NOTES - NORTH WALES & BORDERS e PARTNERSHIP MEETING Date 17 th March, 2016 Venue Attendees Other Attendees Apologies Aqueduct Marina, Church Minshull Brenda Harvey, Wendy Capelle, Barry Stamp, Sara Mogel, Sue Cawson, Alan Platt, John Yates, Belinda Davenport, Mike Carter, Nicola Said, Chris Koral. Ani Sutton, Sarah Lalieu Lesley Beard, Campbell Boyle Action 1. Welcome, introductions, apologies for absences (Brenda Harvey) 2. Declarations of Interest (All) Mike Carter in discussions with CRT to operate a commercial business on the River Weaver. John Yates is an employee of Historic England. Which would be a consultee on any development of the Ellesmere Yard. 3. Notes of previous meeting/matters arising (Brenda Harvey) The notes were agreed. 4. The Trust s Planning Function (Debbie Fifer) Debbie Fifer, CRT Planning Manager, North and North Wales gave a presentation to the Partnership on the Trusts Planning team structure, their role and responsibilities and their role with Local Authorities/Parish Councils. Members asked if they could advise the Planning team if they knew of any Neighbourhood plans being prepared by local communities so that Debbie s team could become involved with local consultations. Members to advise of any developments of interest to CRT which the planning team may not be aware of. Discussion on role of Waterway Partnership involvement in reviewing, commenting and responding to planning applications received by the Trust. Due to the short timescale in responding to applications, 21 days, it was agreed that the applications would be sent to the Chair for comment and to individual members where appropriate based on their experience and knowledge of the specific application. CRT responses would be forwarded onto all the members. Debbie Fifer to advise on whether there is a CRT generic Neighbourhood plan consultation response. All All DF DF
5. Waterway Team Update (Wendy Capelle and Ani Sutton) Waterway report reviewed, covering updates on volunteering, customer service projects and operational matters. Events- Easter Boat Gathering at National Waterways Museum. Discussion on impact on dredging budget as a consequence of the impact of the Boxing Day flooding on the network. Ani Sutton presented overview of recent community engagement and partnership work, including meeting between Sue Cawson, Hodnet Angling Club and Local Community to discuss the creation of a disabled access angling pitch along the canal following a consultant s report. Gillian Edwards and Ani Sutton to meet local Councillors in the Garden Quarter in Chester to discuss Share the Space Campaign in the area. Ani Sutton organised Angling Taster event with Richmond Court homeless shelter, who recently adopted a section of the Shropshire Union Canal in Chester, to encourage engagement by the residents with the canal and engaged with over 50 towpath users during the event. Successful first meeting for the Virtual Youth Forum on 12 th March, with 4 young people participating in developing new ideas to engage with young people. Launch of Forum on 1 st April 2016, aim to engage with group on canal related topics, events, ways to engage with young people. 2 Angling Taster days held in Blacon, Chester with local community, 2 nd July launch of new Blacon Angling Club. Blacon community and Bank of America joining together to form partnership of community engagement. Waterway team to undertake signage audit at various locations include in Nantwich. The draft Destination Management Plans for Audlem and Anderton Visitor Centre to be shared with the Partnership. Share the Space Campaign- launch 11 th April 2016 in Chester, including a Dog Walk on 16 th April and Belles on Bikes on 17 th April from Chirk to Llangollen. Brenda Harvey to invite Leader of CW and C to photo shoot on 11 th April in Chester. Ani Sutton to email members to ask for volunteers at all the various events during the Share the Space Campaign week. AS 6. Enterprise Team Update (Sarah Lalieu) Enterprise newsletter to be issued with minutes of meeting. Nantwich Aqueduct - project to install interpretation. Montgomery canal - HLF Bid to be submitted in June. Saltscape project, Northwich - building boardwalks into Wetlands at Hartford. Wendy Capelle to investigate the condition of the railings at Nantwich Aqueduct which Sue Cawson raised as a concern. 7. Character Areas/Partnership projects Updates Chester and Ellesmere Port (Nicola Said & Mike Carter) CW and C received funding to implement one of the projects within the Chester Waterways Strategy in respect of the Chester ring. Mike Carter/Wendy Capelle to contact Ruth Wootain to discuss the project and support required from CRT and Partnership. LB /MC Page 2 of 5
