Cymdeithas Parc Bannau Brycheiniog The Brecon Beacons Park Society Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting held at The Bear Hotel, Crickhowell on Tuesday, 13th July, 2010 at 5.00pm. Present: Charles Henderson (Chairman), Jim Wilson, Elizabeth Gibbs, Ben Sladen, Clive Eiles, David Thomas, Anne Pritchard, Richard Chandler (Minutes Secretary). 1. Apologies: Chris Barber, William Gibbs. 2. The Minutes of the last meeting (on 25th May, 2010) were approved and signed. 3. Matters arising: (i) 4.2 Liz has contacted our insurers regarding qualifications for walks leaders. They have stated that the Walks Leader qualification is sufficient (they do not really require a qualification at all) and Mountain Walks Leader qualification is definitely not necessary. They also stated that, although our disclaimer regarding persons under the age of 18 would probably not stand up in court, we are, nevertheless, covered under the terms of our insurance policy, if an accident were to happen. (ii) 4.3 Norma Barry will write an article for the Beacon in due course. 4. Reports – 4.1 Financial and Membership - see Ben's report (previously circulated). Nothing further to report. 4.2 Guided Walks and Events Programme – see Anne’s report (previously circulated). The BBNPA has stated that all walks which we undertake under the auspices of the National Park along the Beacons Way must be accompanied by a person having Mountain Leader qualification. This continues to cause a great deal of concern and resentment, as we have been told explicitly by the Mountain Leader Training Board that it is not necessary and that reference to the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority is inappropriate for our walks. WGL qualification is all that is required for the Brecon Beacons National Park, except for traversing steep slopes. It has been suggested that we undertake our Beacons Way walks under our own auspices from next year. This, along with the implications for the GeoPark Festival walks, will be discussed again with John Cooke at the next meeting with him. A new Walks and Events Team is being assembled. Allan Gibbs had offered to undertake a WGL Training Course for our Society but there had been extremely poor attendance from walks leaders, who had said that they would attend, at the introductory meeting. It was suggested that we should continue to encourage, but not to insist on, this qualification training. David will chase up the walks leaders again with regard to taking up Allan Gibbs’ offer. ACTION: David . Charles will write to Allan to apologise for the poor turnout and to ask if he would agree to set it up again. ACTION: Charles . 4.3 The Beacon – Chris has reported that the Beacon is almost ready for publication. 1 4.4 Web-Site – There have been four suggestions with regard to a person to undertake the construction and hosting of a new web-site. After discussion, it was agreed that Alwyn Jones in Abergavenny should be asked to provide a formal quote. David will communicate with him, will oversee the proposed format, etc., and will circulate details to Exec members in due course. ACTION: David . 4.5 Beacons Way Steering Group – see report from Chris (circulated previously). No comments, other than discussion on the proposed extension of the Appalachian Trail. 4.6 Planning and Development Control – Liz has objected, on our behalf, to a proposed new small housing development at Llangynidr. Ruth Chambers has contacted Liz about a couple of applications which are expected to go before the Infrastructure Planning Commission – both outside the Park – one by Western Power Distribution for new power lines and the other for a waste combustion plant near Merthyr Tydfil. There is no objection to the former, as there are already power lines at the site, but the latter will involve the building of a large chimney on the top of a ridge and emissions from it, which might blow over the Park. Liz will talk to the local CPRW representative about this. ACTION: Liz . 4.7 Art in the Park – Sunita Welch has prepared a proposal for continuation of the project into the next fiscal year. Liz has met with her and discussed this. It appears that there will be budgetary cuts and Sunita is suggesting the seeking of matched funding from charitable bodies. Liz asked whether or not we might agree to our payment of the Education Officer as well as of the artists. Doubt was expressed as to the wisdom of setting a precedent with regard to our funding items which should be paid for by the Park Authority and it was agreed that we should not do so. Sunita has indicated a hope that the project will be a continuing one but Ben cautioned against our making any commitment to this beyond the current year, particularly as the Park Authority is expecting continuing cuts. We do still have £1000 from the Usk Valley Trust and Liz will contact them to confirm their attitude to the way in which that is spent. ACTION : Liz . The point was firmly made that we should not be using Society funds as a funding source for, and to support, the Park Authority. This would not preclude our applying to charities on their behalf, where appropriate. 