Minutes of a meeting of the Woodwalton Drainage Commissioners held on Friday 21st May at the farm office of D & J Papworth & Co, Middle Farm, Connington, at 10.30am.
Present J R Papworth, M Broughton, J S C Papworth, S D Papworth, L Parker, J Rule, R Wright Clerk and Mrs M A Wright.
Apologies for Absence - none
51/10 Appointment of Officials:-
a) Commissioners – The Clerk to report that the Wildlife Trust for BCNP have appointed Lorna Parker (Reserve Manager) as their representative.
b) Appointment of Chairman
RESOLVED – That J R Papworth be appointed Chairman for the ensuing year.
c) Appointment of Vice Chairman
RESOLVED – That S D Papworth be appointed Vice –Chairman for the ensuing year
d) Appoint of District Council Representative
The Clerk confirmed that Cllr J T Bell has been appointed as Huntingdonshire representative on the board.
The Chairman and Vice-Chairman duly completed and signed their Declaration of acceptance of Office.
52/10 Confirmation of Minutes
RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Meeting held on 27th May 2009 be confirmed and signed as being a true record.
53/10 Matters Arising
a) Old Pump House – Further to minute 41/09(b) The Commissioners options were:-
i) Leave the site as it is but fence around to make more secure.
ii) Have site valued and sell off building and contents – interested parties being S D Papworth, Great Fen Project and J Rule. RESOLVED – That a site meeting be arranged within the next month where all Commissioners are invited to attend and to discuss what option to adopt.
b) Precept –Further to minute 41/09(c) The Clerk reported that the Precept remains at £1,597 and that the account from the Middle Level Commissioners for £275.00 in respect of the out-turn adjustment 2006/2007 has not been paid as the Commissioners have not responded to correspondence.
54/10 Great Fen Project
a) Lorna parker to give an update upon the Great Fen Project:-
Restoration work has commenced on New Decoy Farm, part Old Decoy and part Park and Holme farm, with ground preparation and seeding having been completed in May. Corney’s Farm will be cut for hay and we hope to be able to arrange aftermath grazing with cattle. The sheep which grazed Corney’s Farm over the winter are now at Old Decoy and may move onto the newly established grasslands over the winter. Summer standing will be cattle grazed as usual.
No progress has been made with water control structures as we are still awaiting confirmation of which land will go into restoration in the coming season.
Water monitoring dip wells are being installed at Corney’s and Middle Farm to find out more about how water moves through the soil from ditches and we would also like to seek H&D IDB consent for similar monitoring at Old Decoy in one of the fields being restored this spring, and one further location to be arranged in the Autumn.
Water levels will be raised on part of Middle farm this autumn to create wet grassland for waders next spring.
I’ll give some more detail of works and results of some of the summer survey work next meeting.
b) Application for Water Monitoring works, and culverting at Middle Farm Connington.
RESOLVED – That the works is approved and any appropriate consent granted.
55/10 Maintenance of Channels
a) The Chairman reported upon the drainworks undertaken in 2009/2010. Cleansing of sections 3-8-9-10-11-12-13, 15-16 and 26-25-24-23-22-15 was undertaken.
Ag Reserves Ltd had reported problems of water not draining and J Papworth inspected the area and emergency works were undertaken to clear the obstruction. Spoil was placed on east embankment at Monks Lode which resulted in correspondence from the Middle level Commissioners requesting removal of the dredged material as it would hinder their flail mowing operations. The matter has been resolved.
b) 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.
The FDDPO/ Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough Wildlife Trust have prepared the Commissioners BAP at a cost of £275. RESOLVED – That the Chairman signs the BAP report.
c) The Commissioners considered works that were required for 2010/2011. The Chairman reported that in the past three years the whole system had been cleansed and that no works were envisaged during 2010/2011 but should emergency weed clearance be required the Chairman would be empowered to authorise it being undertaken. The question of flail mowing was discussed some Commissioners felt that it should be undertaken annually whilst other felt that it could be left two-three years. M Broughton reported that Ag Reserves Ltd would be prepared to flail sections of district drain bordering their land. It was agreed that Flail mowing would be monitored but should an area require flailing then the Chairman be authorised to approve and have the works undertaken.
The drainage of the Higney Grange area would need to be resolved in the long term with both the Commissioners and the Great Fen project consulting with AgReserves Ltd
56/10 Pumping Station
a) The Electrical engineer reported heavy corrosion on ELL plate and they agreed to undertake the necessary work.
b) A supply of hardwood dam Boards have been purchased at a cost of £540.00 and repairs to the flap valve estimated at £700 would be undertaken during 2010.
c) The Chairman reported that the condition of pump was mechanically sound and in good running order. The Clerk reported that the Electrical Installation periodic testing would be undertaken during 2010 and a first aid kit was provided for the station. The Chairman was to arrange for a new fire extinguisher to be installed at the station. The weed rakes would soon need to be replaced and this would be left to the Chairman to arrange.
