Agenda item
175th Anniversary of the Welsh Harp Reservoir
Minutes:
Following on from the discussion which was held at the last meeting of this committee, the committee further considered how to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Welsh Harp Reservoir. The Chair explained that she had received an email from Sue Harper, Assistant Director for Leisure & Registration (Brent Council), stating that there were a number of areas of work, which the Council carried out around the Welsh Harp, that could be linked to the celebrations. She added that it was difficult to be specific as to how Brent Council could be involved with the celebrations until they knew when an event might take place. The Chair notified the committee that Sue Harper had informed her that Brent Council had recently produced a new Brent Sports Physical Activity Strategy which had identified water sports as a new priority sport for the Borough and that Brent Council was keen to increase their joint working with the sports clubs based at the Welsh Harp and that this could possibly be linked to the celebrations. The Chair stated that she would pass this information onto the Welsh Harp Sailing Association.
The committee discussed options for the celebrations. The Chair informed the committee that it was very unlikely that any funding for the celebrations would be available. It was noted that at the previous meeting, the committee discussed the possibility of linking the celebrations with the Kingsbury Open Day. Following a discussion, the committee agreed that as long as the organisers of the Kingsbury Open Day agreed, tying in the celebrations with the Kingsbury Open Day would be the best option. Discussion with the organisers would need to take place as to how this would best work. The Chair informed the committee that she would write to the organisers seeking their permission to tie in the celebrations with the Kingsbury Open Day. It was agreed that the Chair and Councillor Motley would contact the Brent Magazine to investigate whether the Magazine could advertise the celebrations. It was suggested that a procession of boats on the reservoir could also be a good way to celebrate the anniversary. The Chair suggested that the Welsh Harp Sailing Association could look into the practicalities of doing this. A suggestion was also made to hold a regatta, similar to what used to be held many years ago. However concerns were raised over the practically of holding a regatta and the dangers this would pose to the environment and wildlife.
The importance of using the exhibition on the history of the Welsh Harp, co-ordinated by Hugh Petrie (Heritage Officer, Barnet Council), as part of the celebrations was noted. With regards to the exhibition it was requested that information about the exhibition be sent to all schools in Brent via the school circular. This had already been done for the schools in Barnet. The Chair drew the committee’s attention to the invites, which had been sent to members of the committee with the papers for this meeting, to attend a private viewing of the exhibition celebrating 175 Years of the Brent Reservoir at the Church Farmhouse Museum on Sunday 17 January 2010. It was agreed that this invite should be sent to all Barnet and Brent Councillors.
The Committee unanimously agreed to appoint Councillor Hart (Barnet Council) to lead the co-ordination of the celebrations.
RESOLVED:-
i. Councillor Hart to lead the co-ordination of the celebrations;
ii. that the celebrations be tied in with the Kingsbury Open Day subject to the agreement of the organisers of the Kingsbury Open Day;
iii. that the following actions be undertaken;
a. the Chair to write to the organisers of the Kingsbury Open Day;
b. the Chair and Councillor Motley to contact the Brent Magazine to investigate whether the magazine could advertise the celebrations;
c. that information regarding the exhibition on the history of the Welsh Harp Reservoir be sent to all schools in Brent via the school circular;
d. that all councillors be invited to the private viewing of the exhibition being held in Church Farmhouse Museum on Sunday 17 January 2010.