As some of you will be aware the water is now back on. As soon as it was turned on we sprang a leak. Steve Yorke yet again dug down 3 foot of mud to get to the fault. Steve Medcalf this time helped to repair it. I dread to think how much it would cost us to get a plumber in to repair our system but I guarantee it would not be for free. Please, please, report any dripping tap or obvious leak. Do not leave hose pipes attached to the taps and double check you have turned the taps off.
Jackie
Posted in Home on 30th Mar 2019|
If anyone would like a small glass greenhouse please contact me. Swop or low cost. Will put you in touch with the owner. First come first served.
One of the garden holders has lost a set of very important keys, he thinks on the allotments somewhere. If anyone has found a set or comes across a set on your travels around the site would you please return them to Jackie so she can get them back to the person who has lost them. The keys have a metal belt loop to attach them to trousers.
Thanks
Jackie
Posted in Home on 11th Mar 2019|
Below is the agenda for Sunday 17th’s AGM.
Please note I don’t intend to supply so many paper copies of last years minutes in bulk this year as it is such a waste of resources. 2 copies will be displayed for reading before the meeting. I will read the minutes out at the start. The minutes are posted below please feel free to print your own by cut and paste. Or email me and I will send a copy to you electronically. If you have a subject to raise under AOB please tell me before the start if possible. Jackie
AGENDA AGM 17th MARCH 2019
Apologies
Minutes & Matters arising from 18th March 2018.
Chairman’s report.
Treasurer’s report. (To be delivered by secretary)
Secretary.
1.State of play with gardens and Inspection.
2. Dobies seed discount
3. Repair to main fence.
Main Agenda Items
Water saving and how last years usage and the new billing system affects us and the water charges.
Introduction of Helpful Watering information.
Community days: Frequency, timings. Ideas from floor.
New council proposals for new lease and rent charges and choices facing us.
Suggested rent rise this year.
Committee Nominations
A.O. B
Posted in Home on 10th Mar 2019|
MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON 18TH MARCH 2018
DRAFT VERSION
Present: Steve Yorke, Steve Medcalf, Jackie Medcalf, Steve Porter, Adam Wheat, Jane Bowden, Adrian Robbins, Robin Roberts, Paul Barron, Kay Barron, Ronnie Gayle, Mary Corbett and Sara Davies
Apologies: Steve Williams, Mark Robinson, Tom Hutchinson, Peter Grove and Kay Graham.
The Chairman: Steve Yorke opened the meeting at 10.30am by welcoming those that had attended. His remarks included mentioning the very successful show we had held in September and went on to thank the committee for the previous years work and for those non-committee members who had helped out during the year.
The Secretary: Jackie Medcalf then read out the minutes of 19th March 2017.
There were no matters arising or questions and the minutes were passed as an accurate reflection of the meeting. Steve Medcalf proposed and seconded by Robin Roberts.
In the absence of Steve Williams (Treasurer), Jackie explained that we as a committee had approved the accounting year dates to be changed from April to March to the Calendar year so to January to December. This had been done so that only one set of accounts had to be produced not two sets with one going to companies house at a different time of year from the end of March. So not only do we have to inform the City Council of how our money is spent but we also submit the accounts to Company House for scrutiny there. The bank account can only have monies withdrawn or spent via 2 signatures. Jackie had been informed that a tenant had been speculating on how monies are spent and accounted for. Hopefully, this will clarify the situation.
The Council had finally caught up with the rent bills so they have been paid. The ring-fenced key money held was £1550. The stock balance (compost) was £807 so the workable balance as of 31/12/17 was £5861.51.
The inspection had gone ok. A few gardens were not hitting the 50% cultivation some of which were spoken to last year. Also the fact that we still had too much barbed wire around.
Jackie reported that basically she had know met the council’s “Policy” requirements for the new lease apart from the Waiting list as we were waiting to look at a new database from the council that should allow direct input of comings and goings. A risk assessment had been completed for the pathways and boundaries though officially we do not need a written one.
A Health and Safety advisory notice had been written and this had been done as a shared document with the council and had there approval and input. This was about personal safety and trying to make sure everyone was working as safely as possible and also had some realisation of what could happen if they had an accident or were taken ill. One of the main issues was banning people from bringing hazardous materials onto the site. This document would be published on the web and on notice boards after the meeting. It would also form part of a new tenancy agreement and constitution and some point in the future.
