Minutes of a Meeting of the Feldale Internal Drainage Board held on Thursday 19th May 2011 at the Three Horse Shoes 344 March Road Turves at 8.00pm
Present P D Band, G Dale, T J Fletcher, R J Stevenson, Mrs M A Wright, (Clerk)
R Wright (Consultant)
Apologies for Absence R Dale, O Wheatley
47/11 Confirmation of Minutes
RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday 20th May 2010 are correctly recorded and that be signed as being a true record.
48/11 Matters Arising
All matters that are on-going will be reported in the main agenda.
49/11 Maintenance of Channels
a) The Consultant reported that Fenland District Council had approved the Larkfleet Homes development F/YR10/0940C 460 dwellings, 70 bed nursing home at Bassenhally Farm, Eastrea Road Whittlesey.
The Consultant and G Moore of the Middle Level Commissioners met with R Win to discuss drainage issues. MLC were concerned that the development will have a serious impact upon the discharge from the WWTW. The development will need to prove that the water level management system can transfer flows for the lifetime of the development i.e. for at least 100 years without detrimentally affecting the Boards system the local water level management system and the natural and built environments.
The future maintenance of the on site water level management system could be complicated and the effectiveness of the water storage and retention features need to be proven.
The Board members were concerned that during a heavy period of rain the attenuation features may not be effective and flood adjoining land. The developer should prove upon all reasonable doubt the effectiveness of the features. At present the private ditch from the proposed development area had several trees growing in the bed and banks and may need to be improved. The Board’s system had been improved downstream and it was felt that both the watercourses and pump were adequate to cope with the development.
The Consultant presented a plan of the development by Rose Homes for the village hall and 14 dwellings off Eastrea Road. The hall and dwellings together with a section of the highway would drain to soak a way with a section of the highway draining to the piped outfall 18- 19 on the district plan. The effectiveness of soak a ways was questioned and this would be taken up by the Consulting engineer.
b) The Board considered works for 2011/2012. The Vice-Chairman felt that the whole system should be slubbed. The problem with rabbit’s points 16-17-18 may have to result in the drain batters being re-profiled. The Vice-Chairman would make an inspection and take the appropriate action.
50/11 Pumping Station
a) The Clerk reported that no service was undertaken during 2010/2011 but that A J Speechley Son & Partner had planned to service the pumps during April/May 2011. The Vice-Chairman reported that a service had not been undertaken to date. The Clerk agreed to contact Messrs Speechley’s to ascertain when the service would be undertaken.
b) The Vice Chairman reported that the Fire extinguisher has been replaced at the station and that the pump was in good working order.
c) National Vulcan had inspected the runway track at the station on the 14th October 2010(no defects were recorded) and the Centrifugal pump and its motor on 4th May 2011. The inspector stated that the motor stator terminal box cover is broken. Although this is not an immediate problem, it is recommended that attention be given at a convenient opportunity.
d) SWALEC – The Board entered a new 12 month agreement with Swalec on 4th March 2011 operative from 1st April 2011.
51/11General Matters
a) Planning - The Clerk reported that the Consulting Engineer had dealt with the following applications on behalf of the Board: -
FYR11/2001/CCC P Band Decoy Farm, Drybread road – exportation of clay
FYR11/0003/ A Carrington 32-34 Eastrea Road – 5 dwellings
FYR10/0766/F A Sharkey 311 Eastrea Road – double garage
FYR10/0691/F R J B East Ltd 39 March Road – dwelling
FYR10/0628/F K Palmer 21 – 25 Coates Road – extension
FYR10/0481/F T Clark 20 Kelful Close – extension
FYR10/ 0455/F S Singh 161 Coates Road – extension
FYR10/0128/EXTIME R Rickett 147 Eastrea Road – 2 dwellings
Solar Farm Land to the North of Feldale Pumping Station – Enquiries have been made by Freddie Grounds regarding discharge contributions from Solar Farms but with the Government cancelling funding and the Utility body asking for an excessive amount to connect to their supply the scheme had been dropped.
