Minutes of the Newark Ramblers Committee Meeting held at Oscar's Inn, Baldertongate on Thursday 19 March 2026

Present            Alan Burrell               Chair

                          Brigid Murphy           Group Secretary

                          Chris Small               Membership Secretary

                          Caroline Lee             Walks Coordinator

                          Stephen Swanwick  Assistant Walks Coordinator

                          James McGill            Assistant Footpaths Officer

                          Peter Robinson        Committee Member

                          Adele Burrell             Committee Member

1. Apologies

Janet Palmer, Jacqui Anderson, Dave Johnson

2. Minutes of last meeting – matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda

Action points have been completed.

3. Reports from Officers

Individual reports from officers had been circulated in advance and gave rise to the following points. [Note: Brigid holds the reports and will supply copies on request.]

The walk leader training session went well, and one of those attending has already put a walk on the programme.

There was some discussion about how the tick boxes on Walks Manager should be completed. For clarity it’s sometimes best to add narrative about café, toilets etc in the walk description in addition to completing the tick boxes.

On rights of way (ROW) matters, James reported that there was to have been a hearing about the Trent Hills footpath near East Stoke, but this is now in abeyance waiting for probate in respect of one of the landowners. Dave had reported that Area have formally objected to the proposed closure of Carlton Ferry Lane, Collingham, a closure which would have a marked effect on walking and riding access in the area.

Until we have a measure of assurance that the ROW system at Notts County Council is working as it should, with a scheme for reporting problems and for action to be taken, the meeting agreed that there is little point in doing anything more at present to put in place volunteer path wardens. Helen Bates of Ramblers Central Office has asked if Newark group would like path maintenance tools that Lincoln group are giving away. As we haven’t yet been able to progress with a footpath maintenance group, committee asked James to respond in the negative.

Jacqui had asked if committee wanted a newsletter to be produced following the meeting. It was agreed that one was not necessary at the moment.

Action point:

James to respond to Helen Bates about path maintenance tools.

4. Correspondence

There has been an email exchange with one of our members who complained about the fact that there are not always two walks put on by Newark group on Wednesdays, and sometimes numbers are restricted on the walks that are available. The meeting was content with the response that Alan sent. The weather has been bad this winter, with the result that some leaders have not wanted to put walks on. This is likely to change now the weather is improving. Some of our leaders are only comfortable putting on walks if they can restrict the numbers, so if this were not allowed, we would probably have fewer walks offered. Central Office recommendation is for a ratio of one leader to 8 walkers, and although committee have previously agreed that Newark group won’t insist on such a low ratio – our walks are never more than “moderate” in difficulty, and we encourage walk leaders to use back and middle markers where appropriate – nor would we want to insist that walk leaders take large numbers if they are not comfortable doing so. We should try to follow central Ramblers guidance wherever possible and one of the guiding principles emphasised in the walk leader training is that you should lead within your own capabilities. Committee agreed that it is really important that we should continue to make members from other groups and guests feel welcome on our walks.

Caroline has had an email from Central Office thanking us for all the work our group has done to ensure walk leaders are trained and registered.

5. Report back from Area AGM 1 February

Caroline and Dave attended. The speaker was interesting. Tom Munro was elected as Area Chair. Adrian Amer resigned as Vice-Chair. There are a number of vacant positions for officers at Area level.

6. Newark Group AGM November 2026

At the last meeting Brigid had asked for suggestions of venues for the AGM in November. As it is to be on a Sunday this year the Inspire and Town Hall locations will not be possible. We would be looking to keep room hire at about the £100 mark. A Newark town centre location would be best. Suggestions were the new community room at the Parish Church and the Lovers Lane Scout Hall. Away from the town centre, other possible locations are Coddington Village Hall and Collingham Memorial Hall. It was also mentioned that the group had once used a meeting room upstairs in the Chesters pub in Balderton.

Action Point:

Brigid to follow up and book one of the above locations if they are available, suitable, and within our price range.

7. AOB

1. Brigid had received an update from Central Office on the Ramblers App. They are aware it still isn’t working properly for everyone, but progress is being made, with updates being released and a new build coming soon. Committee agreed that it would be left to walk leaders whether they want to use the app or prefer to keep the register for their walks in another way.

1. There have been ongoing problems with entering wellbeing walks on the Walks Manager system as the duplication function isn’t working properly. This issue has been escalated to Central Office several times but hasn’t yet been fixed. All the various ways of viewing the walks programme – Ramblers main website, Ramblers App, Newark Ramblers website, the pdf file sent out by Brigid – flow automatically, once Caroline has approved publication, from the entries walk leaders put on Walks Manager. There isn’t an easy work-round to keep showing all the wellbeing walks on the programme. The meeting agreed that the action taken for the April programme was a good compromise. Peter will enter each wellbeing walk once for each month with a note in the description that the walk is held every week.

1. Peter drew the meeting’s attention to the NK Walking Festival https://www.hillholtwood.co.uk/nk-walking-festival Brigid will send out an email to members about this nearer the time, after the next committee meeting.

1. Caroline has been passed a box containing items that have been used for display boards in the past. Alan will have a look through it and Brigid will store any items of historical interest with the other historical documents she holds.

1. There have been a few instances recently of walkers approaching walk leaders directly to ask for individual exceptions to restrictions that have been advertised on the programme for a walk, for example to bring a non-assistance dog on a walk that isn’t marked as dog-friendly, or to allow an additional person on a walk with limited numbers. Caroline will remind walk leaders that they should resist these requests, as it isn’t fair to other walkers and could give the impression that the rules are applied differently for some people.

1. “Sports Day” evening will be held on 11 August. Refreshments will not be provided this year. Chris volunteered to mind the pavilion building so that we can have it open.

Action Points:

In future, Peter to enter each wellbeing walk on Walks Manager once a month only.

Brigid to send out an all members email about the NK Walking Festival after the May Committee Meeting.

Alan to pass to Brigid any items to be retained from the box of display documents.

Caroline to include something in her next email to walk leaders asking them not to make individual exceptions to any restrictions they have placed on their walks.

8. Date of next meeting

Tuesday 19 May

BM

20 Mar. 26