A Scottish Incorporated Charity Organisation, SC044495

East Lothian Volunteer Path Wardens (ELVoPW) Minutes of the meeting of 1st October 2015

Present: Andrew Stevenson, Nick Morgan, David Oldham

Duncan Priddle, Thomas Bower

Apologies: Dave Quarendon, Mike Traynor

Action

1.0 Minutes of Previous Meeting and Matters Arising

1.1 Minutes of meeting of 6th August 2015 approved.

1.2 2.5 Mike has indicated in an e-mail that he thinks the landowner may not be inclined to help the community with the Humbie core path due to some recent activity. It was agreed that this is an important route, so we will keep it on the list, but allow a cooling-off period before we approach the landowner.

1.3 2.7 Mike e-mailed to say that he still hasn’t had a chance to Mike update the Business Plan and he is waiting for the new list of potential path projects.

1.4 3.1 Dave Q has finished the post card. All agreed it is very good. Duncan We had decided on “We care for paths”. Once tweaked Duncan will arrange to have these and the business cards printed.

1.5 3.2 Promotional sticker for signs. Dave Q is still to do this. It was Dave Q agreed that this will be a great promotional tool.

1.6 6.4 Duncan has informed Councillor McMillan about the Spring Walk, but has not heard anything back yet.

1.7 6.6 Dave O hasn’t had any further responses from anyone about the Spring Walk.

1.8 7.2 Dave O hasn’t had a chance to do any more about the Haddington cluster (too many foreign trips!!). He needs a more detailed e-mail contact list. Duncan said that the Haddington Scout Group is keen to help with local paths.

1.9 7.3 Dave Q had noted a few amendments required to the constitution. As he wasn’t at the meeting he was volunteered to Dave Q amend it as required! A Scottish Incorporated Charity Organisation, SC044495

1.10 All other action points had been undertaken or were covered later in the agenda.

2.0 Business Plan and Future Projects

2.1 Nick will arrange to have some signs installed on the Gifford to Nick Morham path.

2.2 Nick had added the suggested project to the spreadsheet, which he brought to the meeting. People were allocated projects and Nick will update the sheet and e-mail it with the minutes. Nick

2.3 It was suggested that each path could be surveyed by their allotted path warden and a short report of its condition and what it needs put together, maybe with photos. Nick will look out guidance from Paths for All. Nick

2.4 Thomas asked about the possibility of extending the Haddington to Railway Walk through Roodlands Hospital grounds. This is a project that Nick has been trying to get off the ground for many years. Nick will look out the contact details of the person he was dealing with and Thomas has offered to contact them again to show public interest in this project. Nick

3.0 Promotion

3.1 Everything was covered in Matters Arising.

4.0 Funding

4.1 There is currently £881.90 in the bank account.

4.2 Dave O is going to a Strive event where he can meet with various funders. It was decided that Viridor Credits and and Lothians Health Foundation would be the most appropriate funders for our sort of projects.

4.3 Paths for All contacted Nick to let him know that a project they were going to fund through the Community Paths Grant Scheme had been withdrawn and they encouraged him to put in an application. The application was successful and we have been awarded £1,500. Nick had to itemise how the money would be spent, so we will be buying a petrol leaf blower, a petrol hedge cutter, two kissing gates for the River Tyne Path, some anti-slip strips for the Haddington to Longniddry Railway Walk and some secateurs and loppers with any funding left over.

4.4 Thomas brought in a card from Asda to nominate a local good cause for Asda Foundation funding. It was agreed that once we have produced more publicity material we could nominate the path warden charity. A Scottish Incorporated Charity Organisation, SC044495

5.0 River Tyne Spring Walk 2016

5.1 Duncan will ask Transportation about providing a bus for the day. Duncan

5.2 It was decided that the start point should be in Haddington at the 3G pitch in Whittingehame Drive. The walk could finish in the village hall in , where we could offer a cup of tea and have information about walking and the path wardens.

5.3 Participants could be asked to make a donation once they were at the finish.

5.4 We talked about numbers of participants. Potentially four groups of 20 walkers should be aimed for. One problem with not charging for booking onto the walk could be that people may not show up. It was suggested that we could over-book to allow for this.

5.5 It was suggested that those interested in joining the walk should be asked to send in an e-mail via the web site.

5.6 Dave O will write this up and circulate. Dave O

6.0 Any Other Business

6.1 Thomas participated in a beach clean at organised by Sam Ranscombe. This was featured in Courier.

7.2 Duncan is hoping to organise a Christmas lunch again for the path wardens. Potentially at East Linton, following a walk in the Duncan area.

7 Date of Next Meeting - Thursday 10th December, 10am.