Minutes of the Meeting of the Feldale Internal Drainage Board held at The Three Horseshoes, 344 March Road, Coates on Thursday 20th May 2010 at 20.00hours.
Present G Dale (Chairman), R Dale, P Band, T Fletcher, R Stevenson, O Wheatley,
Mrs M A Wright (Clerk), R Wright (Consultant)
Apologies for Absence - none
36/10 Confirmation of Minutes – RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday 7th May 2009 are correctly recorded and that they be signed as being a true record.
37/10 Matters Arising
All matters that are on-going will be reported in the main agenda.
38/10 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. The pipes are to replace the three culverts between points 8-9 and the one between11-12.
c) The Board approved that the replacement of the culverts between points 8-9 and 11-12 would be undertaken in 2010/2011. P Band would contact Phil Wright to ascertain when he would be able to undertake the works. It was decided that work on re-profiling the batters on the drain at points 2-3-4 would be undertaken next year when the whole district would be slubbed. Rabbits were a problem along the drain at Cow Way points 16-17-18 and 4-5 but were not restricting the flow of water.
The benefits of flail mowing were discussed and in principle no flail mowing would be undertaken during 2010/2011 except where drainworks were being undertaken. It was decided that spraying to control reed growth in some areas would be undertaken by G & D Beaton.
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 Board’s BAP. RESOLVED – That the plan be approved and signed. The final cost being £275.00
39/10 Pumping Station
a) The Vice Chairman reported that A J Speechley Son & Partner serviced the panel and pumps at a cost of £385.31in 2009/2010. The NFU insurance inspectors had inspected the panel and pump as it is insured for breakdown cover. The fire extinguisher has been serviced by Russell Fire on 5th May 2010.
b) The Vice-Chairman reported that the pump was mechanically sound and a life buoy was on site. Attention to the gate was required and no other works were envisaged. The Clerk reported that during 2010 the Electrical Contractor would be undertaking the Periodic Inspection of the Electrical Installation at the site.
40/10 General Matters
a) Planning - The Clerk reported 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. The Consultant confirmed that the Flood Risk Assessment had been checked by the Middle Level Commissioners but the Board felt that it would still have an impact upon the drainage of the district.
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
FYR/10/0288/O R Dale west 43a March 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 reported upon the risk management assessment and that a review of the Board’s insurance cover had 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 had given 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 reported that internet banking arrangements had been set up.
41/10 Environment Agency
a) Catchment Flood Management Plans – The plan was published on the Environment Agency’s web site and comments were requested. The Board had no comments to make regarding the Plan.
b) The ADA Lincolnshire Branch had 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.
c) Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk management forward planning 2001/2012 to 2015/2016 capital improvement works and related studies – RESOLVED – That the Board had no plans at present.
42/10 Payments – The Board considered the income & expenditure during 2009/2010
Payments - vouchers 1-36 that amount to £82,517.77 less banking transfers of £70,050.00 £12,467.77 inclusive of vat were agreed.
43/10 Annual Accounts 2009/2010
a) The Board approved the Annual Account and Annual Governance statement and agreed that the Clerk and Chairman should sign in the areas requested. Audit arrangements – External Audit – Moore Stephens had 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) RESOLVED - That G Whitfield be appointed as Internal auditor for 2009/2010 and 2010/2011.
44/10 Estimates of Income and Expenditure
The Board considered and approve estimates of Income & Expenditure for 2010/2011
Gross expenditure of £11,000 less income of £1,595.The payment of the Clerk’s salary for 2010/2011 was increased from £850 to £900 and the payment to the District Officer for 2010/2011 was increased from £150 to £175.
45/10 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%
The estimated net expenditure of £9,405 is equivalent to a rate of 9.32p in £.
RESOLVED – That a rate of 5.0p in the £ be levied: -
i) A rate in the £ on agricultural land and buildings of 5.0p 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 the magistrates or County Courts.
It was reported that at the 1st April 2010 the General Fund Account stood at £73,086.42 and the Development Account at £2,880.90. The bank balance with Barclays as at 31st March 2010 was £26,199.16 and with Santander £50,050.00 making a total of £76,249.16
46/10 Date of next meeting
The Chairman and the Clerk would arrange a date in May 2011.
The meeting closed at 21.20hours.
