North Bovey Conservation Group AGM 27th April 2017 1900 hrs in The Parish Hall

Please find papers for the meeting which is open to all interested Parishioners

John Clark

North Bovey Conservation Group AGM

7:00 pm Thursday 27st April 2017 Parish Hall

Agenda

Apologies

Approval of Minutes of 2016 AGM

Matters arising

Election of Officers
• Treasurer
• Project organiser
• Secretary

Secretary’s report
• Insurance
• Membership

Treasurer’s report

Project organiser’s report

PR and fund-raising
• DNPA volunteer network
• MTMTE
• Village Fair

New projects

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the North Bovey Conservation group held on 21st April 2016

Present: Rob Irving, Sonia Irving, Dai Jenkin, Ebbe Pedersen, John Clark, Hazel Jones.

Apologies: Bob Small

Election of Officers:
• Treasurer Ebbe Pedersen
• Project organiser John Clark
• Secretary Hazel Jones

Secretary’s report:
• Insurance – Insurance –The administration of policies and provision of insurance has moved from TCV to Zurich’s specialist insurance team, one of the leading providers of insurance for conservation groups. Current insurance gives cover for all group members including Road Warden and Snow Warden (indemnity limit £5M). Cost essentially the same, now includes cover for equipment up to £5000
• Membership stands at 31, 15 of whom have been active in the past year.
• 541 person.hours contributed by group members April 2015 – April 2016. This compares with 298 person.hours in 2013 – 2014 and 427 person.hours in 2014 – 2015. 166 person.hours last year were part of the MTMTE project.

Treasurer’s report:
Copies of accounts for 10-02-2014 – 09-02-2015 handed out.
Assets at 09-02-2015 £3200.32 of which £1800 is ringfenced for work on Easdon Down.
Income includes
• funding from DNPA Volunteer network
• start-up funding for Moor than Meets the Eye Parishscapes project

Project organiser’s report:
Project Organiser highlighted the work carried out at Dickford Bridge and on the heritage signpost opposite Hele Farm. Both of these projects were associated with specialist training for members of the group. Additional training for certifation for the use of pesticides (including near water) was completed by 2 members and a brushcutting course was completed by 2 members.

PR
The Groups activities have been promoted and publicised by:
• Presentation by Project Organiser at Parish Council Meeting.
• Short presentation in sharing session of Dartmoor Volunteer Network meeting.
• Arrangement of Heritage Festival in May

For the future:
• Plan to exhibit NBCG work and MTMTE projects at the Village Fair in July.
• Will continue to advertise activities on the Blog and in the Parish Magazine.

Suggestions for new projects:
• Clearance of vegetation around bench on Yard Hill. ? Parish Council.
• Himalayan Balsam clearance – continuation of work started 3 years ago. Dates to be arranged.
• DNPA – Adopt an ancient monument scheme. Clear around hut circles on Easdon Down. DNPA will organise authorisation for pesticide use and brushcutting. TBD when full information available.
• Group to continue to act as facilitator for MTMTE projects providing fund management, insurance for activities. Group agreed that this needs discussion with interested parties.
• Clearance of the drainage channel across the Village Meadow. Over the years this has become choked with weeds and it is not the responsibility of the tenant to clear it. This will be discussed with the North Bovey Meadow Trust and would need to be discussed with the tenant.