee Directors held at CWT, Five Acres, Allet, Truro, on 6 th December 2016 PRESENT: Bruce Taggart (BT) Vice-Chairman Greg Adams (GA) Honorary Solicitor Tony Blunden (TB) Conservation Officer Phil McVey (PMcV) Secretary Dave Parker (DP) County Recorder Phil Taylor (PT) Joint Editor BiC APOLOGIES: Mark Grantham () Chairman John Stanlake (JS) Treasurer Dan Chaney (DCh) Stithians Warden Derek Spooner (DS) Beth Heasman (BH) Publicity Officer Adrian Langdon (AL) Walmsley Warden Graham Sutton (GS) Maer Lake Warden IN ATTENDANCE: Callum Deveney (CD) Cornwall Wildlife Trust Nick Marriott (NM) Cornwall Wildlife Trust In the absence of The Chair, Bruce Taggart chaired the meeting. He welcomed Callum Deveney and Nick Marriott of Cornwall Wildlife Trust and thanked them for hosting the meeting. 1.0 Minutes of Board Meeting 6 th September 2016 Approved. 2.0 Matters Arising (not covered elsewhere on Agenda) 2.1 Rare breeding birds meeting: will circulate notes over the winter. Item carried forward. 2.2 Information boards: Still awaiting possible rebranding before completion, although TB can take forward some aspects. 2.3 Presidency: BT reported that several comments had been received, including suggestions of Bill Bailey and Nick Baker from TB. DS had also suggested Ian McCarthy, who was now based in Cornwall. Following discussion, it was agreed that the most pragmatic move would be to approach Ian McCarthy and see if he were interested before considering other possibilities. As he had met him, DS would be asked to do this. If Mr McCarthy accepted, then BT said he would be invited to work with the Society to define the extent of his role. 2.4 Student Award: PMcV reported that he had spoken with Cornwall College about the entry from one of their students, and it had been withdrawn. They had suggested that the Society could be more proactive in promoting the Award and it was agreed that the conference in February would be a good opportunity to do so. ACTIONS TB DS Minutes of Trustee Directors Meeting 06 December of 6

2 2.5 Data access: It was not certain that had yet given access to records to Hilary Mitchell. 2.6 Windmill Farm work parties: GA commented that a report from Dougy Wright (DW) had not been received, but that only two volunteers (GA and TB) had come forward. However, DW was still keen to organise work parties. 2.7 Hide Insurance: GA confirmed that hides at Windmill and Middle Amble were covered by CWT insurance and therefore no further action was required. TB asked whether it would be possible to fireproof the hide roof at hides and CWT would consider this. 2.8 Stithians work plans: Discussion deferred until the next meeting. DC 2.9 Drift: DP reported that BH had raised the matter of his brush cutter licence within SWLT, although no response had been received. The renewal was a matter of best practice rather than a legal requirement, but it would be useful for it to be done Twitter account: It was confirmed that BH had now started the Society s Twitter account 3.0 Reports 3.1 Chairman. In his absence, BT presented the Chairman s report. CWT BH Website BT informed that Board that although the Minutes of the previous meeting accurately reflected the decision of those Board members present for the Website discussion, subsequent correspondence meant that it was not possible to proceed as agreed. However, the matter was urgent as Nigel Climpson had confirmed he wished to stand down soon. GA said that DC had earlier told him that he would be willing to consider the post if it was not too much of a burden. It was noted that JS would be setting up a standing order for payments, reducing the administrative aspects, and that other Board members have editing rights to parts of the site. It was suggested that mentored DC and that a small working group was set up to take forward a collective approach with DC. The group would include, DC and PT. DP mentioned that the fallout from the discussion at the previous meeting meant that a sightings page editor had been lost; however, three new contributors had been recruited and the team was now strengthened. Goingbirding is being trialled, which enables contributors to use a form that can also be used to extract data, thus reducing workloads. It was agreed that a letter should be sent to NC from the Chairman thanking him formally for his sterling work. /DC/PT PMcV to draft Conference BT updated the Board on arrangements for the conference on 25 th February 2017, and said that has put in a lot of work on this. The programme is now available on line and booking invitations have been sent out. had Minutes of Trustee Directors Meeting 06 December of 6

3 raised an issue about the final session and whether it should be a Q&A session, involving the day s speakers, or invite James Pearce-Higgins from the BTO to give a closing address. On balance the Board thought the extra speaker was the better option. It was suggested that SW Optics, Handykam and table providers be asked to provide prizes, and that the event might be an opportunity to recruit a BTO regional representative, if the post was not filled by then. ERICA data request The Board discussed the request, outlined in the Chairman s report, for data from the bird atlas to be passed to the ERICA database. The Board concluded that this was not an appropriate option at this time. Stithians The Chairman s report raised the issue of littering and minor damage to the hide at Stithians. GA reported that SWLT had put up a sign, which seemed to have reduced the problem although it was continuing. In relation to proposed works, it was not sure if South West Water would allow them, nor if SWLT would fund them. Sand Martin bank There has been no progress on the Sand Martin bank since the previous meeting. Other items in the report were noted. 3.2 Honorary Treasurer. In his absence, the Treasurer s report was accepted as presented. JS had actioned the Board s request that up to 20k be placed in a longerterm account with a greater rate of return. The Board authorised JS to open an account with Scottish Widows. JS In a written update, JS reported that no action had been taken yet on project expenditure, but it should be noted that the Society has to transfer funds to CWT for the new hide (at Middle Amble) and there has been an outflow of funds in the last three months. As noted at item 3.1, the Treasurer was prepared to set up a standing order for Website costs, and the Board agreed this proposal. JS Minutes of Trustee Directors Meeting 06 December of 6

