SILCHESTER COMMON MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The Committee met at the Calleva Arms on 15t March 2016 at 8:00pm
Present: Chris Lee (Chair), Anne Tynegate, Jon Saltmarsh, John Harrison, Paul Baker (Minutes), Graham Dennis (HWT), Simon Mahaffey (SPC), Richard Brown (Tools and Bridge Repair leader)
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Item / Action1 / Apologies
Maxta Thomas (Minutes Secretary) due to illness
2 / Approval of Minutes and Matters Arising
-Minutes from the last meeting were approved. Formally issue minutes.
-Chris Lee (Chair) asked committee to consider whether quarterly meetings were often enough given the number of items SCMC working
-Leaflet drop for dog waste in final approval before imminent issue
-New mugs will be purchased in summer
-Chain saw training successfully completed at cost of £200
-VAT refund completed by Maxta
-Grants for woodland management – topic closed out by SPC / MT
SM
JS
3 / Boardwalks Update
-Update on bridge repair work and tooling provided by Richard
-Section 1 long walk bridge needs two uphill sections repairing.
-Middle of step bridge will need main runners replacing in the future
-Proposed to buy wire 25m x 2mm x 2” and test on lonesome pine bridge. Learnings can be transferred to other bridges when needed in future.
-Richard to advise budget requirements and work party timings (mid-week August or September)
-Tool report:
-11 x 24” & 22 x 21” bow sawscurrently + 4 new in reserve & 8 spare blades
-22 loppers all same CK type currently
-Anne Tynegate requested we consider buying a few additional pruning saws
-Agreed to purchase some safety glasses with cases and have them available for those volunteers that want to wear them
-Richard to advise budget requirements to committee
-£90 payment to Richard outstanding –Simon confirmed payment in process
-Richard may want to ask Maxta for advance in future against budget
-The SCM Committee expressed their sincere thanks to Richard for all his leadership in organising the bridge building parties and tool management / RB
RB
MT/SM
All
4 / Accounts/Budget
-Budget reported as in good shape / MT
5 / Work Areas
HLS Update & Contractors Work:
-HLS agreement in place until 2021
-Planning contractor work in valley mires area (16/17) with one quote of £13,000 received from Heathland Management
-Planning gorse work in defined areas estimated at £5,000
-Possibility of capital works funding £5-10K. If capital works funding received will aim to complete work late summer. If capital works funding not available will delay until next year and propose alternative work at next meeting
-Agreed to request three quotes for this work as we had not tendered to alternative contractors to Heathland Management for 5 years
-Forward contact details for two alternative recommended contractors
-Harold reports that SSSI will be updated to “favourable assessment” in spring
-A copy of Anne’s HLS summary is attached to e-mail / AT
AT
GD
AT
6 / Silchester Volunteer Group Report
Volunteers:
-Graham advised that we had done enough clearance in the woodland next to the cricket club, with birds starting to nest, he asked that we relocate the next work party to the triangle area between school lane and Brambly lane
-Graham also advised that the cricket club could not keep equipment in the woodland as it is SSSI
-Notify work party volunteers and cricket club members
-Refresher chain saw training was completed for Chris and Andy using the recommended trainer by Graham
-Concerns were expressed by Graham that Aspen had been cut down during the training
-Chris stated that the trees cut in the training were old, diseased and in an area designated as an area for felling training in the HLS plan
-To avoid any future concerns, it was agreed that prior to any future chain saw training – individual trees for felling during the training will be agreed in advance with Graham
-Trainer recommended that Chris and Andy both have first aid training for major trauma blood loss in event of loss of limb from the chain saw
-Need to order bandages and possible tourniquets for blood loss
-Define first aid equipment needed and costs
-Agreed to identify first aiders and or ask for volunteers in work party
-Chris reported that chain saws may need replacing due to age
-Chris to acquire quotes and report back to SCMC
-E-mail distribution: Jon to forward names to Chris to create user friendly Google mail list
-BBQ celebration planned for May 15 or May 21 from 4:00-8:00pm. Budget as last year £400. Anne offered to help with organisation / CL
All
CL
CL
CL
CL
JS/CL
PB/AT
7 / Lordswood
-Agreement between land owners: SCMC, Hampshire WLT and Trevor Monger
-In future when agreement signed annually it will be recorded in SPC minutes and passed by SCMC for acknowledgement / JH/SM/CL
8 / Documentation Library and Access
-Access to SCMC data (read-only) on 1-drive in progress / SM
9 / Cattle Report
-Ben reports 22 cattle left, 1 recently put down
-New grazing agreement starts April 2016
-Agreed 2% increase from $418.20 to £426.26
10 / SSSI damage and wood theft update
-Damage to fence near inhams copse has stopped
-Person that chopped down tree has given assurances to police that this will not happen again
-Need to clearly define what Estovers are – reference Simon’s book / SM
11 / Mapping of the Common
-Anne has passed on information to Andy Hartley. Andy will create base map and overlays
Drone mapping:
-SPC OK as long as under controlled circumstances
-Need to check if Derek has public liability insurance or SPC can cover
-Needs to be done between July to Jan to avoid bird nesting / AT/AH
12 / Bird Survey
-Night Jar survey being conducted by Paul James (commissioned by SPC for 3-4 years)
-Sent to Harold / AT
13 / Risk Assessment
-New version sent out for comment
-OK to add to sign in manual as date change only / AT
AT/JS
14 / Any Other Business
-Need to add update from SPC in the agenda ongoing
-Mission church may be knocked down and land sold in future. Discussed if of interest to SCMC but no interest shown
-Padlock footpath 1 – need replacement number from existing padlocks from Steve Spillane or Maxta and then order replacement / MT
CL
15 / Next Meeting
Proposed date: TBC