East Midlands Branch

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the East Midlands Branch of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation will take place on

SATURDAY JUNE 1999 At ELVASTON AGENDA

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Minutes of the 1998 Annual General Meeting

3. Officer’s Reports

4. Financial Statement and Treasurers Report

5. Representation from Unitary Authorities

6. Rotation of Chairmanship

7. Election of Officers; Chairman Secretary Treasurer

Branch Representative to National Council Vice Chairman

8. Election of Branch Committee 9. Any Other Agreed Business

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting FRIDAY 5 JUNE 1998 THE INLAND REVENUE CASTLE MEADOW ROAD

NOTTINGHAM

Present; Alistair Day, Alan Morrison, Michael Eaton, John Thorneycroft, Bob Stewart, Jane Roylance, Sarah Woodcock, Dave Bullen, Roy Lewis, Rob Lawton, Kim Carlen, Elaine Hogg, Philip Heath, Barry Joyce, Robert Walker, Melanie Morris, Mark Strawbridge, Michael Taylor, Karl Cooper, Fiona Newton,

1. Apologies for Absence ;

David Boyson, Arun Kotnis, Chris Collison, Stewart Squires, Steven King, Chris Brooke, JW Harrison, James Arnold, Liz Bryan, Richard Spooner, John Sharpe, Graham Beaumont, Arthur Ward, Julie Anne Renfrew, Richard Tuffrey. 2. Minutes of the 1997 Annual General Meeting

Michael Taylor proposed that the minutes of the last meeting were accepted as a correct record. This was seconded by Susan Dobby and carried unopposed.

3. Officers Report’s

Chairman This was Mark Parsons second and last AGM as Chairman as he will be standing down to allow the position to rotate annually. A vice-chairman would then be elected who would become chairman the following year subject to the ratification of the AGM. He thanked Alan Taylor & Derek Latham for speaking at the Midlands launch of the Institute that was held just before the AGM and thanked the Committee for their hard work and friendship. Mark’s theme as Chairman had been sustainability and housing : a big issue, which had generated much argument. This will continue to be an important issue. There were as yet no plans for the next year but it was hoped that there would be more Area Specials to broaden committee meetings. The meetings will be publicised to the members in each county to encourage involvement.

Branch Representative Michael Taylor added to his written report. He thanked all members for their co-operation during the transition from ACO to IHBC membership. Mike’s vision for the East Midland’s is as the ‘thinking branch’, a branch which looks at the bigger picture. Successful conferences, Context articles etc were already creating that image.

Treasurer Tony Player declared that the Branch had a healthy balance in the Reserve & Current accounts at the end of March 1998. £1000 had been received towards the Midlands IHBC launch from central funds (£500 for East Midlands Branch & £500 for the West Midlands).

Secretary Fiona Newton had nothing to add to the written report as submitted except for a plea for members to attend committee meetings to which everyone is welcome. Barry Joyce proposed the officer’s reports be accepted, Robert Walker seconded, carried unopposed.

4. County Representative’s Reports The following County Representatives added to their reports as submitted. Karl Cooper added to his report that Derbyshire had done very well in recent rounds of lottery funding. The Pavilion Gardens, had gained £3million in a 3 year programme. Townscape enhancement schemes had been carried out at Melbourne, Belper, Cromford & . Feasibility studies were carried out for Derby , Markeaton and Matlock Park.

Northamptonshire Mike Pearson reminded Northamptonshire members of the revised venue of an evening meeting for all IHBC members in Northamptonshire.

5. Election of Officers

The following had already been received and were read out by the Secretary; Karl Cooper Chairman Fiona Newton Secretary

Michael Taylor Branch Representative Susan Dobby proposed Robert Walker as Treasurer this was seconded by Fiona Newton The nominations were accepted with unanimous approval and the officers elected for 1998/99.