4.8 Walls of Llangynidr – Five tenders were received for the rebuilding of a new section of wall and the contract has been awarded. Ken Young has been asked to be the instructor for the disabled. WOL is working with the secretary of the Bwlch and Crickhowell Young Farmers Club to develop courses for young farmers. 4.9 Brecon Beacons Trust – The Trust is thinking of trying to raise further funds, so that it would be in a better position to continue beyond its (as yet, un-) projected lifetime and might be able to help to fund smaller charities. As the constitution of the WFF Forum allows of two members from each representative body, it was agreed that Clive should be nominated as our second member. Liz reported that Pip Woolf, whose project to reclaim a peat bog on Pen Trumau we assisted, would like us to walk up there to see what has been done and what further project ideas she has for the area. Anne will contact her with regard to putting a walk in the next programme. ACTION: Anne . 4.10 Rights of Way – no report. 4.11 Press Releases – none 4.12 GeoPark Management Group – nothing to report (other than the concerns regarding walks leaders qualifications, previously discussed). 4.13 Area Advisory Forums – no recent meeting. 2 4.14 Welsh Advisory Committee – no recent meeting. 4. 15 CNP Matters – nothing to report (Manifesto launch and National Parks Societies Conference on agenda later). 5. AGM – Matters Arising – A transcript of the proceedings has been circulated ( q.v. ). (i) Recruitment of new members – at each of the last two AGMs we have been asked to try to recruit more members. We agreed that we would welcome non-walking members, who would take an interest in our non- walking activities but the point of striving to merely increase our walking member numbers was felt to not be worthwhile. It was felt that our endeavours should be directed at raising our profile rather than just increasing numbers and it was suggested that we consider various advertising methods, such as display stands, posters, taking leaflets to Shows, etc., and a press release. (ii) Press/Publicity Officer – Sean O’Donoghue had offered to accept this post but resigned shortly afterwards, as he was prepared only to promote the walking side of the Society. Notwithstanding the AGM suggestion that we should have a recruitment campaign, it was unanimously agreed in committee that this should not go ahead on any formal (and paid) basis. It was also unanimously agreed that we should endeavour to appoint a Publicity Officer. A suggestion was made that we might have a publicity sub-committee – not necessarily composed of Executive Committee members. Richard will endeavour to glean names of potentially interested people from the recording of the AGM. ACTION: Richard, and Charles will then invite them to participate. (iii) Car-Sharing – Clive reminded us that the Directory of members’ email addresses should be available early next year. Anne suggested that she put a page in the Walks programmes advising members how they may best facilitate car-sharing. ACTION: ANNE . 6. Manifesto Launch – As predicted, most of the invited non-politicians turned up and most of the politicians did not... There was no reported press coverage. It was suggested that we should have a press release about it nearer the time of the elections next year. The Snowdonia Society is to have a stand at this year’s Royal Welsh Show and have volunteered to take our leaflets there. Liz will send them to the Director of the Snowdonia Society. ACTION: Liz . Charles will point out to Norma Barry the errors in the addresses in the Manifesto leaflet. ACTION: Charles . 7. National Parks Societies Conference – Jim and Liz are interested to go. 8. Dark Sky Park Status – Jim has been in contact with the Welsh regional representative for the Campaign for Dark Skies, who also works for WAG, and will be meeting him later this month. They are collaborating with an organisation called Dark Skies Wales, which is trying to get a robotic telescope set up near the Mountain centre at Libanus. One of the criteria for Dark Skies status is that two thirds of the street lighting in the prescribed area must conform, or be planned to conform, to the Dark Skies guidelines. This will need to be pursued with the relevant authorities.