WHITTLESEY INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARD
28 THORNHAM WAY EASTREA WHITTLESEY CAMBS PE7 2AS
01733 351223 Mobile 07808 58 22 50 email russellianwright@hotmail.co.uk
www.wcidb.org.uk
18th May 2010
Lady and Gentlemen
You are cordially invited to attend the next Meeting of the Board to be held at the Town Hall, Whittlesey on Tuesday 8th June 2010 at 2.30pm when it is hoped you will find it convenient to attend.
Yours truly
R WRIGHT
Clerk to the Board
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AGENDA
1 Apologies for Absence
2 Confirmation of Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting held on 2nd March 2010 and Finance & General Purposes Committee of 1st June 2010 (March 2010 Pages 4-5-6 Finance & GP Committee to follow)
3 Matters Arising
a) Amalgamation with Drysides IDB – Further to minute 96/109 (a) The Clerk to report that no further correspondence has been received.
b) IDB Re-view – Further to minute 96/10(b) The Clerk to report.
4 District Officers Report To consider the report and actions of the District Officer
RAINFALL (mm)
BEGGARS BRIDGE PONDERSBRIDGE
February 2010 68.00mm 82.00mm
March 2010 32.50mm 38.00mm
April 2010 12.50mm 18.00mm
Pumping StationElectrics Hours Weed screen Pumping station Hours Weedscreen
Manor Farm 463.6 12 Goosetree Corner 103.9
Goosetree Estate 213.1 14 Beggars Bridge 173.7 16.2
Wype Doles 186.98 20.3 Plantation 86.7
Ramsey Mereside 343.79 53.5 Glassmoor Bank 305.14 23.2
Tebbitts Bridge 475.26 12.2 Conquest Lode 73.5 5.5
Lords Farm 148.4 Underwoods 440.9 17.5
Ironside 477.6 33.25
Pumping Stations Diesel Hours Hours Pumping StationDiesel Hours
Goosetree Estate Plantation
Ramsey Mereside Underwoods
Lords Farm Ironside 0.5
ISUZU TROOPER
On the 1st April the Board replaced the Isuzu Trooper with a Isuzu Rodeo 2.5 CRD Denver Double cab in Tornado red,
Registration AF10 YTU at a cost of £15,760 less private sale of Trooper £3,500. The recorded mileage as at 30th April was 1,405 miles and the 1,000 service has been undertaken.
PUMPING STATIONS
The contractor has undertaken cuts at the stations.
DRAINWORKS /OTHER COMMENTS
a) The Clerk to confirm that all drain work notices have now been served upon the relevant authorities and ratepayers.
b) Conquest Lode – A replacement weed screen was budgeted last year but the work was delayed and is now in progress and has been allowed for in the estimates at a cost of £7,500
c) Lords Farm – Diesel sump – The work on the old diesel sump was not undertaken last year and a figure of £5,000 has been included in this year’s budgets.
d) The Electrical Engineer has started the annual service checks to the panels and levels.
e) Water inlets and Water control structures – The inlet at Manor Farm was completed last year and a figure of £2,500 has been included in the budget for this year.
f) Beggars Bridge Pump – Problems with water ingress will mean that the pump will need to be lifted and a general over-haul undertaken. Quotes from Shoebridge Engineers and Bedford Pump Company will be sought.
g) Vulcan Inspection Services have inspected all air vessels on 30th April 2010 and the eyebolts at Underwoods Station on 13th April 2010.
5 General Matters
a) Risk Management - Control and Risk Management – The Clerk to report upon Risk Management Assessment. A review of the Board’s Insurance cover had been made and the valuation of the various pumping stations was increased from £399,654 to £406,449 and contents from £1,291,688 to £1,304,728 weedscreen cleaners from £457,550 to £469,000. Plant assets were depreciated from £9,890 to £4,815. Pipes, dam boards, fir piles, toe boarding and culvert cleaning equipment were valued at £4,861. The fuel account balance was £558
(ii) Financial Regulations – To consider whether any changes are required to the regulation reviewed last year but approved on 14th June 2005.