4 3.3 Honorary Solicitor. The Honorary Solicitor s report was noted, and the following items were discussed. Maer Lake GA explained that the Environment Agency continue to stall paying the 10, 600 due jointly to the Society and CWT, despite strenuous efforts by CWT s solicitor and land agent. BT suggested that a local MP should be written to. However, PMcV mentioned that he might be able to get a senior contact within EA, and would report back. PMcV Middle Amble Marsh CWT informed the Board that the Environment Agency have asked for a meeting in the New Year to discuss ownership of assets and maintenance. GA used a large-scale plan of the reserve and adjoining land to explain to the Board the small parcels of land for which Mr Pengelly was now claiming Title. These included an area of bank on which the new hide is located and the Middle Amble access road, although this claim has now apparently been dropped. In GA s view, the requirements for adverse possession have not been met by Mr Pengelly. However, the main point is the potential cost should the claim go to Tribunal, which could be in six months or so. He explained that there is allowance for a period of negotiation before Tribunal. GA has been discussing with CWT s solicitor the possibility of claiming from insurers for any costs, although the Society s insurers have so far said they will not cover costs. GA will be contacting the insurers again. GA also noted that it would be possible to get Counsel s opinion as to the likelihood of a successful Tribunal. This would probably cost around 2500+VAT. The Board discussed possible reasons for Mr Pengelly s actions and whether there is any prospect of negotiation, which he will have indicated in any response to the Land Registry. In the absence of certainty about this, the Board agreed: (1) That it needed to know if Mr Pengelly was prepared to negotiate; if not then, (2) Counsel s opinion should be sought. BT concluded that the Board was happy to leave the matter in the hands of GA, working with CWT s solicitor. Adrian Langdon had asked about access to the new hide, which has not yet formally opened. The Board agreed that while the issues with Mr Pengelly continue, access to the hide should be restricted to local, trusted birders and locked when not in use. 3.4 Honorary Secretary. GA GA AL The report was noted. Minutes of Trustee Directors Meeting 06 December of 6

5 3.5 Membership Secretary No report on this occasion. 3.6 Conservation Officer No report over and above Reserves issues discussed elsewhere on the agenda. 4.0 Birds in Cornwall/Recorder s Report 4.1 BiC: PT reported that Section Writers met recently at Victoria, and the meeting included the use of Excel. The meeting included new writers and had been well received. Data for the 2013/14 report has gone out to writers, who are getting on with their work. The plan is that a draft will be ready at the end of January 2017 and that editing will take place in March for completion in April. Photos are needed, as are updated species descriptions and BT said that he will do some work on this later in the year. Overall the process is much improved, making everyone s work much easier. PT also commented that some data for 2015/16 is being input with welcome help being received from Society members. 4.2 Recorder s Report: DP reported that the biggest frustration was in getting BBRC descriptions and, although he is chipping away at this, it is likely that some reported rarities will be lost from the records. Looking back over records, there are discrepancies between BiC and BBRC records, including date discrepancies and DP is undertaking reconciliation. He noted that some reports in BiC have never been reported to BBRC and are not valid. DP also reported that the Rare Breeding reports have been finished and the Scarce report is imminent. 5.0 Reserves Update CD indicated that CWT had little to report over and above items discussed elsewhere. 5.1 Middle Amble CWT are planning a major event in November 2017 to formally open the reserve and hide, coinciding with their AGM and involving Tony Juniper, President of the Wildlife Trusts. The Board asked that Beth Heasman be kept informed of developments. Other Middle Amble issues were discussed at agenda item 3.3. BT CD 5.2 Maer Lake Graham Sutton had proposed that a hide be built at the reserve, and sought the Board s agreement in principle. This was agreed, however GA pointed out that there is an existing covenant restricting use to agricultural purposes. Whilst this might not actually prevent a hide being built, it needed to be considered. GA would contact GS about this. GA Minutes of Trustee Directors Meeting 06 December of 6

6 6.0 Events 6.1 Conference February 2017 It was important that BH was kept informed of developments. 7.0 Publicity and Palores 7.1 PMcV told the Board that Simon Marquis hoped to attend a meeting in the near future to discuss Palores. 7.2 BT reminded the Board of the deadline for the next edition, which was 24 th December. The Bird Report could be accepted later and DP confirmed he would be doing this. 8.0 Any other business 8.1 Surveys DP reported that he had been talking with Clare Mucklow of the RSPB about the status of Willow Tits and the need for a full survey before any action could be taken to arrest their decline. 48 historical sites had been identified from records and there was a need to visit all. However, the main focus would be on Goss Moor, Lower Tamar Lake and the Nine Stones area, all of which seem to hold current breeding birds. A survey in Devon had recently taken place and it would be possible to use the methods and materials from that survey. The Board agreed that this would be a useful survey and asked DP to write a piece for Palores inviting people to take part. It would also be useful to target certain observers who are known to visit the main areas. CD commented that the survey would be timely as it would inform their work including willow clearance. All DP DP 8.2 BTO Regional Representative BT reminded that Board that Peter Kent was standing down as representative and had asked the Society s help in identifying a replacement. The Board suggested that Dave Conway, Brian Craven and Bob Bosistow were possibilities and these would be recommended to Peter, for him to make contact direct. 9.0 Dates of next meetings 9.1 The Board agreed dates of 2017 meetings as follows, all Tuesdays: 7 th March (Roche), 6 th June (Allet), 5 th September (Roche), 5 th December (Allet). CD and PMcV would book the venues. The AGM would be held on Friday 16 th June and it was suggested that Chacewater Village Hall should be used on this occasion. PMcV CD/PMcV PMcV Mark Grantham Chairman Minutes of Trustee Directors Meeting 06 December of 6