Present: Peter Colley (Chairman), Rosalind Bell, Adrian Dunning, Terry Edgar, Roger Frankland, Kathy Fishwick, Iain Gerrard, Brian Gilbert, Cynthia Radford, Elaine Smith & Susan Spibey.

Apologies for absence: Paul Johnson & Stephen Langtree.

The Chairman introduced Rosalind Bell from Carlisle who had volunteered her services on the Committee and who would be representing the Cumbrian area. He asked that she be co-opted onto the committee and this was agreed unanimously.

23.1     Minutes of the previous meeting: Previously circulated, these were taken as read. It was agreed unanimously that the minutes be accepted as a true record.

23.2    Matters Arising:Copies of the document referred to in minute 22.4, "Regional Associations and the Civic Trust" were still awaited from Peter. A discussion ensued on matters of insurance and what is covered under the present insurance and what is not. Peter promised to enquire further of the national body on whether the cover extended to local groups or individuals.

23.3    Heritage Open Days: Peter said that the Cumbrian Heritage Open Days had been better co-ordinated this year but that it was hoped to provide earlier publicity in 2008. A discussion produced various suggestions regarding ways that the Civic Trusts role could be better publicised. Iain said he felt that the Civic Trust ought to receive funding from the government and not have to go to English Heritage for funds. He said that in order to promote the Civic Trust connection they should be called the Civic Trust Heritage Open Days.

23.4    Autumn Gathering: Peter reported briefly on this event saying that some good contacts had been made but early planning was essential to ensure a good outcome. Elaine echoed the chairman's comments saying she and her companions had experienced a 'brilliant' couple of days.
Brian said that a small profit had been made. Susan proposed a vote of thanks to Terry and Cynthia for their organisation of the event. This was agreed unanimously.

23.5     Contacts With External Bodies:
North West Environmental Link: Peter said that this body was very active and that the NWActs was involved and playing its part. He said there was considerable debate over such issues as sustainable energy in the future and he had raised concern about the impact of micro-generation on Conservation Areas.
In answer to a query from Iain he explained that the Link had been set up at the same time as the creation of the Regional Assemblies. These are composed of 70% Local Authority representation and 30% representation from a great number of other interests. Because environmental issues had only been given one seat on the Assembly, various environmental groups had got together to agree what this representative on their behalf should say. Much of the work had been done on an ad hoc basis, in effect being done freely by the groups, while actual cash requirements had come mainly from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust.
The person who had been instrumental in running the Link was going to retire next year and the future of the body was uncertain.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and other involved groups had been asked if they could pledge £500 each towards the running of the Link in 2008 and so create 'matched funding' for any grant application. Peter had made it clear that NWActs could not afford this amount and had suggested £100 subject to approval by his committee.
Iain enquired how much the pledges would be worth as a percentage of the total cost of running the Link. Peter promised to ascertain this along with other information for the next meeting.
The committee agreed unanimously to a pledge of £100.
Peter finally said that the next meeting of the Link was in January when modifications to the Regional Spatial Strategy would be discussed.
Regional Planning Group: Peter reported that the proposals for the new government inspired eco-towns were all being submitted to the Department for Communities and Local Government by developers and that specific information about the sites for them was being withheld from the Regional Assemblies. The Assemblies have been told that they will have to 'retro-fit' them into their Regional Spatial Strategies. There was a proposal for a 40% increase in the housing requirements over and above present allocations.
North of England Civic Trust: Peter repeated what had been said in the past, that this organisation is completely separate from the Civic Trust and was using the Trust's name inappropriately. The area it covered was that of the old North of England regions i.e. Cumberland, Westmoreland and Northumberland. It didn't have members as such and obtained its funding from consultancy fees and sponsorship. It is in effect a business organisation promoting similar ends to those of the Civic Trust but charging fees for its advice. Peter had attended a promotional event of the organisation and had been in the company mainly of architects and developers.
He had spoken to Peter Bembridge over what he saw as a serious clash of identity; many people he spoke to thought that it was a part of the Civic Trust. Peter Bembridge was consequently in consultation with the Trust's solicitors and the Charity Commissioners over the matter.
Peter admitted that the organisation was very good at what it did, going about its purpose in a business-like manner and were able to obtain sponsorship from companies for individual events.
Other contacts: Peter reported that Stephen Langtree had been to the last meeting of the Heritage Forum.
The South Lakes District Council had held a workshop on the new planning application form, designated 1 APP, which would be mandatory from the 1st April 2008. This has been designed as an online application form although it would still be available in hard copy form for those without computers or access to the Internet.