4. Election of Branch Committee

The Secretary read out the nominations already received. They were as follows; Kim Carlen Derbyshire Representative James Arnold Nottinghamshire Representative Susan Dobby Leicestershire Representative Michael Pearson Northamptonshire Representative Rob Lawton Lincolnshire Representative Samantha Gibson General Committee Martin Tincknell General Committee Sarah Woodcock General Committee Julie Anne Renfrew General Committee

The following additional nominations were received; Roy Lewis (General Committee), Proposed by Mike Taylor, Seconded by Sue Dobby Susan Dobby nominated Mike Eaton to the committee, sadly however as constitutionally the committee is only supposed to number 15 an additional nomination could not be accepted. However, any member is very welcome to attend any committee meetings. The nominations were accepted unopposed and the committee elected for 1997/98.

Michael Eaton raised the question if there should be a Rutland Representative. This needs to be considered carefully in light of the large number of unitary authorities being formed in the region. Bob Stewart suggested that the Committee should consider this matter and a recommendation be made to the next AGM.

5. Any Other Agreed Business

There was no other business and the meeting closed

MEMBERS OF THE 1998/99 BRANCH COMMITTEE

Chairman Karl Cooper, Derbyshire County Council Secretary Fiona Newton East Lindsey District Council Treasurer Robert Walker East Lindsey District Council Branch Representative to national IHBC Council Mike Taylor, Leicester City Council Vice Chairman Mark Strawbridge, Nottinghamshire County Council County Representatives; Derbyshire Kim Carlen, Bolsover District Council Nottinghamshire James Arnold Nottingham City Council Leicestershire Susan Dobby, Blaby District Council Lincolnshire Rob Lawton, West Lindsey District Council Northamptonshire Mike Pearson, South Northamptonshire District Council

General Committee Members Samantha Gibson, De Montfort University Mark Parsons, Anthony Short & Partners Julie Anne Renfrew, Peak Park Martin Tincknell, Charnwood Borough Council Sarah Woodcock, The National Trust East Midlands Officer’s Reports

Chair

This year like most seems to have flown. The beginning marked by the AGM / Regional Launch/ Conference event held at the Inland Revenue Building in Nottingham on the 5 June 1998. The committee has met 8 times since then, initially tying up loose ends after the June event. The most notable of these was the East Midlands contributing to the December edition of Context. Thanks goes to all those who submitted papers.

The theme adopted by the Committee this year is that of Communication, Awareness and Publicity. We hope simply to announce to the world why we exist as an Institute. To this end a number of initiatives have been undertaken. A Press Officer has been appointed (Mark Strawbridge) and investigations into the production of a learning pack for schools are underway. We have also consulted the National Committee about the production of a yearbook, which we are all agreed would be highly desirable. The issue is not that we as a branch are not willing or capable of producing this publication, but who is going to update it each year? Hopefully by June we will have resolved this. We are presently lobbying the Urban Design Alliance with the National Committees blessing. This forum was set up to discuss national issues concerning the built environment. Unfortunately, the IHBC have been ignored and negative press articles have appeared concerning conservation issues.

There have been two visits organised. Members were kindly shown around the Adams Building in Nottingham by a local member of the Civic Society. Canons Ashby, a National Trust property in Northamptonshire was the other event which was aimed at our members in the south of the region. Both I believe were very enjoyable and our thanks go to those involved in the arrangements. Whilst mentioning events, I hope you all enjoy this years AGM picnic. Business, I promise, will be brief and informal followed by a tour of the Castle and Gardens.

I hesitate to end on a sad note, but feel I should briefly mention the death of George Rennie, the Principle Conservation and Design Officer at . As a former colleague, I know George made a tremendous difference and successfully placed the issue of conservation firmly on the agenda of both Councillors and other Officers within the City, and will be greatly missed.