Jackie reported that she had received an important paper from the council on Friday afternoon. Evidently, there had been consultations with the direct sites over rent structures based on the council costs of running the service. They were now opening this consultation up to the associations. Basically, they are saying they cannot afford to run allotments as they do now and there will be charges for letters warning for breach of tenancy and for actual breaches of tenancy. The rent will go up in increments to 56p per sq metre which if we were to follow that figure then our average rent would be around £240 per garden. From what the document says our rent will be set by an unknown as yet negotiation based on occupancy, the efficiency of management and having the new lease in place. Monies raised cannot offset rents which but if we receive 100 percent of our rent back, which is the plan then the obvious question is how can they control how we spend it or what the rent is set at. Jackie has asked for a meeting with the council and already replied asking for the lease to be speeded up and offering to use our experiences as a model for others.
Community Payback has been on site since 2011 doing a lot of the communal work and making sure we didn’t end up with overgrown derelict allotments. Last year we ran a charity garden which was successful, however, due to the privatisation of the scheme they can no longer commit to us on a regular basis so the charity garden has had to end.
Steve Yorke then presented the idea that we would have a communal work day on the 3rd Sunday every month, with jobs to be done published that people can volunteer for. With regard to the item above keeping a well-run site could be even more important than it is now. It was deemed a good idea and will start in April. We are only asking for a couple of hours of your time and if enough join in it will not be every month.
Steve then explained that the council have measured the site by satellite and it shows how over the years plots have changed. There is no compulsion for us to recharge our gardens but new tenants from October 1st will be charged the exact square meterage. If anybody wants there’s comparing we will do so but beware some rents will go up! Please note this will not be done retrospectively and the change will start from the new rental year in October. Jackie suggestion is that when we finally get the new lease and understand how our rent will be set in the future that then it will be an appropriate time to change all the rents over. Please note we are only talking a few pounds either way on the annual bill !!.
Steve talked about Mares Tail which is an increasing problem, please blitz it and keep on top of it. It can be burnt, treated with a mixture of vinegar and washing up liquid, or spayed with Curtail. If you need advice or help please ask.
Asbestos: If any more is found, there is an area outside Steve’s garden to deposit it. Don’t dump it. Seek help if you require it.
Metal drums have been provided for the barbed wire so it can be removed from the site.
Pallets. Our supplies of good fencing wood have dried up. We only have a small amount left. If anyone can confirm a new supplier please contact. They seem to be recycling them more.
The Chairman confirmed that all members of the committee are happy to stand again there were no objections from those present. New members would be welcome as then tasks could be split down more in the future. Also, some of the present committee will want to step down at some point.
The BBQ and Show will be held on Saturday 1st September any suggestions for activities/stalls etc will be gratefully received.
NO AOB’s although the Chairman did say that we appeared to be ahead of the game and thanked Jackie Medcalf for getting us into that position.
Summary
Firstly, thank you for those few who made the effort to attend on a cold Sunday morning or sent apologies for not doing so (5 only). As only 6 non-committee members attended there are a couple of points that I wish to summarize as they affect everybody.
Inspection 2018. Again please remove all barbed wire from your gates and fences as instructed last year at that AGM, also, see the Health and Safety Guidelines published today which re-iterate this.
We can no longer expect Community Payback to be on site as often as they have been. Communal jobs, therefore, need to be done by us. The third Sunday of the month starting in April will be a day of community jobs that need doing. We are hoping that many of you will be prepared to offer a couple of hours on a regular basis.
I received notification on the Friday before the meeting that due to council budgets there will be a massive hike in direct let allotment rents to 56p per sq mt over next 4 years this is the equivalent of our charges being £240 per garden per year. This will have a massive impact on the way our rent is set and looks as if it will be based on good management of the site and determined by the work we have done towards the new lease and subsequent management agreement.
The BBQ this year will be on Saturday 1st September.
If people wish to know more about any of the above then please feel free to contact me.
Jackie Medcalf
Secretary
We are continuing to have problems with the new water billing company basically they want to charge us monthly by direct debit based on last years usage. We want to get another no water usage month in so we will not turn the water back on until the end of March early April. Certainly for the next 2 weeks there is plenty of rain forecast so you should have enough stored for seedlings. If this causes any body real problems please talk to me.
Jackie
Posted in Home on 6th Mar 2019|
First of all the association (all of us) are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all our communal areas. It is therefore important if you see something that could be a hazard and can do something about it yourself then you should. At the very least you should report it to the Secretary or Chairman or any other member of the committee. But the health and safety of yourself and any other visitors to your allotment is your responsibility, we can only advise. If though a tenant is actively ignoring a Health and Safety breach or actively involved in making one then there will be no hesitation by the Committee of this Association to withdraw the tenancy from the tenant.
The following points are designed to be guidelines and are not policy however please bear in mind the previous statement.
Posted in Home on 12th Feb 2019|
We have 66 bags of compost and some canes being delivered on Thursday 14th a few extra hands to move the bags into the store would be very helpful. Delivery is between 1pm and half past although they often a little earlier.
Thanks
Jackie
Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association 