Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Committee of athe Offa’s Dyke Association held on Sunday 8^th October 2006 at 1.30pm at the Offa’s Dyke Centre, Knighton.

1(a) Present: Mrs Sophie Blain (President), Ian Dormor (Chairman), Rebe Brick, Rob Dingle (National Trail Officer), Ken Harris, Laura Higgins, Julia Roberts, Sarah Scotford, Wendy Smith, Barbara Vessey (Minutes).

Apologies: Bruce Lawson, Carol Anne Madeley, Dave McGlade, Alan Tippet, Peter Weetman, Barbara Whitehouse.

(b) Matters arising from the Minutes not covered by the Agenda:

ID introduced Rob Dingle, the newly appointed National Trail Officer for Offa’s Dyke Path. RD briefly indicated to the meeting his background in countryside management and conservation work, initially in agriculture and forestry. Later managing a nature reserve and farm in Oxfordshire, 250 acres of countryside which has around 150,000 visitors each year. This has given him wide experience of conservation and management matters. He and his family moved to Llandrindod Wells some eighteen months ago and he has been working in the Access department of PCC whilst currently studying for an MSc in Countryside Management. He has had much help from Jim Saunders and is getting to know the Path as quickly as possible. The future will be very busy with the new National Trails Standards coming into effect within a year or so. He is very keen to involve volunteers and intends to follow up the ODA lengthsmen who still operate and see how this aspect of the ODA can be taken forward.

Prestatyn: ID reported that PW had visited the town and found some aspects much improved, but information available to visitors about the Path very limited. The Visitor Centre was closed. There is little accommodation available for walkers who wished to start walking the Path from the north. It was felt we should give those trying to improve matters every support. ID had had an acknowledgement of the questionnaire he completed (regarded by the consultants as “challenging” reading!) in which he reiterated the disappointments of arriving in Prestatyn, and ideas for improving the experience for walkers which were discussed at the last meeting.

2 Path and Dyke Issues

(a) Path Management

The committee welcomed the fact that a Path Officer is now in post and a number of outstanding problems can be addressed. ID invited RD to write something about himself for the next newsletter, and to raise the profile of the lengthsmen once more. The lengthsmen’s meeting, normally held at the AGM weekend, could be resurrected next year.

ID reported on the recent Liaison Committee held at the Centre, which RD was also able to attend and WS introduced to the members. With Ian Bapty’s post unfilled, the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust and the English Heritage Field Monument Warden will deal with any archaeological management matters which arise on the monument. The question of badger damage was raised and the Trust is well aware of it. The feeling is that it is probably insoluble but data is being collected and site meetings will be arranged where necessary. RB will be undertaking a condition survey in connection with the new National Trails Standards, and will be bidding for grants where necessary. A new National Trails Leaflet for Wales (as reported by ID at the last meeting) is now available and there is a new website. RD has met the Path Officers for the other trails in Wales.

The Aurum Press will be revising the NT guide book. There is to be a new television series on the Path to be shown in the new year. It is hoped to have the accompanying book, written and illustrated by Jim Saunders, available for a Knighton launch at the December craft fair. ID mentioned the strip maps which probably need updating, and RD said he would help with these. ID also reported that next year’s Hereford Walking Festival would be using quite a bit of the Path.

(b) KH reported that the new development on the old factory site next to the Centre had now been approved, and that it had had to be amended because of the Dyke, which will be better protected than at present.

(c) There is a proposal to upgrade a small section of Path at Weston Rhyn to a bridleway. The owner of the land has asked ODA for support in opposing this. ID reported that ODA was not on the list of statutory consultees but would be able to make a presentation at the public inquiry. ID suggested the matter be passed to John Perry to look into. Agreed. RD said he would also be investigating.

3. Financial Report. In the absence of the Treasurer, this was not available.

ID reported that the Registrar had agreed to the rent rise which had been proposed. PW has asked for an increase in the Tourism grant. ID, KH and WS are to meet J Gareth Thomas from the Tourism Management department of PCC to discuss various matters relating to the TIC.

4 The Association

(a) ID and the committee expressed great appreciation of the contribution Mrs Sophie Blain has made to the Association over the four years she will have served as our President, and for the planning now in progress for the development of the exhibition and the centre which will continue into the future. As is usual according to our constitution, a replacement should now be sought. Several suggestions were made, and ID will ask if the Hon. Sian Legge-Bourke, or a member of her family, would be willing to accept the position.