(iii) Regulations as to Proceedings – To consider whether any changes are required to regulations reviewed last year but approved on 14th June 2005.
(iv)The Health & Safety – The Clerk to report upon arrangements.
b) Planning Matters - The Clerk to report that the Consulting Engineer had dealt with the following matters on behalf of the Board:
FYR10/0247/F E C Brown & Son Ltd 144 Cock Bank – extension to agricultural building
FYR10/0229/AG1 Cambs CC Manor Farm, Wisbech Road, Coates – agricultural building
H10/00445/F P Harlow Wykes Farm, Milk & Water Drove – replacement Cottage
FYR10/0286/F S Nicholas 135 Ramsey Road change of use of land
FYR10/0102/O Reliant Building Contractors Ltd Station Goods yard – 52 dwellings opposed
FYR10/0300/F D Lepla 402 Eastrea Road Eastrea change of use public house and 6 dwellings
The Board have received a Flood Risk Assessment from G Beel Consultancy on the proposed extension to re-cycling yard at Eldernell lane by P J Thory Ltd.
c) Consents - The Clerk to report that the following consents have been granted
No 159 Alan West-Robinson- entrance gate and wooden fence Cross Drove, Coates Whittlesey.
No 160 E P Brand Farmers Ltd – 13 tile drain outfalls at Tebbitts Bridge
No 161 Collmart Growers Ltd – new 10m access culvert at Pondersbridge, Ramsey
d) DEFRA - IDB Review
IDB Biodiversity Action Plans – The Middle Level Commissioners and the Wildlife Trust have completed the plan and the Board to consider its adoption.
e) ADA – Conference will be held in September 2010 at the East of England Showground and details will be circulated.
f) Municipal Mutual Scheme of Arrangement – The Clerk to report that the Directors continue to foresee a solvent run-off.
g) Environment Agency Water Framework Directive – Great Ouse Catchment Flood management Plan – the public consultation will continue until 9th July 2010
Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management – forward planning for Grant 2011-2012 to 2015-2016 for Capital Improvement Works and Related Studies.
h) Energy Charges – The half-hourly reading charges at Glassmoor Bank have been amended to monthly billed that will reduce availability charges. Energy charges continue to be monitored at the various stations.
i) St Germans Pumping Station – The completion of the new station is approaching and it was necessary to effect the transition to the new from the old. The Transition involved up to four days without any IDB pumping and was undertaken around 19th April 2010
j) Babcock International Group – Peterborough Central – March (PIA) 132kV Overhead Tower Line Refurbishment from May to October 2010.
6 Payments made by the Board
To consider payments made by the Board:-
a) 2009/2010 vouchers 222 –252 £118,146.57 (Page7)
Voucher 253 HMR & C Paye £1,743.05
voucher 254 e.on electricity Underwoods £588.40
b) 2010/2011 vouchers 1-32 £40,057.16 (Page8)
7 Accounts 2008/2009
a) To consider the Annual Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2010 and the Statement of Annual Governance.
(Pages 9-10)
b) The Clerk to report that the audit has been called for 1st June 2010 and the appropriate notices have been displayed. The Internal Auditor is currently re-viewing the 2009/2010 accounts.
c) The Board to consider Internal Audit arrangements. Current Internal Auditor Mr G Whitfield.
d) Banking – The Clerk to report that at present £100,000 with Santander in a reward Saver account @ 2% and £51,054.80 in a Bond @2.3%.