I would like to thank the other committee members particularly our Secretary (Fiona Newton) for their continual enthusiasm and support. Any members who wish to get more involved in Branch matters can be assured of a warm welcome. Please approach any of the committee members for a chat about what is involved or how you would like to help. Karl Cooper

Secretary The work of your branch committee over the past year has been split into two main areas of activity. Firstly, we spent the months following last years conference ‘New Housing History in the Making’ putting together a collection of follow up papers which were published in last December’s edition of Context. We saw the readiness of the Institute Council to accept our subject as very encouraging and believe it a considerable accomplishment to be, as far as we know, the first branch to have a Context edition dedicated to a branch conference theme. This comparatively moderate undertaking certainly made me appreciate the efforts of Bob Kindred in regularly producing Context to such a high standard.

In the second part of the year our efforts have concentrated upon developing Karl Cooper’s theme as the current Chair ‘Communication, Awareness and Publicity’. Some of Karl’s ideas are now coming closer to fruition. Amongst others Julie Ann Renfrew is working away on the creation of a learning pack for teachers and Mark Stawbridge has offered his services as Press Officer.

Last year the enthusiasm of branch members to participate in the running of the branch meant that the committee attained full strength at 15 members. We have a thriving committee with enthusiastic, committed and hard working members but we could always use more help. If you are interested in joining the branch committee please use the nomination form at the back of this booklet. If you do not want to commit yourself to regular attendance, you are welcome to attend any meeting; it is not a private club or a closed society! It is not really possible for me to circulate all members with details of meetings but I will happily supply the date of the next meeting to anyone who is interested, or ask your County Representative.

Fiona Newton Treasurer This was my first year as Treasurer. I would like to thank Tony Player, the previous Treasurer, for the painless hand-over and from whom I inherited a modest surplus of £656-27 on the 1st April 1998. (£177-67 Current Account and £478-60 Deposit Account).

The IHBC East Midlands Branch Conference ‘New Housing – History in the Making’ produced a healthy profit. This more than compensated for the East and West Midlands joint IHBC launch, held immediately after it, costing slightly more than the £1000-00 allowance from the National Executive Committee (£500 per Branch). Part of the conference profit was transferred to the Branch’s Deposit Account to attract a higher interest rate.

The other major event organised within the year, the ‘Northants. Special’ to Canon’s Ashby, effectively ‘broke even’ allowing for collections made on the day and the donation agreed by the Branch Committee to the National Trust.

A donation of £25 was made, in March, to the British Lung Foundation in memory of George Rennie but has not yet been drawn down. It will therefore appear in next year’s statement.

The remainder of transactions throughout the year relates to routine expenditure on postage, stationery and other sundries, and to travel expenses to London by the Branch’s Council Representative. At the 31st March 1999 the bank balance of the East Midland’s Branch stood at £1952-59. (£853-32 Current Account and £1099-27 Deposit Account). Details of all transactions will be circulated at the AGM.

Robert Walker – Branch Treasurer.

County Representative’s Reports Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Conservation Officers Group (LCOG)

There continue to be regular and well attended meetings of LCOG. Perhaps the most unusual meeting of the year incorporated a site visit to, allegedly, the most polluted site in Europe; Waters Edge in Barton upon Humber. On the tour it was announced that there were not one, but three strains of Anthrax to be found on the site. The notes that accompanied the visit offered a vaccination service, and an Anthrax card to be carried at all times. No ill effects have been reported from members.

A joint Nottinghamshire meeting was organised at Kelham Hall and Kate Clark of English Heritage gave a talk on Conservation Plans. This joint event is becoming an annual fixture.

Heritage Economic Regeneration Schemes (HERS) Following approaches from English Heritage, four schemes have been submitted; Spilsby, Lincoln, Gainsborough and Market Deeping. Initial feedback would suggest that all have a good chance of success. June will tell.

Townscape Heritage Initiatives (THIs) Alford has approval for a three year scheme. Lincoln City is looking at submitting one for 2000/2001.