(b) Dave McGlade had reminded ID that 2007 will be the 1250^th anniversary of the accession of King Offa to the throne of Mercia and felt that it should be marked in some way by the ODA. There followed considerable discussion about the 2007 AGM weekend and it was provisionally decided that we find a suitable well-known historian who would deliver a lecture related to King Offa and his times on the Saturday of the AGM after the business meeting. This lecture would be advertised widely in the hope of good support. SS proposed that a mediaeval banquet be held in the evening, possibly at the Knighton Hotel or the Community Centre. Again, visitors could be invited to join the Association members.

Sunday: BV to investigate the possibility of a visit to Stapleton Castle, near Presteigne with ID organising a walk in the area. In the evening, a buffet and talk, as has become popular in previous years, with possibly a talk by Bruce Cutts - ID to arrange.

Monday: Another attempt will be made to arrange a visit to the castle tump in Knighton. SS suggested ID call on the owner, and WS will investigate the possibility of extending our own public liability insurance to cover the event. This would be advertised locally and a coffee morning arranged in the Centre as last year. This was very good PR and well attended by locals and visitors.

Centre

5 Centre Manager’s Report.

Earlier in the meeting, Sophie Blain had presented Rebe with gifts from the committee and others on her retirement - an engraved crystal rose bowl, a framed certificate of long service, together with Life Membership in commemoration of seventeen years of service to the Association, including as manager of the Centre. ID expressed the deep appreciation of the Association for her dedicated work and hoped that she would continue to take an active part of the Association in the years ahead. Photographs were taken outside the Centre.

RB presented her last report as Centre Manager. In common with other operators, except for those at the seaside, visitor numbers and thus sales have been down by around 10%, largely due to the very hot summer. Income from subscriptions, donations and the Knighton Room are up. The seasonal staff have been many and varied over the summer but all have fitted in satisfactorily. She expressed her gratitude for all the friendship and support over the years and wished Wendy every success as she took over.

(b) Staffing: WS said she was organising seven day cover over the winter months and would be looking for suitable part-time staff to assist and for the next season.

(c) Centre improvements. Security - WS said she had been looking into panic buttons and the possibility of CCTV to deal with problems of vandalism outside the Centre. After discussion it was agreed unanimously that WS could make further enquiries and provided the final cost was not more than the £2,565.77. quotation already in hand, she could go ahead and have a system installed which she felt would give the protection needed.

Developments: A report was circulated which had been produced by Richard Barrett of PCC. In essence this was positive about the changes in the basement area. Proposed a separate trading company be set up to keep finances separate. Also that some market research be undertaken. The Development Committee (ID, WS, JR and AT) had met last week and agreed that we should go ahead and seek grants towards the cost. There are a number of precedents in the county of grants being given for restaurants and similar developments, even to private companies. WS was already approaching European Objective 2 & 3 funders (Knighton being specifically mentioned as an area which qualifies for help) and Visit Wales. WS to produce a business plan. The committee agreed that we look at the revamping of the exhibition as part of the overall development. ID thanked WS for all the work she had done in getting this plan underway.

6 Secretary’s Report

PW had passed various items to ID. He had completed the Charity Commission Returns - the accounts having been duly audited. He had sent a letter re a rise in the funding from PCC for the TIC. He said the Registrar had agreed the additional rent. He had visited Prestatyn (report elsewhere). Roger Bright of the Town Forum had expressed concern about the state of the commemoration stone behind the Centre but KH pointed out that this was nothing to do with the Association, but a matter for the Town Council who owned the stone and the land it stands on.

7 Any other business

1. BV reported to the meeting that a Mid Wales Letterboxing Association was being set up in Knighton with the aim of positioning up to 250 small metal boxes in an area of approximately 250 square miles between Bishops Castle to the north, Kington to the south, and Rhayader to the west. The aim was to offer a kind of walkers’ treasure hunt, and if experiences on Dartmoor and elsewhere are followed, it should bring more walkers to the area, with attendant trade. BV said she had offered, on the Association’s behalf, the facilities of the Centre so that participants could buy the clues, cards and keys needed from here, and where of course we already offer maps and guides and other walking aids. The committee approved.

2. ID said he had been offered a URL by a member, who bought it on our behalf, for £10, which is offasdyke.org.uk. The committee approved.

8 Date of next meeting confirmed as Sunday 11^th February 2007.

The meeting closed at 4.45pm.