8 Estimates of Income and expenditure
a) The Board to consider income and expenditure for 2009/2010 (Page11)
b) The Board to consider estimates for 2010/2011. (Page11)
9 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 met for 2009/2010 is: -
a) Agricultural Sector 75.02%
b) Special Levy issued to Fenland District Council 17.76%
c) Special Levy issued to Huntingdonshire D C 7.22%
In 2010/2011 a rate of 1p would raise £16,268.62
The estimated net expenditure of £209,850 in 2010/2011 is equivalent to: -
a) A rate in the £12.89 on agricultural land and buildings to raise £157,430
b) A special levy on Fenland District Council of £37,269.36
c) A special levy on Huntingdonshire District Council of £15,151
10 Date of next meeting Tuesday 9h November 2010 at 2.30pm the Town Hall, Whittlesey
Minutes of a meeting of the Whittlesey Internal Drainage board held on Tuesday 2nd March 2010 at the Town Hall, Market Street, Whittlesey at 2.30pm.
Present G Easton (Chairman), D M Band, D G Beaton, R C Brown, J E Cade, R Easton, M Fisher, R W Fletcher, G S Halden, Cllr P Potts, C R Saunders, R C Speechley, M W Sweet, P W Tingey, R Wright (Clerk), R Hales (District Officer),
Mrs M A Wright
Apologies for Absence C Allen, P M Bradshaw, J R Young, T Martin
94/10 Guest Speaker
G Beel talked about his proposals for 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 Flood and Water Management Bill had been through the House of Commons and was on its second reading in the House of Lords. 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.
The Chairman thanked Geoff for his presentation.
95/10 Confirmation of Minutes
RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 10th November 2009 and those of the Finance & General Purposes Committee of the 26th January 2010 were correctly recorded and that they are signed as being a true record.
96/10 Matters Arising
a) Amalgamation with Drysides IDB – Further to minute 83/09 the Clerk reported that the Environment Agency had advertised the draft scheme in the Evening Telegraph on 23 February. After 28 days the EA will inform Defra to process the matter by advertising draft scheme, arranging for order to be sealed, advertising sealed order and then confirming order. The EA were unable to give a timescale as it would be in the hands of Defra.
b) IDB Review – Further to minute FGP90/10 - the Board considered the options of waiting for other Board s to make a move or for them to be the instigator. RESOLVED – That the Board should start the process of talking with neighbouring Boards,
and if possible arrange a meeting with them and invite Geoff Beel to be present.
97/10 District Officers Report - The Board considered and approved the report and actions of the District Officer
RAINFALL (mm)
BEGGARS BRIDGE PONDERSBRIDGE
October 2009 31.50mm 31.00mm
November 2009 83.50mm 92.00mm
December 2009 68.50mm 82.50mm
January 2010 61.00mm 59.50mm
PUMPING STATIONS - DIESEL (Hours) The diesels were not run during the period
GOOSTREE ESTATE PLANTATION RAMSEY MERESIDE
UNDERWOODS TEBBITTS BRIDGE LORDS IRONSIDES
PUMPING STATIONS - ELECTRIC (Hours)
MANOR 489.6 GOOSETREE CORNER 131.6 GOOSTREE ESTATE 240.1
Weed Screen 45 Weed Screen 13.75
BEGGARS BRIDGE 201.6 WYPE DOLES 203.5 PLANTATION 77.2
Weedscreen 39 Weedscreen 16.7
RAMSEY MERESIDE 320.74 GLASSMOOR BANK 211.72 TEBBITTS BRIDGE 309.74
Weedscreen 45 Weedscreen 15 Weedscreen 8
CONQUEST LODE 29.6 LORDS 73 UNDERWOODS 378.98
Weedscreen 2.5 Weedscreen 24.25
IRONSIDE 438.9 DRYSIDES 260.91
Weedscreen 37.25 Weedscreen 20.11
ISUZU TROOPER
Speedo Reading from October 87675 to January 92751
On 17th December Chandler’s undertook 90,000 mile service; a new 4 wheel drive switch, anti roll bar bushes and a new set of glow plugs were fitted. On 19th January Chandler’s undertook underbody service, mot and fitted a new spring.
PUMPING STATIONS
All trailers were emptied in December and pumps were all put on maximum hours to deal with extra water caused by the snow melt. On 21st January P Camplin dealt with problems to weed screen cleaners at Manor Farm, Glassmoor Bank, and Tebbitts Bridge. Water levels were raised in January to assist with the filling of reservoirs. P Nightingale undertook repairs to auto greasers at Manor Farm and Glassmoor Bank He also repaired trailer at Conquest Lode.
