Extraordinary General Meeting 9 Nov 2009
Sixty-four members gathered in the Dining Room at midday to discuss the proposed plans for a replacement pontoon; the Commodore, Stuart Munro, chaired the meeting with the Honorary Secretary, Clive Page, in attendance and Adrian Fluker, heading the Premises and Moorings Committee, gave a presentation.
The present pontoon
Adrian started with an overview of the current sitation. The present pontoon has been in place since 1986, was never intended to stay in situ all year round and is of lightweight construction, being the only kind available at that time. It has always been a high-maintenance item and is in sore need of attention at the moment. Adrian doubted whether we would be able to replace ‘like-with-like’ as the current pontoon would be considered too narrow to be acceptable for modern standards.
Agencies with an interest
He stressed the problems of undertaking a project of this kind with so many agencies needing to be consulted, the Crouch Harbour Authority, Maldon District Council, English Heritage, English Nature and the Marine & Fisheries Agency.
The Club is sited within a sensitive area, within the SAC, (Special Area of Conservation), SPA (Special Protection Area), SSSI (Special Site of Scientific Interest) as well as being within the curtilage of a Grade 2* listed building.
Adrian foresaw that Natural England might have an interest but was hopeful that a full environmental study would not be necessary, an approach consistent with their previous practice for other jetties and pontoons on the river.
Finances
The current financial situation of the Club is quite different from that of 1985 – it was then necessary to sell a valuable oil painting and there was a compulsory levy on all members. Today we are able to fund this project although several Members have offered financial support and a small sum might be gained for the sale of the current pontoon.
Invitations to tender
Invitations to tender had been sent to three companies of which Solent Marine was the preferred contractor although not yet appointed. This company has had thirty years experience with projects ranging in price from £20K to £2 million. The proposed design is of much heavier construction than the present pontoon, with concrete floats guaranteed for 25 years and the decking and connectors guaranteed for 10 years. The current piles are in good condition and can be reused.
Questions and answers Members then raised various issues, including the site of the new piles, the angle of the hammerhead, ongoing maintenance, arrangements for the launching of dinghies, repairs to the old concrete slip and the state of the Club’s reserves and ongoing and future demands upon same. All such questions were responded to by Adrian, the Commodore and the Hon Treasurer.
The Resolution The Commodore read the proposed resolution circulated to members, which was proposed by Mick King, seconded by Mathew Anthony and carried unanimously on a show of hands with one abstention.