CNCC AGM 2009

MINUTES OF THE CNCC COMMITTEE MEETING

HELD ON 16 January 2009 AT HELLIFIELD VILLAGE INSTITUTE

The Meeting commenced at 20.00.

 PRESENT: Glenn Jones (Treasurer), Les Sykes (Secretary), Bernard Bond (BCC), Roy Holmes (Chairman), F. Hartley (BCC), (BPC), J. Sloane (LUG), S. Lieberman (RRCPC), A. Hinde (GC/NE), M.Dunn (BSC), M. Hughes (BPC), T. Brown (NB), P. Monk (NB), A.Speight (YSS), P.Halliwell (CPC), R>Halliwell (CPC), D.Mellor (CPC), R>Duffy (RRCPC), A. Whitney (RRCPC?CRO).

1. APOLOGIES:

2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING:

Minutes accepted and signed. Three alterations: M. Hughes was there but did not sign the sheet, BCA report ‘refused’ changed to ‘declined’, AGM removed from next meeting.

3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE LAST MINUTES:

No matters arising.

4. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT:

No written report submitted. RH did want to thank on behalf of the committee, Marion and all those who have been involved in the current conservation work, for their efforts during the past three months.

SECRETARYS REPORT:

No report submitted, items to be covered in the minutes under other headings.

TREASURERS REPORT:

Written report presented which covered the following points:

• CNCC rigging guide is selling very well and we will need to purchase more in 2009.
• Major expenditure for this period was for incorporating the CNCC Technical Group web site into the CNCC web site £105. CNCC.org
• Nearly half the cave rescue manuals have been sold.
• Mileage for NE conservation work has been increased to 30pence per mile.

ACCESS AND CONSERVATION OFFICER:

Conservation not present.

TRAINING OFFICERS REPORT:

No Training Officer at present. LS did indicate again that he will take on this role at the 2009 AGM.

TECHNICAL GROUP:

LS, GJ and B. Dearman are actively reviewing the BCA anchor installation guidelines. As soon as these are adopted by BCA training will resume, this is anticipated to be around August 2009.

5. MEETS SECRETARYS REPORTS:

Leck Fell:

JS submitted a report which outlined the following points:

• Permit requests are on the increase on previous years. Clubs are advised to apply early to avoid disappointment (3 months notice if possible)
• The management of the Shuttleworth Estate has changed. The new managers Smiths Gore have informed CNCC of the change and CNCC will be meeting with the Estate mangers in February 2009.

Casterton Fell:

No problems to report.

Birks Fell:

RH has advised the committee that the closed season for Mongo Gill will be removed at the end of the current closed season, thus improving access.

Penyghent and Fountains Fell:

MH mentioned that a dig on Penyghent had been filled in. The actual location we are unsure of.

Other Areas:

There was a discussion regarding the caves in the Forest of Bowland on the Duchy of Lancaster land. CNCC access officer offered to negotiate as there may be a problem with the game keeper regarding access as a club would like to do some remedial work on the cave entrances. It was decided to let the cavers speak to the game keeper before formal discussions with the management team.

9. BCA REPORTS:

• Pirating issues have been dealt with by BCA.
• The finance committed has issued the final draft on regional council funding
• BCA are redrafting their child protection policy
• BCA membership secretary is working hard to issue membership cards on time, be patient!

11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

GJ asked AH what the process was for payment from EN for the conservation work, AH said that it would be via BACS. AH said that there were 5 specific work contracts, Ireby Fell Cavern, Barbon Pot, Aquamole Pot, Ravenscar Cave and Thistle Cave. The problem at Thistle Cave is mud being walked into the cave by groups, it is hoped that local cave leaders who use the cave will participate in the clean up here. PH and RH mentioned a long term Allotment area clean up of dig sites. AH was confident that more funding would be available for the next financial year. AH mentioned the cave monitoring and said that the time constraints had been a problem and that he was considering a virtual assessment of the sites. AH said that he would like to thank all the people who have been involved in the project.

PH mentioned Green field forest above Birkwith and potential problems with the proposed removal of wind blown timber from that area. Proposals may include the widening of the road up to Birkwith, a bypass around New Houses and remedial work at the junction out side the CPC club accommodation.

12. DATE AND PLACE OF MEETING:         

07 March 2009 Hellifield Village Institute, Hellifield. AGM starting at 10:00

MINUTES OF THE CNCC COMMITTEE MEETING

HELD ON 17 October 2008 AT HELLIFIELD VILLAGE INSTITUTE

The Meeting commenced at 20.00.