At Beggars Bridge Speechley’s were called out to investigate a warning light. Water in the seal was discovered and if left could cause problems with the motor. The DO reported that water had seeped into the motor and it would be necessary to lift the pump in the summer to undertake an over haul. Problems arose over the weekend and the pump had to be reset in order to keep on top of the rising water levels. The Chairman thanked the DO for the keeping the pump operational over the weekend.
The DO reported that Wype Doles pump would need to be lifted as the thrust bearing needed replacing.
DRAINWORKS /OTHER COMMENTS
Drainworks went well this year and all works were completed on 24th November 2009. The pump drain at Wype was wedded as an extra. On 3rd December with the experimental water control at the rear of Manor Farm, Coates was completed.
The Clerk reported that the DO had planned the autumn drain works for 2010 and the appropriate notices had been served to those affected on 23rd February.
The DO had planned the autumn 2010 drain works and the Clerk confirmed that the relevant notices had been issued on the 23rd February 2010.
The Board were concerned over the amount of seepage through the MLC river banks from Benwick road through to Pondersbridge. Cllr Potts agreed to take the matter up with the MLC.
The Board were also concerned that water levels were high in the MLC watercourses mainly due to the fact that water was being pumped from Tebbitts Bridge and only one pump was being run at St Germans. The Board were also concerned about where the sixteen Foot passed under Well Creek at Outwell. Money was being spent at St Germans but nothing appeared to be happening at the bottle neck area. Cllr Potts to take the matter up with the MLC.
Matters Arising
a) Risk Management - Control and Risk Management – The Clerk reported upon Risk Management Assessment and that a meeting with James Skelton of the NFU Mutual had taken place and the insurance cover increased where appropriate.
b) Health & Safety – The Clerk presented a revised Health & Safety & Environmental Policy and the stressed the need to manage road safety at work as road accidents are the biggest cause of work related accidental deaths. A driver safety Handbook had been circulated to all members. RESOLVED – that the Health & Safety & Environmental Policy and Driver Safety Handbook be approved and adopted by the Board. The Chairman duly signed copies that were handed to the DO and Clerk.
c) Code of Conduct – The Clerk reported that all forms had been returned.
d) Planning Matters - The Clerk reported that the Consulting Engineer had dealt with the following matters on behalf of the Board:
H09/01390/F A Keene 214 Oil Mills Road extension and conservatory
FYR09/0727/F D Burton 26 Nobles Close, Coates - extension
FYR09/0814/F Cambs CC 121 Aliwal Road - extension
FYR10/0023/F R Mutimer 1 Ashline Grove - extension.
H10/00104/F K McPartlin Milk & Water Drove – Change of use from Agricultural to office
H09/01615/ G Clarke Slackerground Farm, Straight Drove – Agricultural storage building.
FYR10/0050/F NTSS Ltd Goosetree Farm, Goosetree Estate- Health & safety training centre
The application FYR090582/O Harrier Homes Food store, petrol filling station, car parking etc Benwick Road has been passed by Fenland D C but was subject to an appeal due to be heard by the Secretary of State. The drainage details for the site have yet to be presented and approved.
Discussions with Terry Stafford and G Moore as to the drainage of the site at APH Ltd - erection of building at Poplar farm Wisbech Road Coates have taken place and proposals are being undertaken to either attenuate the flow to existing run-off level or have a direct discharge. It was suggested that the roof area would be drained by a direct discharge from two outfalls and proposals were under consideration. A contribution of £14,000 would be applicable if the discharge was approved.
Peterborough Flood Risk Partnership has been created to ensure the management of surface water around Peterborough to reduce the risk of surface water flooding and the Clerk attended a meeting on the 11th February 2010.
The drainage of Anker’s new site still remains to be resolved and proposals submitted to the MLC are unacceptable at present.