Conservation Area Partnership Schemes (CAPS) Three CAPS continue for a further year in Boston, Long Sutton and Horncastle. In general Lincolnshire members are active and together. Rob Lawton

Nottinghamshire

1998/9 has seen the development and completion of a wide range of conservation initiatives in the County. In Newark and Sherwood there has been the successful completion of the Castle Grounds Lottery scheme with the restoration of the design by Edward Milner for the Victorian Park, and other significant conservation/ regeneration schemes including the comprehensive redevelopment of the concrete maltings by the river - on the downside were the considerable efforts expended on the unsuccessful THI bid for the Market Place.

The Notts. County Team have developed many initiatives including a new Historic Area Partnerships (HAP), their pilot study being carried out at Tuxford in Bassettlaw; other areas of external funding the County have been developing include the Landfill Tax and Rechar Funding. Nottingham, as many other Cities, has experienced incredible development activity with cranes towering above the City, the boom in Cafe Bars and retail has allowed many historic buildings to be repaired and sensitively converted to new uses; we also had the opening of the grade II* Adams Building by HRH Prince of Wales - a scheme which has involved years of effort and extensive involvement from the Conservation Team.

There have many changes in conservation officer posts which have included the departure of Charles Glenn from the County and the arrival of Mark Strawbridge, Mark Parsons and Jerry Spencer have left Nottingham City, Dannie Onn and Chloe Griffiths have moved from Mansfield to be replaced by Derek Green, Phillip Heath has moved from Newark and Sherwood with Chloe Griffiths joining the team. Various bids for the first wave of the English Heritage Economic Regeneration Schemes in Nottinghamshire have been submitted, and these include schemes for Laxton, Tuxford, Alfreton Road/Gamble Street in Nottingham.

In November, the Joint Lottery ‘Awards for All’ Scheme was launched in the East Midlands, with a presentation in Nottingham. The Lottery is attempting to redress the balance of the lower level of grants given in the East Midlands than in other parts of the country. This has continued to be the case with an additional presentation in April aimed at encouraging more grant applications - so there are still opportunities to explore to find that much needed grant assistance!

With the many changes in posts, the Nottinghamshire Conservation Officers Forum has only met twice, but many positive ideas were put forward at the last meeting including - discussion around the electronic sharing of information - a number of districts having web pages on line or under construction and most having access to e-mail facilities, so hopefully we’ll enter the new millenium riding the new information highway as a more effective group.

James Arnold Northamptonshire

Despite the local authorities in Northants being in a constant state of reorganisation over the past year, attendances at the County Forum have been encouraging.

In September, the Group met at Kettering, and discussed Article 4(2) Directions, Local Lists, and problems of obtaining stone to match historic types. The Register of Historic and Gardens has been reviewed and although 300 new entries have been added to the County SMR, only 10 have been considered for adding to the Register. Concern was expressed about the poor quality of submissions for planning permission to extend listed churches.

In December, Daventry was the venue. Daventry, Northampton and Kettering had proposed a comprehensive resurvey of their areas’ listings, but English Heritage had suggested spot listing is more appropriate, based on local lists. A checklist for assessing local listings has been produced. However EH and RCHM are collaborating on a proposed survey of boot and shoe industry buildings which will involve Northants, commencing March 1999 . Bob Harrison was introduced as EH’s new rep in the East Midlands, and updated us on EH’s imminent move to Northampton, and HERS schemes ( the new CAPS!).

In March, Thrapston was the venue. East Northants has been invited to submit a HERS bid in the first round of invitations. There was concern that CAPS had ended without a direct replacement, in some cases where there is still patently a job still to do. James Edgar was introduced as the new EH case officer for this area. Arun Kotness gave us a run-down on Northampton BC’s role in securing the future of 78 Derngate, a Rennie Mackintosh building in the centre of the town.

Several Northants members of the IHBC have fallen foul of the Institute’s policy on renewing subscriptions and are now required to reapply for membership.

Mike Pearson