Lee Anglers' Consortium

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting

Cheshunt Municipal Golf Clubhouse

23rd February 2006 at 20.00 hours

Present: A.Wilson (Chair), A.Malin (Palmers Green AS), G.Pritchard (Verulam AC), K.Ward (Abbey Lads), Simon Woods (Palmers Green), R.Barber (ECCAS), D.Howell (Kings Arms),R.Oliver (Edmonton & Tottenham), S.Parker (Kings Arms), A.Hollingshead (GPCA), M.Matheu (Barnet), T.Rowley (LAC), M.Richardson (Kings Arms), M.Rowley (Lee Division), D.Bridgeman (Ware AC), C.Bite (Hertford AC) R.Edwards (Kings Arms) and D.Meadhurst (Warwick) 12 members clubs were represented.

Apologies were received from L.Pullen (Warwick)

Previous Minutes The minutes for the AGM held 20th January 2005 previously circulated were proposed by Ware AC and seconded by Hertford AC as a true record.

Chairman's Report

The Chair thanked the delegates for attending on a cold night and highlighted the difficult task to keep the LAC running with low flows, poor water quality, cormorants, American signal crayfish, mitten crabs and the illegal taking of fish for food. This has resulted in very few anglers on the bank.

Report from Accountant and Secretary

Finance

1. Sales were
   Indiv season tickets were £3463 (203) compared with last year £3925 (232) a 12% cash drop
   Day tickets were £10221 (4100) against £9792 (3839) an increase in cash terms of 4%.

The northern beat producing just £1899 (£2667 in 2004) compared with £8322 (£7125) from the southern end.
Clubs in the consortium reduced from 33 to 28. Final figure was £9488 against £10348 . This was a 8% drop. Actual club ticket numbers went down by 12%. (669 to 589).
1. Total income was £962 less than 2004.
2. Total expenditure was reduced from £37786 to £36216
1. The financial implication of this is a reported loss £2,201 plus £2000 from provisions towards the Feildes Weir project (compared with last year's £2810).
   Forecast for 2006.
2. The secretary reported that since sending out the agenda BW has cancelled our litter picking contract with effect from 31st March 2006. This was worth £10,000 pa and was the main finance for keeping our two bailiffs on the bank full time. A meeting between the LAC secretary and BW officers has been arranged for the end of February to discuss what avenues are available to maintain the LAC in its present management role. However, if nothing can be resolved the committee will have to evolve a new strategy for survival or , at worst, the termination of our licence with BW sometime in 2007 or 2008.
3. It is now extremely difficult to forecast our income. Any increases in angling fees would certainly be counter productive.
4. As a consequence it is prudent to take one year at a time. However with a bank balances of £17,000 we look forward to another year and the secretary urged all clubs to continue to support the Consortium in 2006/7.
   

Report from Secretary

Administration
1. The web site is running but there is little feed back from activity on the bank. The web site can be found on www.lee-anglers-consortium.co.uk. Barnet suggested a 'guest book be introduced which had encouraged greater feedback on their site.

Matches:-
1. OAP/Disabled match Wednesday, August 3rd.
   The match was again staged at Enfield but fish were hard to find. Nevertheless over 60 anglers took part in an enjoyable day. I would like to thank the helpers who once again gave up their day to the make the match a success and the Royal Small Arms for hosting the event in their club room.
   
   It is planned to hold the 2006 match on Wednesday August 2nd but at present there is an access problem as the Rammey Marsh Lock bridge has been damaged and may have to be replaced. As it is a Grade 2 listed structure there may be some delay and as a consequence this may affect the match arrangements. Latest information from BW is that the bridge could be scheduled for being replaced in August or September. All entries will be asked to leave a contact phone number in case late changes have to be made.
   1. McMullens Match
   
   The match was held at Enfield and the Greyhound PH hosted the pre and post match activities. 58 anglers fished with top weight from Dave Knight (Rural AS) with 7.09.00, second Ron Ambrose 6.15.00.
   
   It is not certain whether the 2006 match will take place as McMullens could withdraw their sponsorship.
   1. Fishery:-
      Fish Kill
      Mid August there was a serious fish kill above Picketts Lock. On the first day hundreds of small roach, perch and skimmers were found dead on the surface late one evening. Later there were larger fish found dead including bream to three pounds and the odd tench and pike. The EA were present on day 2 and two aerators were deployed to increase the oxygen levels which are at their lowest during that day. The cause, assessed by the EA, was an oxygen crash arising from the effect of cooler weather and overcast skies combined with algae bloom.
   2. Bow area
      You will have seen from the media that something nasty has been lurking near the proposed Olympic area. There are stories of an alligator or crocodile eating dogs and geese.
      Legal documents have been issued on the LAC by the London Development Agency relating to the Olympic redevelopment but at present it is still unclear how this will affect fishing in this area.
   3. Lee Fishery Action Plan Most secretaries will have received the FAP report and in addition the EA arranged a launch day. In terms of FAP projects there were some further work in 2005. The fish refuges have been replanted at Enfield and additional refuges have been installed between Stonebridge and Tottenham. Further stakeholder meetings will take place in 2006 and hopefully new works will be started if funds become available.
   4. BW Angling and Fishery Strategy
      In the past few weeks BW has met with the national angling bodies and pledged its support to the long awaited BW angling and fishery strategy. BW states that it intends to arrest the decline in its river and canal fisheries. A contact officer has been appointed for each area but ironically the first contact we had was to tell us we had lost the litter contract.
      1. Feildes Weir Project. The much awaited Feildes Weir project is now complete but very few people have taken advantage of the new facilities. To date no anglers with disabilities have used the new facilities. I remind you that all eight new platforms have been designed for use by anglers with disabilities. The total cost of the project was £23,000 of which the LAC financed £2,000 with the remainder coming mainly from the EA FAP money, government funds and a grant from the Waterways Trust.
         
         Unfortunately, certain people visiting the site (not all being anglers) have left rubbish and there is now a rat problem.
         
         Good roach and bream have been reported from the platforms on the right day.