The lock at the pumping station had been changed and new keys would be supplied to the appropriate personnel.
The Clerk to arrange for a l.ife buoy to be installed at the station.
57/10 General Matters
a) Planning - The Clerk reported that the Consulting Engineer had dealt with the following applications on behalf of the Board.
H/09/00665/F S Papworth Charterhouse Farm, replacement garage
b) (i) Risk Management - Control and Risk Management – The Clerk reported upon the risk management assessment and that a review of the Commissioner’s Insurance cover had been reviewed and the pump house value increased from £93,342to £94,929 and contents from £100,485 to £101,892.
(ii) Financial Regulations – The Commissioners considered that no changes were required to the regulation approved on 20th February 2007.
(iii) Regulations as to Proceedings – The Commissioners considered that no changes were required to the regulations approved on 20th February 2007
(iv) The Health & Safety arrangements continue to be updated and a new risk assessment for the station was approved. As reported a new first aid kit, fire extinguisher and life buoy would be provided.
c) DEFRA
Amalgamations – G Beel was appointed by the Middle Level Commissioners and 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. The Commissioners would continue to talk to neighbouring drainage authorities.
d) ADA – The Clerk reported 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 – The Clerk reported that when the current bank rate was 0.05%. Abbey Business Banking offered 2.81% for a nine month fixed rate bond, minimum deposit £50,000. Barclays offered a Treasury deposit of 1.1% As the Commissioners were unable to deposit the minimum amount with Abbey a deposit of £25,000 was made with Barclays.
The Commissioners approved that the Clerk should have access to internet banking arrangements.
f) Consents – The Clerk confirmed that consent to install 29 under drain outfalls into a district drain from E P Brand (Farms) Ltd had been granted.
g) Electricity – The Clerk reported that a new contract with SWALEC – Standing Charge - Quarterly £16.30, weekday unit’s 9.95p/kWh, other 7.38 p/kWh had been agreed.
58/10 Payments - To Commissioners considered payments made during 2009/2010
RESOLVED – That the payments be approved: - £37,667.67 less £25,000.00 Barclays Treasury deposit£12,667.67 (inclusive of vat).
59/10 Annual Accounts 2009/2010
a)The Commissioners approved the Annual Account and Statement of governance which was duly signed by the Chairman and Clerk Arrangements – b) External Audit – Moore Stephens have been appointed as external auditors Internal audit arrangements – G Whitfield a former Audit Commission Manager had agreed to continue as internal auditor for the 2009/2010 accounts.
He reported that there were no matters to bring to the attention of the Commissioners in respect of the 2008/2009.
60/10 Estimates of Income and Expenditure
The Commissioners considered and approved estimates of Income & Expenditure for 2010/2011
The payment of the Clerk’s fee for 2009/2010 was £1875 and would be increased to £1,950 for 2010/2011
The payment for looking after the pumping station for 2009/2010 was £700 and would be increased to £720 for 2010/2011
Gross expenditure of £14,157 was approved and although drainworks and flail mowing were to be restricted no change to the estimates were proposed. Income of £75 was deducted leaving a net sum of £14,082. It was agreed that £1,822 would be taken from reserves leaving an amount of £12,260.
61/10 Rates and Levy Requirement
Under Section 37 of the Land Drainage Act 1991, the appropriate proportions in which the net expenditure of the Commissioners must be borne for 2009/2010: -
a) Proportion to be borne by Agricultural Sector 96.22%
b) Proportion to be borne by Special Levy issued
To Huntingdonshire District Council 3.78%
In 2010/2011 a rate of 1p together with corresponding special levy would raise £612.98
The estimated net expenditure of £14,082 in 2010/11 is equivalent to 22.97p but using balances of £1,822 would require a rate of 20p in £ being levied.
RESOLVED – That for 2010/2011
i) A rate of 20p in the £ on agricultural land and buildings of p to raise £11,796.20
ii) A special levy on Huntingdonshire District Council of £463.40
iii) The seal of the Commissioners is affixed to the Record of Drainage rate & Special levy.
iv) The Clerk is empowered to recover any outstanding rate through the Courts.
62/10 Date of next meeting
The Commissioners next scheduled meeting would take place in May 2011 the date to be arranged in the new-year by the Chairman and Clerk.
The meeting closed at 12.02pm and all Commissioners were thanked for their attendance.
