SEVERN & AVON VALLEY COMBINED FLOOD GROUP
THE LATEST SEVERN AND AVON COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Minutes from 29th March 2010
Strings Squash Club, Tewkesbury
Present: Stuart Strathearn – Chair, Dave Witts – Secretary, Chris Thomas, Julie Greening, Janet Farrow, Elaine MacTiernan, Kevin Cromwell, Anne Griffiths, Ron Foster, Doug Stocks, Jamie Beadle.
Apologies: Geoff Butcher
1. Welcome
Stuart welcomed everyone to the meeting and distributed a rota of who should be responsible for taking the minutes at each meeting.
2. Minutes from the last meeting.
Nominated by Dave, seconded by Elaine that the minutes were a true record, agreed by all present.
3. Matters arising from the minutes
Min 9 – Elaine has obtained copies of pluvial flood maps from the EA (free of charge as she applied via the Freedom of Information Act) which were circulated around the table but the general consensus was that these were far from accurate as when they are overlaid with fluvial maps there is little difference in the defined flood plain area! Dave will email copies to all the Committee.
Min 11.5 - Face book entry, Stuart is developing this idea and will keep us updated.
Drainage – Stuart is still awaiting an adequate response to the question posed under the Freedom of Information Act to Bob Nightingale regarding clarification of when, where and cost spent on drainage projects 1991- 2007. Should this information not be forthcoming the next course of action would be referral to the Standards Committee.
There still hasn’t been a satisfactory response either from the outcome of the meeting of 8th March between Dave and Bob Nightingale re: future drainage plans and timescales. Dave is following up.
Election Question Time – it was decided not to proceed with a public meeting as there are already several meetings of this type taking place in the County. The Echo will still proceed with publishing questions from SAAVCFG to the prospective party candidates. Also the Echo has provisionally booked the 6th Form Centre at Tewkesbury School, Weds 21st April at 6pm for a public meeting primarily for a youth audience but all are welcome. This would be a good opportunity to ask some of our agreed questions.
Projector – Stuart will obtain some costings for purchase and report back to the Committee.
4. Nature Reserve
Dave has been asked to join the board involved with the development of the Nature Reserve as a representative of SAAVCFG, all agreed that this is acceptable. He outlined the initial plans for this development which other than sourcing funding will be to carry out a biodiversity study in conjunction with local schools etc.
5. Insurance meeting with Laurence Robertson MP
Due to the ongoing concerns of Tewkesbury residents a meeting has been arranged on Thurs 1at April, 12pm at Tewkesbury Town Hall with a representative from Aviva. This is to address general issues with high premiums and excesses not necessarily specifically for Aviva customers.
6. Any Other BusinessJCS for Worcestershire – there is a meeting being held at TBC on 7th April which Dave and Vernon hope to attend.
On behalf of MACA, Chris expressed thanks to Dave and Vernon for the informative talk they gave on flooding and drainage at a recent meeting.
OARA Open Meeting on 19h April, 7pm at Elizabeth Wyatt House, Barton Rd where they hope to have TBC Chief Executive Mike Dawson as a guest speaker. All Welcome.
NACRA Open Meeting on 29th April, 7pm at Tirlebrook School will have Mella McMahon and Bob Nightingale as guest speakers. Again all welcome.
Next meeting Mon 26th April, 7pm at Strings (Steve to take the minutes).