Request for Scoping Opinion – proposed erection of two wind turbines, Collmart Growers, The Drove, Pondersbridge.
e) Consents - The Clerk reported that the following consents have been granted
No 158 Anker of Coates construct 450mm culvert Eldernell lane Coates.
A letter has been sent to A & M Catering regarding the damage to the bank at Benwick Road, Whittlesey and the drain batters will be re-profiled in the autumn as part of the 2010 programme.
Consent to discharge surface water from 50% of the new agricultural building at Blackbush Farm, Blackbush Drove, by
M Crowson has been granted. The contribution made being £818.74.
f) DEFRA - IDB Review
IDB Biodiversity Action Plans – The Middle Level Commissioners have appointed the Wildlife Trust to assist with the preparation of the plans and a draft plan has been circulated.
Flood Risk Regulations 2009 - transpose the Floods Directive in England & Wales, come into force on 10 December 2009.
Key provisions: - give responsibility to the EA to prepare Directive deliverables – give responsibility to lead local flood authorities (unitary and county councils) – identify areas of significant flood risk – require flood hazard maps and flood risk maps to be prepared before 22/12/2013 – require flood risk management plans to be prepared before 22/12/2013 – require engagement with the public and relevant authorities in the production of Directive deliverables
g) Water Resources Act 1991/ Water Act 2003
F Smith & Sons application to vary licence 6/33/53/S/066 at Ramsey Mereside
Chapelbridge Farms application to renew licence 6/33/53/S/673 linked with Star Pit.
C J Fountain & Son Ltd application to renew licence linked with Star \pit.
h) ADA – Concerns were being raised about the subscriptions and the lack of support ADA were giving to IDB’s over the Defra Review. Some Boards were leaving the Association but the Board felt that membership should continue.
i) Municipal Mutual Scheme of Arrangement – The Clerk reported that no changes were evident and a solvent run off would be achieved.
j) Environment Agency – the Clerk reported that the next IDB liaison meeting is on Wednesday 3rd November 2010
k) Electricity – The Clerk reported that the supply of electricity at Glassmoor Bank is being altered from half hourly read to monthly – Monthly standing charge £73.12 – day units 8.29p/kWh – night 5.66 p/kWh. The remaining sites were being transferred to SWALEC.
99/10 Payments made by the Board The Board considered and approved the following payments:-
Vouchers 130 –159 £42,338.17
Vouchers 160- 192 £57,976.27
Vouchers – 163-221 25,088.46
100/10 Estimates of Income and expenditure
i) The Clerk presented a schedule of income and expenditure to date for 2009/2010
ii) The Clerk reported that the quote from Chandlers for a new vehicle was £16,000 and Hylton Gott £16,894. The DO had managed to obtain a buyer for the Trooper at £3,500. An order had been placed with Chandlers for delivery of a new vehicle at the end of March.
101/10 Date of next meeting
Tuesday 8th June 2010 and Tuesday 9th November 2010 all at 2.30pm at the Town Hall, Whittlesey
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WHITTLESEY INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARD
28 THORNHAM WAY, EASTREA, WHITTLESEY, CAMBS PE7 2AS
Tel/Fax 01733 351223 Mobile 07808 58 22 50
E-Mail russellianwright@hotmail.co.uk
www.wcidb.org.uk
20th May 2010
Lady & Gentlemen
You are cordially invited to attend a Meeting of the Finance & General Purposes Committee be held on Tuesday 1st June 2010 at 8.30am at G R & P Easton, Engine Farm, Wisbech Road Coates when it is hoped you will find it convenient to attend.
Yours truly
R WRIGHT
Clerk to the Board
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AGENDA
1 Apologies for Absence
2 IDB Review
The Committee to further consider the I D B Review bearing in mind probable changes to the future Administration and Engineering operational running of the Board.
3 Income and Expenditure
a) Income & Expenditure 2009/2010
b) Income Expenditure 2010/2011
4 Any Other Business
