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Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Walberton Action Group

Tuesday 1st November 2011, 7.30 at Walberton village Hall

1.  Present
Mr. and Mrs. P. Brown;  Mr. V. Cooper;  Mrs. C. Llewellyn;  Mr. G. Alder;  Mr. Mrs. N. Coen; Mrs. S. Sargeant;  Mr. J. Heathcote;  Mr. Mrs. R. Husskisson;  Mr. Mrs. J. Boldero;  Mr. B. Varney;Mr. Mrs. M. Tristram;  Mr. L. King;  Mrs. A. Rollinson;  Mrs. J. Wood;  Major N. Pepperall; Mr. Mrs. A. Curzon;  Mr. C. Doman;  Mr. R. Putnam;  Mr. I. Pegrum;  Mr. D.  Morton;  Mrs. B. Wilkins.  Mr. R. Ellison arrived at 7.55pm
The two guest speakers also attended the meeting, Mr. S. Mockford and Mr. N. James

Apologies
Mr. J. Bushrod;  Mr. Mrs. A. Blumer;  Mr. Mrs. A. Allison;  Mr. Mrs. B. Kendrick;  Mrs. M. Doman; Mrs. S. Alder;  Mrs. E. Pepperall;  Mr. Mrs. P. Hatley.

2.   Minutes of AGM 2010 and Matters Arising

The Minutes of the AGM held November 2010 were approved as a correct record

Matters Arising

·    Membership.  All residents of Walberton, Binsted and Fontwell are effectively members of WAG. Regarding the distribution of documentation, all those who attended this meeting or who sent apologies will be sent copies of the Minutes. 

·    Chairperson.   Mr. Peter Brown explained to the meeting that WAG had been without a Chairperson for the past year, and that he was Chairperson for this meeting only. 

3.  Annual Report

·         Owl Boxes.  Two barn owl boxes have been installed in two different, open barns at North Choller Farm.   Mr. Coen has one further box available if anybody has a suitable indoor site.

·         Black Poplars.  The rare Black Poplar whips were distributed and planted during Winter 2010/11.

·         Community Play Centre.  Advice as to the nature and type of planting was requested by the trustees of the Community  Playgroup.  WAG members held a site meeting and advised on which trees / shrubs should be maintained on the site and recommended species for planting. 

·         The Pound.  The Pound is a listed historical site within the conservation area.  Several years ago, accumulated rubbish was cleared and the area was landscaped.  Currently, the retaining walls have fallen into disrepair, especially to the East, and the shrubs have become overgrown.  WAG members held a site meeting to discuss planting and maintenance issues.  Their recommendations to the Parish Council included WSCC improvement to the entrance, thus improving accessibility to a wider section of the community.

·         Ragwort-Pulling.  The village tree-warden, John Heathcote, had previously planted a coppice of young trees in an area of ground close to the new allotments.  Ragwort has become an invasive nuisance.  This would generally be cut mechanically by the landowner, but this would destroy the young trees too.  Therefore a team met to pull the ragwort from the nursery area, thus protecting the young trees.

·         Madonna Pond.  The Madonna Pond has previously been part of a major landscaping project but is currently threatened by an invasive weed, parrot feather.  The Madonna Pond is now within the boundaries of the new South Downs National Park.  Funding might be available from the N. Park and from a nearby property owner, to help clear the parrot feather weed. 

·         Scotland Lane.  Work parties continue to clear and maintain drainage ditches alongside Scotland Lane.  During Winter 2010 / 2011, an area of flooded (and therefore threatened) woodland was drained by this work.

·         Walberton Website.  Maintained and currently being updated by Mr.  Bushrod.  Thanks were extended to him for his excellent work.

4.       Treasurer’s Report

In hand £361.72
The balance sheet expenditure sheets are enclosed.
The Parish Council were thanked for their grant.
Mr. Alan Crook, auditor, was thanked for his services.
Mr. Alder was thanked for all his work over many years as treasurer.

5.       Potential Future Programme

WAG has been operating without a Chairperson for the past year.  At this AGM, both the Secretary and the Treasurer wished to step down.  There were no nominations for any of the executive posts.

Several people offered ideas and thoughts on the current situation.

·         Difficult to continue without an exec. Committee

·         A Task Force approach might be a way forward, to tackle on-going needs such as The Pound, the Madonna Pond and Scotland Lane clearance

·         The speed of traffic through Walberton village was raised as item that needs addressing

·         Village Green.  The idea was raised that the village green might be perceived as an open invitation for residence by the traveller community

·         Land on the North side of the A27 was described as “lost land”.  Could it, it was asked, be turned into something more useful?  It was pointed-out that this was a conservation area for burrowing insects, and that it was the subject of a commercial letting by the Arundel Park Estate to a 4-wheel drive organisation. 

·         An enquiry was raised regarding the grassing-over of the vegetable beds in the school grounds.    It was stated that since key personnel had left, the plots had been difficult to maintain and had become neglected and overgrown.   Also there were health-and-safety issues in mind with the close proximity of the school pond.

·         A point was raised regarding the demographic structure of our village.  It was pointed-out that

30 /40 years ago, there was a large influx of young families to the village.  These householders were now retirees.  This, it was suggested, left a gap of middle-aged householders who might have been willing to take-on executive roles on the various committees in the village. 

6.       Election of Officer and Committee

The existing Treasurer wished to retire from office
The existing Secretary wished to retire from office

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Committee Members

Mr. Brown asked the meeting’s approval  for the committee to meet on another occasion to decide the future of the running of Walberton Action Group.  This was agreed.

7.       Any Other Business

·         History Group AGM  27^th November 2011

·         Craft Dabble Day  Saturday 12^th November 2011

·         Big Dig.  May/June 2012  Assisted by Worthing Archeological Soc. 

·         WAG subscriptions.  Payable for the moment to the retiring treasurer

·         Website.  Sponsorship may be available from businesses

·         Mr. Alder and Mrs. Llewellyn were thanked for providing the refreshments.

The formal part of the meeting closed at 8.18pm

This was followed by a refreshment break, then an interesting, illustrated  talk on the new South Downs National Park, by their Countryside Manager, Nigel James and their Countryside Ranger, Simon Mockford.

Important note to all WAG Members

Following the AGM, your committee met on 28^th November 2011 and agreed the following:

·         Walberton Action Group will be dissolved on 31^st January2012, when any remaining assets will be passed to the Parish Council

·          John Bushrod has generously agreed to continue to manage Walberton’s website www.walbertonag.org.uk  as an individual

·         The work party that carries out footpath maintenance and other practical conservation work in the parish, will work on behalf of the Parish Council and will be called the Walberton Task Force.  

John Heathcote will lead and direct the work.

Walberton Parish Council support these proposals.  If you have any serious concerns, please contact Peter Brown.  Otherwise please accept the committee’s thanks for your support over the last sixteen years.