 PRESENT: Glenn Jones (Treasurer), Les Sykes (Secretary), Bernard Bond (BCC), Roy Holmes (Chairman), F. Hartley (BCC), (BPC), Ian Lloyd (BPC), J. Sloane (LUG), S. Lieberman (RRCPC), J. Phillips (RRCPC/MUSC), P. Jones(CPC), D. Weare (YSS),M. Hale (BSG/CRO), P. Allwright (DHSS)/BCRC), A. Hinde (GC/NE), M.Dunn (BSC), M. Hughes (BPC)

1. APOLOGIES: P. Halliwell, R. Halliwell (CPC), H. Lomas (YRC), A. Speight (YSS).

2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING:

Minutes accepted and signed.

3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE LAST MINUTES:

No matters arising.

4. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT:

No written report submitted. RH did mention to the meeting the sad loss of P. Haigh who had passed away earlier in the day.

SECRETARYS REPORT:

Secretary submitted a comprehensive report out lining the following points.

• Unauthorised access to CNCC access controlled caves; this has now been passed to BCA who will be writing to the clubs concerned.
• Flooding in caves; the chairman especially and others raised concerns to the increasing number of incidents in which cavers and leaders are being caught out by the cave flooding. LS to write an article for Descent.
• CNCC and Natural England conservation agreement; this has now been signed and all enquiry’s for conservation grants should be sent to M. Dun CNCC conservation officer.

TREASURERS REPORT:

Written report presented which covered the following points:

• CNCC rigging guide is selling very well and we will need to purchase more in 2009.
• Proposed expenditure for the next period to include; Cave rescue manual, the committee agreed that £504 be used to purchase 50 copies for onward sale to the clubs.
• CNCC technical group web site; it was agreed by the committee to pay for the transfer of this site to the CNCC site for £105.

ACCESS AND CONSERVATION OFFICER:

The conservation officer thanked R. Duffy and A. Whitney for their work in restoring the Colonnades in Lancaster Hole to their former glory, this was endorsed by the committee.

Andrew Hinde is now contracted by Natural England to indentify potential areas of conservation work within the SSSI. The contract is to run for six months and in linked to the contract that CNCC as signed with NE for conservation work.

All CNCC member clubs will be sent a letter of explanation from M. Dun.

Andrew Hinde mentioned the following points:

That the money is primarily for work within the SSSI, but may be extended to cover some sites outside the SSSI.

CNCC is to propose a list of sites which it thinks is appropriate for funding; this is being achieved by involving the member clubs co-ordinated through M. Dunn and A. Hinde.

A loose conservation sub group of volunteers was agreed this consisted of the following interested parties. AH, MD, AH, SL, PJ, LS and RH.

TRAINING OFFICERS REPORT:

No Training Officer at present. LS has indicated that he will take on this role at the 2009 AGM.

TECHNICAL GROUP:

The PECO anchor (replacement for the Eco anchor) has now been tested by CNCC Technical Group and Hilti. The tests of which were identical to the Eco anchor. A full report is on the CNCC web site and a copy of the report will be submitted to the BCA equipment &techniques committee.

5. MEETS SECRETARYS REPORTS:

Leck Fell:

JS submitted a report which outlined the following points:

• Permit requests are steady and there is still availability for the next coupe of months.
• Unauthorised access to the caves, JS submitted a report for J to present to the BCA meeting this has now been resolved for these incidents.
• JS would like to remind all clubs of the requirement to obtain permits and when on the Fell park n the agreed places as damage to the Fell has occurred by cavers who decide to park off road and then get stuck.

Casterton Fell:

No problems to report.

Birks Fell:

RH has been in contact with National Trust over an increase in Robinsons Pot requests; to date no response has been received.

Penyghent and Fountains Fell:

No problems.

Other Areas:

A number of discrepancies have been highlighted which need addressing; these are G perfect the game keeper is still named on the permit but has passed away. The contact details for Out Sleet Beck Pot need to be updated. The contact details for Hagg Ghyll need to be updated.

9. BCA REPORTS:

BCA finance committee have met, CNCC is still working off it’s over payment from BCA. BCA declined to pay CNCC for the £250 for the Skoska Cave moth monitoring project, on the grounds that funding must benefit all cavers.

11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

The slope above County Pot has been partially stabilised. The lid to Lancaster Hole needs to replaced, this will be undertaken by SL.

12. DATE AND PLACE OF MEETING:         

16 January 2009 Hellifield Village Institute, Hellifield. Starting at 20:00

07 March 2009 Hellifield Village Institute, Hellifield. AGM starting at 10:00