To agree the minutes of the previous meeting
as a true and accurate record of proceedings.
Minutes:
The minutes were agreed as an accurate record
of the meeting.
318.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
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All Members present are
required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as
possible thereafter
(i)Any disclosable pecuniary interests and /
or
(ii)Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in
respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this
meeting
NOTES:
·Members are reminded that they must not participate
in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary
interest
·As well as an interest of the Member, this includes
any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the
Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the
Member is living as a spouse or civil partner)
·Members with a significant personal interest may
participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that
interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial.
418.
QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
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To
receive either any questions or petitions.
Notes:
1. The
deadline for Member’s questions is four working days before
the meeting [22 June 2018].
2. The
deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting
[21 June 2018].
3. The
deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no
petitions have been received.
Purpose of the report: To
brief Members on the financial outturn of the Basingstoke Canal
Authority. Members are asked to review
and agree the outturn position for the year 2017/18.
Minutes:
Declarations of interest:
None
Officers:
Jane Lovett, Honorary
Treasurer, Basingstoke Canal Authority, Hampshire County
Council
Key
points raised during the discussion:
Officers highlighted key points, explaining that the input to
reserves for the year 2017/18 had been greater than expected. It
was explained that reasons for this were a combination of increases
in income, reductions in expenditure but mainly the delay of
the tree survey, which would be undertaken in 2019.
Officers noted the
draw on capital funding from Hampshire was primarily focussed on
repairs to the Dogmersfield landslip in
2017/18.
It was explained that the levels of reserves were at an
acceptable level to cover contingencies, highlighting that the
service expected reserves at the end of 2018/19 to be approximately
£550,000.
Members questioned
the Surrey estates policy, and why income from houseboat moorings
and Canal cottages was not returned to the Basingstoke Canal
Authority (BCA), nor reported in the accounts. The Vice-Chairman
noted that Surrey County Council policy was Surrey Property
Services acted as the corporate landlord for the Council and that
income currently goes to them. It was suggested that a final
decision on houseboat income should be made clear and that this
would be presented to the Committee.
Members asked whether
future finance reports could include background income that does
not necessarily go directly to the Basingstoke Canal Authority
(BCA), but effects the commercial viability of the canal, as part
of the finance report.
Actions/ further information to be provided:
That a decision from
Surrey County Council regarding the status of houseboat income and
its allocation to the BCA or Surrey Property Services be made and
presented to the Committee in November 2018.
RESOLVED:
That future finance
reports include background income, such as that from houseboat
revenue, as part of the overall finance report.
Purpose of the
report:To inform the Committee of
actions taken by the Strategic Manager and BCA Canal Manager in
managing, maintaining and operating the Canal; and report the work
of the Conservation Steering Group.
Minutes:
Declarations of interest:
None
Officers:
James Taylor, Strategic
Manager, Basingstoke Canal Authority
Officers outlined the
work that had been undertaken by the Basingstoke Canal Authority
(BCA) since November 2017. It was particularly noted that the lock
gates scheduled in the cyclical replacement programme had been
undertaken and that there had been a drain down of the St
John’s Lock Flight undertaken for Principle Inspections. It
was also noted that a bat hibernation survey and engineering
inspection of Greywell Tunnel had been completed.
Officers highlighted
that ten tonnes of Signal crayfish had been removed from the canal
as a means of pest control. It was noted that the Canal had an
agreement with a fisherman who removed the crayfish gratis for the
BCA, but that he kept all profits from selling. It was noted that
the service was potentially reviewing this, but stressed that this
was a pest control measure and not a profit making scheme. It was
noted that levels of damage and reported numbers from crayfish had
decreased significantly.
Officers highlighted
that there had been a boating accident at lock 18 involving
irreparable damage to one of the lock gates. It was noted that this
had resulted in closure of Deepcut lock flight for approximately
6-8 weeks.
It was explained,
after concerns were raised by Members, that there have been badger
evictions that had been undertaken humanely and using appropriate
means under the appropriate licences.
