Dickie Bayfield has been representing the BEC at the Pwll Du Cave Management Group who look after the interests of Ogof Draenen.
He survived the 7 hour PDCMG EGM and can confirm not much was agreed apart from another meeting due for the 12th December, hmm.
The single entrance policy remains largely unchanged but with a clarification as follows:
Due to a system security upgrade the login function is currently borked.
We will return normal service as soon as we've worked out what normal is.
Have a better day, SysAdmin
This is now fixed. What a difference a day makes
Present: Henry Bennett, Hannah Bell, Mike Wilson, Faye Litherland, Stu Gardiner, Henry Dawson, Toby Maddocks
Apologies: Phil Rowsell, Ian Gregory
The meeting started at 8:15
1812 Cuthberts
Leaders Meeting
Some discussion over visitor rules when visiting pristine areas. Decided to
distribute to leaders and let them resolve.
Actions:
Toby to provide Henry email details of leaders to set up mailing list.
Toby to distribute rules via list
1857 Club
Sales (hoodies etc).
T-shirts work has stalled due to lack of interest in designs. Need to revert to
a classic design to progress.
1858 Keys
for Committee Members
4 keyed alike locks purchased and keys distributed.
1937 Hut
Keys – Electronic Access
5 door controllers and 50 keys purchased for £428 which represents a 70%
discount from list price.
Still need door fixtures and readers. Will continue current procurement route.
1924 Heating
The heating controls have been set to run background heating and hot water from
0900-1000 and 1700-2200. Padlock fitted to boiler controls and keys
distributed. Recommend that the wiring be checked and we investigate getting a
better timing control.
Actions
Ask Chris Batstone to look at boiler wiring and controls
1938 Main
Consumer Unit
Henry B knows two caving electricians and will approach them about replacing
the main consumer unit. Stu to assist. In progress
1928 Home
Close Dig
RatFest organisers will pay the Home Close dig costs.
1930 Extension
Sign-off
Final remaining task is to fit smoke seals which requires a router.
1941 Missing
Money from Bang Fund box
Has been returned.
1942 Rope
washing Gear in Belson Shower
Rope washer is being mended and we discussed initially placing it in its old
location. Ultimately the Belson shower will be retro fitted to take the washer
so kit can be cleaned inside. The drainage from this needs to be incorporated
into new drainage and soak away for the car park. Soak away on grass to left of
Stone Belfry. Summer job.
Action:
Ian Gregory and Faye to progress
1943 Appointment
of Trustees
At the AGM it was pointed out that Trustees are appointed by the committee not
the AGM. Also it transpires that the new Trustees have not signed any legal
documents.
(a) The Committee have sanction the appointment.
(b) The legal documents need to be actioned. Nigel Taylor has undertaken to
action this. Need to establish what costs if any we might incur.
No progress has been made on this. The committee instructed that this be
progressed by the Secretary rather than by a trustee.
Action
Henry B to progress
1944 St
Cuthberts Land
At the AGM it was announced that negotiations were underway by Nigel Taylor concerning
the St Cuthberts land. The existing lease is believed to run out in January
2009 although the legal documents are not in the Clubs legal pack.
Nigel Taylor has already instructed Harris & Harris to progress this.
Current status is they are awaiting response from Chubb Bulleid. Apparently the
process last time took 11 months.
It is important that no other conversations take place during this time.
Mike Wilson to pay the lease fee this year as a matter of course.
1945 Next
Belfry Slide Show
Committee to discuss dates via email for early next year.
Action
Faye to sort out dates. Proposed subject Caving in Hawaii and Brazil.
1946 Subscriptions
38 people didn’t pay before the New Year. This is about normal.
Henry to send out list to committee.
1948 Cuthberts
Leader Accreditation
What are the rules to becoming a Cuthberts Leader. This needs clarification. Toby
to discuss on leaders mailing list when it is up and running.
1949 Cutherts
Fixed Aids
These need attention. Advised to just do it. Still awaiting action.
1952 Tackle
Management System
Faye has implemented a new Tackle Management System.
AOB
1956 New
Members
Adam Horobin, Ben O’Leary, Gary Kiely and Tom Frost were voted into the club.
1957 Tackle
Managment System - Access
A letter from Tony Audsley expressing concern over the process and forms
filling required to gain access was discussed. The consensus was that the Club
has made a major investment in the Club’s tackle and this needs to be
protected. It was unanimously agreed that we will continue to trial the current
process for the remainder of the club year.
1958 Tackle
Requirements
A discussion over the what tackle the club needs took place. Generally it is
ladder and lifeline.
Plan to construct our own ladders during the year. Concern was raised over
making our own equipment and it was clearly stated that election ladders are
access equipment which should always be used with a lifeline (safety
equipment).
1959 AONB
Wardens
Nigel Taylor has asked if the club will support the campaign to protect the
jobs of the AONB wardens by writing to Somerset County council and Natural
England.