23.6     Contact with the Civic Trust and Other Societies:
Truro Civic Trust: Peter reported that while he had been in Truro he had made contact with the chairman. In order to promote the Trust and his own group he had had produced two PowerPoint presentations for use with other groups and schools. Peter said that Alberta Stevens had shown interest in a national Civic Trust PowerPoint presentation onto which local societies could add their own input. It was suggested that Peter ask the Truro Chairman for a copy of his presentations.
Leeds Civic Trust: Peter said he had been impressed with the way Leeds not only had its own book shop and allowed corporate membership and affiliated groups but had a manned office to which there could be access for members and the public on a daily basis.
Lytham St Annes Civic Society: Peter said he had met Alberta Stevens on Preston railway station; she had been visiting Lytham St Annes to speak to them. He had discussed a number of issues with her including merchandising such as ties and other items displaying the Civic Trust logo.

23.7    Forward Planning:Peter opened the discussion by going over his précis of the responses he had received to the Kevin Trickett questionnaire which he had sent to all committee members. He had had only three or four replies which he felt was disappointing. There was a feeling that their ought to be a regular dialogue with the national body on the fundamental question of what the Trust stood for, what it should be covering and the means to these ends.
The need for a focal point or centre giving ready access for members was essential if the NWActs was to be genuinely useful.
Kathy said that a clearer statement on what was achievable and what was not was a necessity. She felt that the costs of running an actual centre was questionable and that a virtual office would be as usable and accessible and much cheaper to run.
While continuing to cater for those without access to the Internet, it was felt that the future of connectivity with members lay in that direction and that those without such access would become smaller with time.
Peter mentioned funding via sponsorship and corporate membership and wondered whether committee members thought this could lead to a conflict of interests. It was felt that this would not be an issue if it was made clear at the outset that corporate membership gave no extra privileges and the benefits of such memberships would come from being seen as being aligned with and promoting the Civic Trust and its principals.
Susan asked if there was a blueprint for our regional assemblies. Kathy explained that they had originally grown from a desperate situation at national level when the regions had held things together while the national Trust sorted itself out. She said there was and is a basic constitution for all the regions although, as Peter pointed out, some regions were acting differently to others. Kathy acknowledged this and said that there may be a case for some co-ordination. Susan suggested that it might be useful to get all the regional committees together for discussion. Although this was felt to be possibly a little cumbersome by some, it was agreed that Peter should put this idea, with the suggestion that the Trust organise such a national meeting, to the Annual General Meeting.
Peter referred to an email from the national body containing a questionnaire asking what each local society does; this is to help it to gain recognition with the government.
It was noted that the national body didn't know who its individual members were as most were members solely through their own societies which were each registered with the Trust as a block. It was suggested that each member could be invited to pay £1 which would entitle them to be contacted directly and sent information on an individual basis.
Kathy didn't agree with this as she felt that individual memberships were not very useful. However Iain pointed out that there was no other option for individuals where they didn't have a local society which they could join; he suggested that a compromise might be to restrict individual memberships to such areas.
Peter suggested that a publicity pack could be prepared by the Civic Trust, along with the PowerPoint presentation suggested above, and that each committee member could then visit individual societies to promote the Civic Trust, leaving copies of the pack with them.
Brian pointed out that it had recently come to his notice that the national body had not told a new member society of the existence of the Regional assembly.
Adrian said that if the Civic Trust expected to get extra money from the membership it needed to offer something for it; larger societies could for instance subsidise poorer ones. Investment in communication was definitely needed and to offer free access to the new Civic Trust network would help in this.
Peter referred to the packaging folder, proposed and discussed by the committee over the last year and priced by Brian, and said it was probably not the way forward as a promotional exercise. The folders were likely to become outdated before they had all been used.

23.8     Any Other Business: Brian suggested that as the issues discussed had not ended in any resolutions he felt that more time should be given to forward planning at the next meeting cutting routine business to a minimum. This was agreed.

23.9     Dates for meetings in 2008:The next meeting to be at 11.00 am for 11.15 am on Saturday the 2nd February, 2008 at the same venue, County Hall, Preston.
Subsequent meetings as follows:
Saturday, 12th April 2008.
Saturday, 5th July 2008 followed by the Annual General Meeting at 2.00 pm.
Saturday, 4th October 2008.

The meeting closed at 3.15 pm