Area Secretary: Alan Rugman, Perth y Bu House, Mochdre, Newtown SY16 4JX   
T: 01686 626366 M: 07732 787651 E: secpowysramblers@gmail.com

MINUTES OF THE 2024 AGM OF THE POWYS AREA OF RAMBLERS CYMRU
SUNDAY 8 DECEMBER 2024 AT CLIVE’S OWN SCOUT HEADQUARTERS AND COMMUNITY CENTRE (‘COWSHACC’), BERRIEW STREET, WELSHPOOL SY21 7TE 

(SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION)

Chair’s introduction
The meeting was chaired by Graham Taylor in the absence of Alan Austin because of a health issue.

Attendance
The meeting was attended by six members of Powys Area, numbers being reduced by travel conditions in the wake of Storm Darragh.

Apologies
An apology from Fiona Leslie was received before the meeting and others are recorded by virtue of travel or other problems: Alan Austin, Richard Tyler, Susan Havard, Emlyn and Shirley Williams, David Markwell, David Rees, Chris Playford and Peter Loughran

Minutes
The minutes of the 2023 AGM at Knucklas Community Centre were approved without amendment; proposed and seconded by Graham Taylor and Geoff Beilby.

Matters arising
None were raised.

Chair’s report
Key points from Alan Austin’s written report and others mentioned to Graham Taylor:

o	Protection and improvement of public rights of way: Action included contact with Powys CC councillors and officers, particularly pressing for better use of volunteers and community councils. There had also been engagement with the volunteer working group, and coverage in the broadcast media and local press.
o	The Paths to Prosperity project had been successfully completed, with path improvements around Welshpool, Llangors and Coelbren.
o	A booklet of challenging walks around Elan Valley, dedicated to the memory of Chris Jones, had been produced by Powys Area members and launched at a successful meeting at the Visitor Centre attended by about 50 people. Publicity would follow. Unspent money for the project (£367.90) could be used to purchase copies of the booklet for later sale.
o	Graham Taylor had continued to Chair the Local Access Forum and had been elected to co-chair Ramblers Cymru. In that capacity he had become a Trustee of Ramblers GB.
o	Welshpool and East Radnor Groups continued to provide full programmes of walks.
o	Our President, John Jones, was thanked for his contribution to walking and music.
o	There was a continuing need to address succession to key roles on the Area Council. Forthcoming changes to the governance structure of Ramblers might be relevant (see Ramblers GB/Cymru update below).
o	Thanks went to members who supported Ramblers through membership but didn’t join group walks or participate in other ways.

Footpath Secretary’s report
Key points from Graham Taylor’s report:
	
o	Powys CC continued to fail in its statutory duties towards public rights of way; there was little sign of significant change. Only about a third of the footpath network was open and easy to use. There was a backlog of about 10,000 recorded complaints by footpath users. The disparity with the greatly better situation in Bannau Brycheiniog NP had been impressed on the Council Leader.
o	Comments had been given on 180 planning applications affecting public rights of way. Countryside Services had however recently stopped sending notifications. It was hoped to find ways around the situation.
o	Few public path orders had been received. It was unclear whether PCC intended to proceed with a moratorium on such orders. An objection to an order at Ystradgynlais had been withdrawn in view of a satisfactory resolution. PCC was expected to soon produce a committee report on a long-outstanding Definitive Map Modification Order at Fold Farm, Presteigne.
o	Monk’s Trod: objections had continued to be made to expenditure of about £1million on works for the benefit of motor-cyclists.
o	Wind farms and pylons: The proposed Esgair Galed wind farm close to Glaslyn and Dylife would be crossed by the Cambrian and Glyndwr’s Ways. There was tension between landscape and renewable energy policies, especially in view of UK Government policy towards the latter. Representations would however be made on impacts on the walking environment. Any community funding should include improvement of public footpaths. The existing Ramblers Cymru policy on renewable energy was out of date and being redrafted.
o	Sustainable Farming Scheme: Ramblers Cymru had engaged with the latest Welsh Government proposals for farm support. It was important for payments to include cross-compliance with maintenance of public paths across farmland.
o	Local Development Plan: preliminary representations had already been made.

Trails Officer’s report
There were concerns about reduction in funding of National Trails in Wales. There were however no serious issues with the Cambrian Way. Workshops looking at the future of the Elenydd (Cambrian Mountains), organised by the RSPB and Coventry University, had been attended.

Membership Secretary’s report
Powys membership was stable at around 259/260. National membership was now over the important figure of 100,000. Over half the national and Powys membership was however aged between 60 and 80, the Powys average age being 71. The long-term serious implications were obvious.

Treasurer’s report
The closing year-end balance on 30 September 2024 was £2,147.03. A basic budget request of £427.44 had been made for 2024/25. Membership and funding had been reduced by closure of the Four Wells Group. Both Welshpool and East Radnor Groups had requested a full basic allocation for 2024/25.

Ramblers GB and Cymru update (Given by Graham Taylor as Ramblers Cymru Co-Chair and member of the Board of Trustees)
Discussion about governance structure was continuing. It did not appear that Areas and Groups would be greatly affected, although the number of Areas in Wales might be reduced from eight to four. Voting at General Council would probably be changed to one person one vote; a similar formula for the Ramblers Cymru AGM would probably follow. A new ‘supporter’ membership category was likely to be introduced, with a target of two million joiners. A threatened staff reduction at the Cardiff office had been shelved.

The 2025 Ramblers Cymru AGM would be at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells on 22 and 23 March 2025. As the event would be in Powys, the Area should offer strong support. Graham Taylor would lead the walk.  

Motions
None were proposed.
Election of Honorary Officers, Representatives and Auditor
All current Officers were willing to remain in post, with Stephen Hughes becoming Consultant Countryside Officer. The following were unanimously elected:

President                                                          John Jones
Chair                                                                Alan Austin                                    
Deputy Chair                                                   Vacant
Secretary                                                          Alan Rugman
Treasurer                                                          Susan Havard
Footpath Secretary                                           Graham Taylor 
Trails Officer                                                   Richard Tyler				
Consultant Countryside Officer                      Stephen Hughes
Membership Secretary                                    Geoff Beilby                        	
Honorary Auditor                                            Peter Loughran 

East Radnor representatives                            Emlyn and Shirley Williams 
Welshpool representatives                              Gerry Skinner and David Markwell

Other organisations representatives:
Equestrian interests                                         Michael Mosse
Cycling UK                                                     Geoff Beilby

Individual members                                        Chris Playford and Geoff Beilby

Group reports
Welshpool Group: The Group was thriving with walks every other Sunday throughout the year. Turnout was usually about 15. The 2025 walks programme had been printed and would go to all members. Members had volunteered for footpath improvement work around Welshpool as part of the Paths to Prosperity project.

East Radnor Group: Membership had risen to 153 with the transfer of 34 members from Four Wells Group. There were walks every week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the former being more popular. A four-day ‘holiday’ at Tenby in June 2024 had been enjoyed by over 30 walkers. The 2025 event would be at Newport, Pembrokeshire. Members also worked with the Presteigne volunteer team.

Any other business
Proposed new National Park in north-east Wales: It was agreed that Powys Ramblers should support the proposal. Alan Rugman had already written to Natural Resources Wales to give his own support and would circulate a draft Area response along the same lines.

Date and venue of the next AGM
To be decided by the Area Council

Alan Rugman, Area Secretary, December 2024