Middle Level Commissioners have also responded in respect of the Revision of Standard Advice and Associated Development Control Advice to Fenland D C, Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk and Huntingdonshire DC
The Consultant reported that he had held a meeting with the Business Development
Myriad CEG Power Ltd who supplied and installed small wind turbines. It was quoted to cost £62,500 to install and would be paid back in seven years and thereafter all income is profit. The Board did not have sufficient space to site a wind turbine.
b) Risk Management - Control and Risk Management – The Consultant reported upon the risk management assessment and that a review of the Board’s insurance cover has been made. The Board decreased the cover of buildings from £42,047 to £35,000 and contents from £63,349 to £58,816.
A review of the Health & Safety arrangements has also been made and appropriate risk assessments undertaken.
c) DEFRA - Review of Amalgamations – No further matters have arisen concerning amalgamations
d) ADA – The Clerk to report that the ADA Conference will be held in September 2011
e) Banking – From April 1st the sum of £51,054.80 at 2.75% will be held in a Business Bond until April 2012
f) Elections – The Clerk reported that the current term of office of members expires on 31st October 2011. The proposed Register of Electors has been advertised and was approved by the Board.
g) BAPS – The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Consultant would look at and implement an action plan based on the 2010/2011 report from Cliff Carson Environmental Officer of the Middle Level Commissioners. A review for 2011/2012 would also be considered.
52/11 Payments – The Board considered the income & expenditure during 2010/2011
And approved the payments of £16,011.90 (vouchers 1-26)
53/11Annual Accounts 2010/2011
a) The Board approved the Annual Account and Annual Governance statement for the year ending 31st March 2011.
b) Audit Arrangements – External Audit – Moore Stephens has been appointed as external auditor and the 2011/2012 audit has been advertised for 2nd June 2011 and returns are to be completed by 30th June 2011.
Internal audit arrangements – G Whitfield a former Audit Commission Manager is undertaking an internal examination for the 2010/2011 accounts.
c) G Whitfield was appointed as internal auditor for 2011/2012.
54/11 Estimates of Income and Expenditure
The Board considered and approved estimates of Income & Expenditure for 2011/2012
The payment of the Clerk’s salary for 20111/2012 was agreed at £1,000.The payment to the District Officer for 2010/2011 was £175 and was agreed at £180 for 2011/2012
The net estimated expenditure of £10,480 was approved and £5,435 would be used from balances.
55/11 Rates and Levy Requirement
Under Section 37 of the Land Drainage Act 1991, the appropriate proportions in which the net expenditure of the Board must be borne for 2011/2012: -
a) Proportion to be borne by Agricultural Sector 48.89%
b) Proportion to be borne by Special Levy issued
to Fenland District Council 51.11%
The estimated net expenditure of £10,480 in 2011/2012 is equivalent to a rate of 10.38p RESOLVED – That a rate of 5p in the £ be levied:-
i) A rate on agricultural land and buildings of 5p in the £ to raise £2,467.00
ii) A special levy on Fenland District Council of £2,578.95
iii) That the seal of the Board be affixed to the record of Drainage Rate & Special Levy.
iv) That the Clerk & Consultant be empowered to recover any outstanding rate through either the Magistrate or County Court.
It was reported that at the 1st April 2011 the General Fund Account stood at £72,452.09 and the Development Account at £2,760.00 giving a grand total of £75,212.09.
The bank balance with Barclays as at 31st March 2011 was £14,488.55 and with Santander £61,104.85.
56/11Any other business - Vice Chairman
The Vice-Chairman reported that this could be his last year in farming as he was putting the farm up for sale. However, he indicated that he would like to continue looking after the pumping station and it was agreed that a role as a District Officer would be appropriate. The Chairman was authorised to take the appropriate action should the farm be sold as planned.
57/11 Date of next meeting
The Chairman and Clerk would arrange a date in May 2012
The meeting closed at 21.30
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