EAST CORNWALL AND WEST DEVON ATHLETICS FORUM

Apologies: C McGhee; C Bunting; B Phillips; M Erith; C Ede; D Dane

Steve Snooks and Louise Oates attended to update the Forum on Brickfields and CARP funding. Some of the key points were:

§ Currently in discussion with Albion who are looking to gain 125 year lease on their existing site.

§ In exchange for two areas of land they will give the Council an area for the sports hall.

§ There is currently a planning application in for the substation; needed for a new electrical supply.

§ Plans will be able at the next Forum meeting.

§ Talking to MoD about the purchase of the bottom part of the site – this could perhaps be used for the 8 lane running track. Planners do not see a problem with this. This will be within the Local Plan as a development for the future.

§ Also looking at having an indoor athletics site.

§ Looking at having a leisure card facility on site (a smart card).

§ CARP funding - £160k.

§ The project is being managed by the Corporate Centre.

§ Floodlights – currently working with Midas. 8 columns, 12 or 15m high, set on 2 x 2 x 2m concrete footings. Only looking at 100 luxe currently; suitable for training and club level competition. Can increase this when we have more money.

§ Track – retexturing. Will possibly go out to tender. As far as timescales are concerned we are looking to retexture the track in April.

§ Question of venue for athletics to meet, store equipment etc could be looked at.

S Endacott said he was disappointed that the facilities were not more suitable for athletics. N Rowe advised that it was Sport England and UKA and not PCC who turned down the 8 lane option.

S Endacott has particular problem with the lack of training facilities.

C Carpenter asked if they had looked at putting speakers on the lights – L Oates said this could be looked at.

S Payne asked who controls the floodlights and who pays for the power used. L Oates said they will be controlled from the sports hall and costs may be absorbed into the hire costs, the cost of which may be reviewed.

P Ross asked if we start at 100 luxe what would the deterioration rate be. L Oates said this was an issue they would have to look into and it may be that they would start off at a slightly higher luxe rating to accommodate this deterioration.

Brickfields: Case of portaloos – two toilets trackside will be open on Saturday mornings.

Coaching: M Erith sent a copy of the minutes of the coaching meeting held on 15.11.04. N Rowe will get in touch with M Erith to progress this. We need to put together a development paper. Next meeting – 17.1.05.

Composite Club: K Reed said the pre-meeting tonight was well attended. Provisional name – Armada AF. Kit – black/white with Forum logo. Entering league. Coach will pick up from Liskeard, Tavistock, Plymouth and Ivybridge. Charges for the coach will be on a pro rata basis; clubs will pay for however many athletes they have travelling and then charge their own members as they feel fit. They would like at least one training evening for juniors who want to be involved. Also training evening for seniors to try different events. Please take this back to the clubs.

The Women’s Southern League have provisionally said they will expect a composite club for this season.

South West Counties Road Running Development: Further meeting and now needs moving along. The development plan is being worked on. Creating a pathway from club level to international level.

Had lots of literature about the unattached levy going from £1-£2. Lots of meetings being held to resolve this issue. For the rest of the year the levy will remain at £1.

Hoe 10: P Ross advised that most things are now in place. Waiting on St Johns Ambulance to get back. 250 entries so far; double last year’s. Please let your runners know they had better enter quickly. P Ross advised that as part of the race three would be a Devon v Cornwall challenge. There is talk of making it a more regional challenge; other counties are interested. 10 men and 6 ladies in each team. We agreed to put up a trophy for this event and teams will receive complimentary entries. Hopefully Cornwall will put up trophies for the winning team members. We desperately need marshals; we need 30 but currently only have 7.

Club Development Workshop: P Ross said this was fairly well attended. CRB checks were discussed.

South of England/AAA: Another round of consultation taking place on 19^th February 2005, 10.30 am at Exeter Arena.

Devon Schools Cross Country Championships: 22^nd January 2005 at Staddiscombe from 10-5. Clubs will have the opportunity to put A5 leaflets up there to promote their clubs. Any help would be appreciated – contact Keith or Deborah.

Finance Update: J Crockford advised that we currently have £6,920.57 in the bank, £62 cash and £912 cheques to be paid in.

Plymouth Half Marathon: We will be full by the end of this month – let your members know!

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Club secretaries should have received information on seminar on road running, 13^th February 2005 at Bath Uni organised by Martin Rush.

Clubs will be having preliminary notification of AAA AGM. Please look at the paperwork and use your vote. It is important that you use your vote, even if you don’t attend!

Seminar on community amateur sports clubs to be held on 2^nd March between 6.30-9.00 pm at Windsor House.

Community Sports Coaches posts advertised. Posts for 3 years. Appointment of full time athletics post in Plymouth.

Looking at chip system that can be used for races up to about 600 competitors. P Ross said P Furley is looking to buy this equipment. Could possibly purchase it on a joint basis.

J Crockford has written to the Navy re use of the track. They said they would pay the invoice but to date we have heard nothing from them.

M Elliott said IS will be hosting a half marathon disco at the Mermaid, Eggbuckland. Members of other clubs will be welcome.

Plymouth Harriers have a London Marathon trip - £120.

G Sansom mentioned PAC’s clubhouse proposal. They would be interested to see what the interest would be from other clubs. PAC feel there should be a facility right next to the track for us all to use. There is a space available. A modular clubhouse would cost £300/400k. They need support to make sure we do not end up with a glorified changing room. PAC would give up their current land usage.

P Ross said firstly we need to find out how secure the building would be. Alan Howarth of PAC Committee is an architect and they could ask him to progress the matter. N Rowe said this needs to be done first, then look at funding. It should be borne in mind that next year’s budget allocation for Leisure does not cover the wage increase for that department.

K Reed advised that Grand Prix results are up-to-date on the website.

P Ross thanked all those who turned up on Boxing Day at Burrator.

Hoe 10 forms available.

List of Devon events available (as far as is known by P Ross).

Still waiting on road race reports for Duckponds and Tavistock.

SEAA – does not cost anything to tick the box to include cross country!

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

14^th February 2005.