Calshot Association

Minutes of the Calshot Association combined Executive and Council Meetings held on Tuesday 12 February 2008

Present: R Maidment, P Maidment, M Ellard, D Ellard, K Van den Bosch, P Lowe,
P Quill, A Grice, J Popkiss, R Gasnier, J Wilson, F Gale, T Ford, T Burton, M Laughlin.

1. Apologies
M Drummond, M Ewers, R Rhodes, S Juniper, B Lamb

2. Minutes of the Executive and Council meeting held on 06 November 2007 were agreed as correct, proposer PM, seconder DE.

3. Matters arising from 06 November 2007.
a) Parking fee receipts – JP to buy new till by end of March 08.
b) CCTV upgrades – The experimental night vision camera at Houston clearly recorded number plates and was available to purchase at cost as it would be used for commercial demonstrations. Members agreed to buy it for £2.8k plus VAT, then donate it to CAC.
c) CRB checks – A number of Executive members checks had been completed, all others were in progress. Random checks post April 08 on ordinary members would be via HCC’s volunteers CRB system.
d) Lawrence private bathrooms – This scheme to convert the communal style toilets to private bathrooms had been completed last week at a total cost of £175k. DE proposed and KvdB seconded that a contribution of £15k be made towards this. PQ thanked members for their generosity, PL would update the Association funding plaques in Sunderland accordingly.
e) Beach clean – The NFNPA had set Friday 07 March 08, from 1400-1600 as the date for the Spit beaches to be litter picked, as part of Forest Clean week. RM would organise 6-8 volunteers, PL to advise NFNPA.
f) Gate key – Tenders were awaited for a magnetic lock and swipe cards to replace the 200+ registered keys and high security padlock.

4. Chairman’s Report
RM reported that the complaint about fishing in the Cats slipway vicinity had been investigated and appropriate action taken. The only other item to report was the completion of the pontoon extension, thanks to yet more hard work from the vice Chairman, Bert Grice, for which members were very grateful.

5. Treasurers Report
PM stated that the accounts had again passed audit, present balances were Current £87.97, Business £64,762.61, Bursary £4,286.86, Looked after children sailing £2,008.76. Recent items of expenditure had been £290 on snow blades for Youth Ski and £2.6k for Schneider CCTV. As the Treasurer and Chairman would be away for an extended period this year, arrangements would be made for other Officers to act as cheque signatories in their absence.

6. Calshot Director's Report
PQ reported that plans had been finalised by staff for a wood and granite memorial to Jon Hughes outside the Sopwith. A fun water race to Ashlett on 05 May plus contributions from CAC and the Association would meet the £600 cost of the memorial.

The new year had brought a record number of new staff, 14, quite a training challenge. Further staffing changes were about to be caused by the decision to retain 3 of the 7 Lead Instructor posts under review as a result of HCC’s Pay & Benefits regarding, plus the resignation of a Senior Instructor.

In addition to the completion of refurbishment of showers and toilets in Lawrence House, repainting of all the Houston bedrooms and the Sunderland floor had taken place. Plans for 08/09 included re-roofing staff bungalows, partial resurfacing of the site road, rebuild of the Initiative Course and contributing to replacement sewage plants for Houston and Lawrence.

Work on the on line booking system had halted due to it being declared obsolete by its supplier, alternatives were being investigated.

7. Reports from Reps
a) Air Sea Rescue – AGM to be held soon in Portsmouth. Rep. F Gale.
b) Angling – £140 was presented to the Bursary, courtesy the Maynard Cup contest. AG’s efforts to police day fishing by non members were paying off, but sadly fish were conspicuous by their absence recently. AGM on 28 March. More private fishing signs were due shortly, PL. Rep M Ellard.
c) Board Sailing – A good winter boded well for renewals and had encouraged Stand Up Paddle Boards to become popular. Future events were Flyers AGM 27 March, BUSA 25/26 April, RYA Junior Windsurf Camp 7/8 June, Seavets 11/14 Sept. Rep. J Popkiss.
d) Boat owners – Pontoons had been extended and repaired. Reps. Kees vd Bosch and A Jordan.
e) Caravan and Camping – 2807 nights, including 151 tent nights so far. The increase in membership from 200 to 220 had caused a few weekends to run close to the 50 capacity, so further increases would not be sought at this stage. Applications from new members were being listed on the CAC website, next year only postal would be allowed, 2-9 Jan, as again demand was huge. AGM 07 June. Rep Kees vd Bosch.
f) Commercial users – There had been further thefts from the quay compounds, PL requested to obtain second-hand CCTV for here and north end of site. Rep. A Grice.
g) Calshot Cats – Club and park full, a good winter season painting and refurbishing the clubhouse. Concrete slabs to flank the slip at the bottom would be placed by a working party on 20 March 1400-1700. Rep R Gasnier.
h) RNLI – 119 calls Jan-Dec, a record, 7th busiest in the country. New Mechanic arriving in April. Rep. M Laughlin.
i) Calshot Sailing Club – 105 members at year end, a few spaces in boat park, no Toppers event this year but Sunday youth training full and going very well. Rep. T Ford.
j) Castle Sailing Club – No report. Rep. A Hull.
k) Coastguard – No report. Rep. P Browne.
l) Day use schools – No report. Rep. J Perkins.
m) Individual users – Nothing to report. Rep. Kees Van den Bosch.
n) New Forest Sports Council – TB appealed for nominations of individuals and clubs for the Hants and IOW Sports Awards, asap. He also asked what sort of help and advice members wanted from him, as he had heard little from them. PQ undertook to explore with him what could be done for increasing sports participation by deserving youngsters, perhaps along Bursary lines or wider. Rep. T. Burton.
o) Oppie Club – No report. G Buchan.
p) Youth Ski – PL had been briefed that numbers had been good, thanks to feed in from CAC courses, however there was now a shortage of instructors. Rep. R Rhodes.
q) Staff rep – Pleased that despite large number and a tight market, CAC had been able to recruit the usual high calibre of staff. Rep. J Wilson.
r) Part time staff rep – No report. P Sopowski.
s) Other co-opted users – Nothing to report. R Maidment.

8. Any other business
a) Sponsored abseil – PM reported she had raised £118 each for Lupus and the Bursary.
b) Nudity near Solent Sailboards – JP undertook to warn Board sailing members and place suitable signs that changing in the open was incompatible with Child Protection requirements.
c) Review of HCC outdoor centres – PQ advised that Education centres were undergoing a similar process to that at Calshot 15 years ago, to operate on a more commercial basis. There were no negative implications for CAC.
d) Wardens uniforms – AG enquired whether CAC could obtain suitable jackets for the wardens to wear with their badges, PL.

9. Next meeting
AGM, Executive and Council Tuesday 03 June 2008 at 1830 (note change of time) Kinkead Room.

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