FELDALE INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARD
28 THORNHAM WAY, EASTREA. PE7 2AS
Tel 01733 351223 Mobile 07808 58 22 50
Email russellianwright@hotmail.co.uk www.wcidb.org.uk
3rd May 2010
Gentlemen
You are cordially invited to attend the next Meeting of the Board to be held at The Three Horseshoes, Turves, on Thursday 20th May 2010 at 8.00pm when it is hoped you will find it convenient to attend. Refreshments will be served after the meeting
Yours truly
Mrs M A Wright
Clerk to the Board
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A G E N D A
1 Apologies for Absence
2 Confirmation of Minutes
Meeting held on Tuesday 7th May 2009 (Pages 5, 6, 7)
3 Matters Arising
All matters that are on-going will be reported in the main agenda.
4 Maintenance of Channels
a) The Board undertook work on the sections 7 -9-10-12-13and 16-17 in 2009. The works were undertaken by Phil Wright (a total of 65 hours at £28 per hour £1820 plus £250 machine transport).
b) The Board purchased 54metres x 1.20mm of corrugated steel pipe plus collars at a price of £2160 plus delivery of £200.
c) The Board to consider works for 2010/2011.
d) The Clerk to report that the cost to join the Conservation project administered by Middle Level Commissioners for 2009/2010 - Fenland Drainage Ditch Project Officer was £272.50 an increase from £260.00.
The FDDPO/ Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough Wildlife Trust have prepared the Commissioners BAP. The plan needs to be approved and signed. The final cost being £275.00
5 Pumping Station
a) The Vice Chairman to report that A J Speechley Son & Partner have serviced the panel and pumps at a cost of £385.31.
b) To consider any works required at the station.
6 General Matters
a) Planning - The Clerk to report that the Consulting Engineer had dealt with the following applications on behalf of the Board: -
New development at Bassenhally Farm to the east of Crescent Road/Guildenburgh Crescent Whittlesey by Larkfleet Homes. The site covers an area of approximately 19 ha. The site to contain 500 dwellings, extra care accommodation, nursing home, local centre, sports pitches, play area and balancing ponds.
FYR09/0427/F Mr M Corney 179 Drybread road - extensions
FYR09/0440/F A G Randall 39 The Fold – Bungalow & Garage
FYR09/0611/F B Owen 26 Godwit Close - extension
FYR09/0673 M Trundley 51 Coates Road – dwelling renewal time
FYR09/0752/F N Bedford 36 North Green – double garage
FYR10/0006/O M Trundley 51 Coates Road – dwelling
Babcock International Group Peterborough Central – March (PIA) 132K overhead Tower Line Refurbishment for EDF Energy Networks from May - Oct 2010
b) Risk Management - Control and Risk Management – Mr Wright to report upon the risk management assessment and that a review of the Board’s insurance cover has been made. The Board increased cover of buildings from £41,344 to £42,047 and contents from £62,474 to £63,349.
A review of the Health & Safety arrangements has also been made and appropriate risk assessments undertaken.
c) DEFRA - Review of Amalgamations – G Beel appointed by Middle Level Commissioners gave a talk about his proposals for the IDB Review within the Middle Level Area. He spoke about the J Benn report of 2006, followed by the Pitt report of 2007, and Defra’s Sub-catchment proposals of 2008. The idea to merge the existing 32 Boards into one Board was considered wholly unworkable and not sustainable. His proposals were for three boards based on income, district council boundaries and river catchments with a further ten year time scale from April 2013. He felt that Boards should be looking into possible mergers in order to prevent Defra enforcing amalgamations.
It was felt that although Feldale was originally included in the Middle Level Catchment
It would be best attached to the Nene sub catchment that included the North Level District IDB.
d) ADA - The Clerk to report that the Floods & Water Bill that seeks to revise, modernise and consolidate existing legislation covering flooding, land drainage, coastal erosion and reservoir safety was made an Act in April 2010.
e) Banking – Current bank rate is 0.05%. Abbey Business Banking offered 2.81% nine month fixed rate bond, minimum deposit £50,000. Barclays offered a Treasury deposit of 1.1%. The Board deposited £20,000 with Barclays from 7th August 2009 to 5th Feb 2010 @ 1.1%. The Board deposited £50,000 with Abbey/Santander from July 2009 to April 2010 at 2.8%. From April the sum of £51,054.80 at 2.3% will be held in a Business Bond until April 2011
The Clerk to report that internet banking arrangements have been set up.
7 Environment Agency
a) Catchment Flood Management Plans – The plan was published on the Environment Agency’s web site
b) The ADA Lincolnshire Branch discussed the Precept and highland Water Contributions. The proposal was to increase precepts each year using the national adjustment figure to the baseline figure of 2008/2009 and to increase highland water contributions by the RPI using 2009/2010 as a baseline.
8 Payments - To consider the income & expenditure during 2009/2010
See attached schedule Pages 8 & 9 (vouchers 1-36 that amount to £82,517.77 less banking transfers of £70,050.00 £12,467.77 inclusive of vat)
9 Annual Accounts 200/2010
a) To approve Annual Account and Annual Governance statement (Pages 10 & 11)
b) Audit Arrangements – External Audit – Moore Stephens has been appointed as external auditor and the 2009/2010 audit has been advertised for 1st June 2010 and returns are to be completed by 30th June 2010.
Internal audit arrangements – G Whitfield a former Audit Commission Manager has undertaken an internal examination for the 2008/9 accounts. His conclusion was that he was able to attain the appropriate assurances to allow him to certify that there had been compliance in each of the key control objectives. There are no material matters to bring to the attention of the Board.
c) To appoint G Whitfield as Internal auditor for 2009/2010.
10 Estimates of Income and Expenditure
To consider and approve estimates of Income & Expenditure for 2010/2011
See attached Page 12
The payment of the Clerk’s salary for 200/2010 was £850.
The Board to give consideration and approve the Clerk’s salary for 2010/2011.
The payment to the District Officer for 2009/2010 was £150 The Board to give consideration of his expenses for 2010/2011
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 2010/2011: -
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%
In 2009/2010 a rate of 1p together with corresponding special levy would raise £1009.19
The estimated net expenditure of £8,945 in 2009/2010 is equivalent to: -
a) A rate in the £ on agricultural land and buildings of 8.86p in the £ to raise £4,371.52
b) A special levy on Fenland District Council of £4,569.90
In 2009/2010 agricultural land paid £2,467.00 and the District Council £2,578.95 (rate @5p)
In 2009/2010 the drainage rates on the District (1130a) raised £2467.00, which amounted to an average acreage charge of £2.18p per acre
Should the Board wish to maintain the rate at 5p then a sum of £3,895 would be used from balances.
A 5p rate would raise £2467.00 from Agriculture and £2578.95 from Special Levy on Fenland D C.
At the 1st April 2010 the General Fund Account stands at £73,086.42 and the Development Account at £2,880.90. The bank balance with Barclays as at 31st March 2009 was £26,199.16 and with Santander £50,050.00 making a total of £76,249.16
12 Any other business
13 Date of next meeting
May 2011