Nicola Said updated on Arts/evening plays to be produced around King Charles Tower in Chester. Nicola Said to contact CW and C to find out more about plans. Brenda Harvey contacted Place Team, Ani Sutton to attend the next meeting. Ani Sutton/Gillian Edwards to meet Councillor Rudd, Garden Quarter, Chester. /AS GE/AS Midlands Gateway Gnosall towpath improvement works completed Campbell Boyle/Duncan Davenport/Neville Preece to attend Parish Council meeting to discuss progressing an adoptions through Gnosall. Rural Market Drayton Sue Cawson met with Hodnet Angling Club and disability group to review recommendations from consultant s report to create a disabled angling pitch. Next meeting with Market Drayton Community Group to discuss Arts trail and signage improvements Sue Cawson to attend. Possible new adoption with Men in Sheds group at Market Drayton- waterway to meet the group. Calveley- Alan Platt/Wendy Capelle met with local community group to discuss local access and improvements of green space by operational yard by planning wild flowers and tidying up site. Met with local boater who moors at Calveley to discuss community plans. Barbridge Ani Sutton/Sue Cawson met with Cheshire East Community team to involve boaters with local community at community hub to improve relationships with different groups. Sue Cawson suggested survey of boaters moored in vicinity. Nicola Said developing Cheshire East Visitor Economy strategy with Cheshire East which will include local canal. Nicola Said to meet Audlem Destination Management Consultants to discuss the Visitor Economy strategy in relation to Audlem and the SU canal. Montgomery Alan Platt working with Sylvia Edwards in co-ordinating events in Welshpool for 2016, Wendy Capelle to update Events calendar and send to Partnership. Brenda Harvey met with Jason Leach (CRT) to discuss creating a prospectus for use by members when meeting local stakeholders to promote the canal and its restoration, ongoing project. John Yates stepped down from the Montgomery Partnership. Weaver Mike Carter attended the inaugural meeting of the Mid Cheshire Waterways Strategy Group with Nicola Lewis Smith from CRT. Plenty of ideas but need to ensure realistic and deliverable. Next meeting 21/4/16. Gillian Edwards is a member of the Mid Cheshire Development Board which is leading on the Mid Cheshire Waterway Strategy. Nicola Said to meet with Mid Cheshire Development Board to discuss Marketing/PR. Timothy West to sail down River Weaver on 30 th April to open the new Winsford Moorings. CB SC AP Page 3 of 5
Anderton Visitor Centre Nicola Said updated on Destination management project, consultants feeding back to interested parties on 12 th April at 10am Nicola Said to circulate invite to members Nicola Said to send Belinda Davenport s email address to Consultant. Llangollen and World Heritage Site Senior level discussions held on 17 th April between CRT, Wrexham Council and Denbighshire Council. A number of actions were agreed. CRT/Wrexham staff met with The Aqueducks to discuss raising awareness of the group, proposed to host an event on SATURN. AS National Health Service- pilot CRT corporately looking at outcomes to measure in relation to this work. 8. Report back on Waterways Chairs Forum, CRT Council and Wales Bwrdd (Brenda Harvey) Brenda Harvey to email notes of meetings to the Partnership members One Integrated Business Plan for all functional teams and the waterway to be produced for each geographical waterway area. Waterway Partnership will be accountable for delivery of their projects in 2016/17, need to have clear defined outcomes and measures to be measured against. Relationship with Welsh Bwrdd - Brenda Harvey attends the meetings, clear roles for each partnership and areas which they will focus on. Welsh Bwrdd focusing on relationship with Welsh Government. 9. North Wales and Borders Business Plan (ALL) New activities, project progress, plans and measures Brenda Harvey issued the proposed programme and partnership reviewed the proposed measures received to date by the members. Remaining measures to be submitted by members to Brenda Harvey by next meeting, any problems to contact Brenda Harvey/Wendy Capelle. 10. Ellesmere Yard Feasibility Report CRT report completed on options on the future development of the site, but no further progress since. Discussion on role of partnership with the future development. Brenda Harvey asked for any volunteers to join a CRT team to develop and advise on the future development. John Yates/Alan Platt/Brenda Harvey agreed to join a working group with CRT team. Brenda Harvey to arrange a meeting with John Yates/Alan Platt. Brenda Harvey suggested an idea to promote a photography competition using photos of the site, with the winning photography announced at the Heritage Open Day on 12 th August (as part of the Ellesmere Summer Festival). 11. Annual Meeting 2016 (Deferred to May meeting) Proposed date, venue and content. ALL Page 4 of 5
12. AOB Wendy Capelle advised that the CRT Trustee Visit will be on the 13 th /14 th July in North Wales and Border Waterway. Wendy Capelle is liaising with Richard Parry and Brenda Harvey on the proposed itinerary and evening reception. No progress to report on Hurleston Lock. 19 th May meeting to be arranged at the National Waterways Museum. Wendy Capelle to ask Graham Boxer to if he can attend to discuss his aspirations for the museum and also if he can arrange a tour. 21 st July meeting to be arranged at CRT Norbury Office. Date of next meeting Thursday 19 th May 1.00pm to 5.00pm at the National Waterway Museum, Ellesmere Port. LB Close of meeting 5.00pm Page 5 of 5