Action
Henry Bennett to write letters
1960 The
Hobbs and long standing members
Jane Clark arrived towards the end of the meeting and asked if it was in the
Committees remit to discuss the membership fees for Sid and Sylvia Hobbs. Sid
has been a member since 1957 and Jane asked if it was possible to waive his
subs since he is a long standing member.
There was some discussion as to if this was in the power of the committee (yes,
it is) and if this would affect large numbers of other long standing members.
At the time of the meeting it was understood that there would not be a many
members who have over 50 years continuous membership.
Discussion also ensued as to the method that this gift would be administered.
We already have Life Membership and Honorary Life Membership and adding new
membership levels would add complexity to the administration for the membership
secretary. It was decided by the committee that we would grant the Hobbs free
membership ongoing.
Addendum – Following the meeting it was discovered that there are three other
non life members who would also qualify for this gift. Plus we have eight
additional members who have been in the club for 40 years.
This has been discussed with Jane Clark and we need to iron this out at the
next meeting.
Proposal – Grant Sid (and Sylvia) a 50th year special and propose a
50 year rule at the AGM.
1961 Inveresk
Land
Jane Clark produced a newspaper article that indicated that Inveresk are
looking to pull out of the paper mill site and are in financial difficulties.
There share price has fallen from over 15p to 1.75p in a year.
Jane’s sister Rachel is well known to many BEC members and was closely involved
in recent discussions with Inveresk over a WP2 plan for a neighby pyrolysis
incinerator in Highbridge. Jane stated that her sister has inside knowledge on
the way that Inveresk negotiate which would be beneficial to any
communications.
The current state of play is that Nigel Taylor has allegedly been in
communication with the Inveresk Management and that discussions are now taking
place between solicitors. Concern was raised using solicitors for club matters
since they have previously informed us that future work will be chargeable.
It was agreed that this was a matter for the committee rather than the trustees
and that given the lack of movement it should come under committee control.
Phil Rowsell proposed that Rachael Clark initiate discussions with Inveresk on
behalf of the BEC.
Henry Bennett proposed that the committee leverage the knowledge and experience
of Rachael but lead the discussions themselves. This was carried.
1962 Upstairs
bunkroom radiator
An oil filled electric radiator has been purchased for the upper bunk room.
1963 MCG
Cuthberts Leader application request
The MCG have requested that they are allowed to have a Cuthberts Leader. There were no objections to this on the
proviso that the MCG grant the BEC a guest leader to Upper Flood. Stu Gardiner
expressed interest in this role!
1964 Belfry
Drains
Over the last couple of months the Belfry drains have “backed up”. Since the manholes had indicated that the is
a pipe blockage and repeated flushing has cleared the issue we need to
investigate if we have a collapsed pipe.
Action – Henry B & D to rod drains to check.
1965 John
Irwin – Honorary Membership
Last year the committee undertook to grant John Irwin honorary life membership
for his support of the BEC. This has not been auctioned.
Action – Henry Bennett to progress
1966 Meeting
Chair and minute taker should be separate roles
Phil asked that the Chair and minuet taker be separate roles. This was agreed.
1967 Toby
to step down from Caving Secretary next year
Toby is looking for a replacement Caving Secretary to take over from his role.
The meeting closed 10.20pm
On
Sunday 10th May six BEC took part in a sponsored walk from Priddy Green to the
Glastonbury Festival site in Pilton for the charity WaterAid. We were
originally informed that the walk would be 10.75 miles but when we registered
at 10am on Sunday morning it turned out the walk had grown to 12 miles.
Thankfully the weather was wonderful and the company just as perfect.
Walking went well and we stopped for a brief lunch bite in Wells before
marching on to the finish. Even with getting lost between North Wootton
and Pilton we managed the walk in 5 hours.
As it currently stands the BEC team have raised £215 plus £60.64 of gift aid
for the charity WaterAid. For a gift of just £15 WaterAid can provide one
person in Africa or Asia with a lasting supply of safe, clean water, sanitation
and hygiene education. That means that we have helped a lot of people who
are are not as fortunate as we are. Many thanks to everyone who sponsored
us! Your donations kept us going!
The team photo was taken on the Monarch Way looking towards
Wells. We had press pictures taken of us at the beginning and end so
fingers crossed you might see us in the paper! We were the only people carrying
a large flag!
Once again many thanks to everyone who supported us,
http://www.justgiving.com/bristolexplorationclub
Hannah Bell
Mendip County Council are getting rid of the AONB wardens. Help us re-educate them in the error of their plans.
Please forward this onto anyone who has ever been to or cares about the mendip hills!!!
There's not much time left!!
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/cheddarvalley/news/Join-fight-save-wardens/article-576998-detail/article.html
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sows-on-Mendip/
http://www.sows-on-mendip.com/