Members raised
concerns regarding cyclists and potential adverse effects of
cyclists on other users of the canal, questioning whether there was
potential for a campaign to slow cyclist speeds and increase
awareness. Officers highlighted that cyclists use the towpath by
permission and that the towpath was not a right of way. Officers
also noted that they had been educating cyclist to slow and share
the towpath under the “Share the Space, Drop your Pace”
slogan for some time, and that there was funding available for
additional signage, but that there had been little evidence of
effect on a proportion of users. Officers noted that destination
signing which had included times had been removed as previously
requested by the Committee. Members suggested that there needed to
be an effort to educate users regarding fair usage and safety.
Members suggested that the Committee receive a further report on
cycling strategies and issues raised from cyclists to a future
meeting of the JMC.
Officers noted the
positive contribution of volunteers on the canal and that there had
been a contribution of approximately £86,000 worth of
volunteer hours on the Canal. Officers also offered congratulations
to the Basingstoke Canal Society on achieving the Queens Award for
Voluntary Service in 2018.
It was explained that
there had been a leak near Farnborough in May 2018 which was being
repaired before the Air show.
It was noted that
there was work being undertaken on the campsite development agreed
at the November 2017 meeting of the JMC, noting ...
view the full minutes text for item 718.
James Taylor, Strategic
Manager, Basingstoke Canal Authority
Key
points raised during the discussion:
Officers noted that
the Risk Register had not been modified from the previous meeting
and that it was appended to this meeting for information. Members
had no further comment.
Purpose of
the report:To update the Committee on
the forward programme of “capital works” funded by
Surrey and Hampshire County Councils.
Minutes:
Declarations of interest:
None
Officers:
James Taylor, Strategic
Manager, Basingstoke Canal Authority
Lisa Creaye-Griffin, Countryside Group Manager, Surrey County
Council
Jo Heath, Head of Countryside, Hampshire County Council
Key
points raised during the discussion:
Officers highlighted
projects planned in the future using Capital Funding from the two
owning authorities. It was noted that
there was work planned on bank protection, bed-lining at
Crookham and at Scotland Bridge car
park amongst other projects for 2018/19.
It was noted that
most projects were safety related, but some such as Scotland Bridge
car park were a spend to save opportunity, noting that following
the completion of works the service was planning to implement
charges to offset costs and improve revenue to the BCA.
It was explained by
officers that there was currently a difference in allocated Capital
funding between the two owning authorities, with Surrey County
Council allocating less. It was noteworthy that this was the first
instance in which there had been a difference between the
allocations of the two owning authorities.
Officers noted that
dredging had become a significantly more important issue, and that
the service had allocated Capital funding to address this over the
next few financial years. It was suggested that the Surrey profile
was significantly less silted than that of Hampshire, but that the
key requirements in the Surrey owned half was spot
dredging.
It was noted that the
current condition of the canal, which would be maintained through
Capital funding, was good. It was further noted that the Canal and
Rivers Trust (CRT) had also noted the positive condition of the
canal.
Actions/ further information to be provided:
SCC agreed to see if
they could increase their capital allocation to that provided by
HCC.
Purpose of the
report:To update the Committee on the
work undertaken by the Basingstoke Canal Society since its last
meeting.
Minutes:
Declarations of interest:
None
Witnesses:
Philip Riley, Chairman of the
Basingstoke Canal Society
Key
points raised during the discussion:
The Chairman of the
Basingstoke Canal Society noted that the Society had been awarded
the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The Committee
acknowledged that this was a significant achievement for the
society and congratulated them on their work on the
canal.
The Chairman of the
Basingstoke Canal Society highlighted work undertaken since
November 2017, noting the Crookham
Wharf work and Lengthsman scheme as key
areas of success.
It was noted that the
society had several projects planned for the future, including
developing the Colt Hill Wharf. It was noted that plans were in
discussion regarding this.
Actions/ further information to be provided:
None
Recommendations:
None
1118.
DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
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The next meeting of the Basingstoke Joint
Management Committee will be held on 22 November 2018.
Minutes:
The Committee noted that its
next meeting would be on 22 November 2018.