Isbourne Catchment Group – AGM Minutes from Monday 9^th November 2020 on Zoom.

ICG Group Members Present – Jem Williamson, Richard Wakeford, Sue Morris, Andy Thomas and Annette Dawson

Others Present – Wendy-BuftonWorc County Council, Lucy Clark-University of Gloucestershire, Chris Short-Countryside & Community Research Institute.

Apologies – received from Brian Smith EA & recorded with the Secretary. 

Agenda

1. Welcome, introductions and apologies received – Jem Williamson.

2. The Minutes from the last AGM on 11^th November 2019 were approved.

3. Chairs Report – Jem Williamson talked through the report: see separate post
   
4. Local Update – Wendy Bufton Natural Flood Management Project Officer Worcestershire County Council gave a presentational report on the significant progress to date. This included a detailed description of the 81 interventions now installed along the Beesmoor Brook and Charlton Abbots plus the Farmcote tributary and Laverton Hill Farm with lots more planned at Sudeley Estates, Laverton Village and Toddington.
5. Discussions raised during the presentation included:
   a. Wendy to provide the names of landowners currently engaged with ICG to Sue to share with Parish Councils and Councillor Liz Eyre.
   Wendy felt that the letter drop exercise last year was slowly successful and that positive landowners are encouraging NFM take up with neighbours. 
   b. Annette to help with communications to Toddington once tree planting plans finalised.
   c. Lucy to analyse graphs/data from new monitoring gauges to establish impact/benefit from interventions.
   d. Wendy to earmark £1,300 from original fund raising for planting in Sedgeberrow.
   e. Richard raised 3 areas where NFM would help highway drainage issues (bottom of Stanway Hill, Corndean Lane & Stancombe Lane Winchcombe). Jem to discuss with GCC Highways and Richard to arrange for Wendy to join Winchcombe Town Council zoom meeting. 
   f. The chair thanked Wendy for such a comprehensive update.

5. Appointments for coming year were voted and agreed.

Chair – Jem Williamson

Vice chair – Richard Wakeford

Secretary – Annette Dawson

• AOB – Jem stated the time was now to make a collective effort on promoting the NFM project with all local and national parties. Lucy mentioned tree planting photos and use of aerial drone video clips were good examples to use. Wendy & Chris recently attended a meeting of the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC)to share best practise and the ICG was mentioned as a good example of community led NFM.

Annette Dawson 10th November 2020