MINUTES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 3rd SEPTEMBER 2016

15th Mar 2017 by Dogbury

PLEASE PRINT YOUR OWN COPY OF THIS ARTICLE IF YOU REQUIRE IT FOR THE AGM

OLD PARK FARM ALLOTMENTS COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY

DRAFT :  MINUTES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 3rd SEPTEMBER 2016

Present: Steve & Diane Yorke, David & Becky Kirkham, Mary Corbett, Diane Gavagan, Steve Porter & Maria Bredice,  Kay Graham & Peter Groves, Tom & Sarah Hutchinson, Ian Mathews & Martin Spilsbury. Shaun Taylor, Adam Wheat, Paul & Kay Barron. John Gallagher, Ronnie Gayle. Paul Hibbs, Osmond Okungbowa. Steve & Jackie Medcalf, Steve Williams. Plus some friends and families with apologies to anyone i have missed off.

The Chairman, Steve Yorke, welcomed everyone and thanked them for their attendance at this interim meeting, stating that despite a poor start due to the early season weather the year had been good on the whole. However we have a few gardens that are not doing so well and they would be getting a letter from the secretary, Jackie, very soon.

Steve went on to then explain the concerns we have about the number of fires we are having on the allotments. There had been some complaints over the last 18 months or so from members of the public. We had experienced incidents of gardeners burning things that should not be put on bonfires and which were causing too much smoke and smells.  We were having repeated problems with people misusing communal bonfires by putting the wrong and sometimes dangerous substances on them.  The committee were suggesting that we banned the use of brazier fires and just restricted all fires to burning Sundays and that by raising this now we were seeking a consensus from those present. There was an interruption from John Gallagher who accused another gardener of causing problems with his stove fires which caused smoke and then went on to accuse Steve Williams in particular of instigating this proposal out of self interest alone. Unfortunately he chose to conduct his arguments in a disruptive manner and in a way which was totally unacceptable in a meeting. His remarks were very personal designed to cause serious offence to  Steve.  The Chairman, the Secretary and others from the floor all objected to the language and tone he used and made it clear his attitude and language were unacceptable and offensive.

The secretary subsequently suggested that the atmosphere was not conducive to a reasonable discussion and that the proposal and any decision should be postponed to the new year. The Chairman therefore postponed the discussion to the AGM in March.

Jackie then explained the problems with water being left on on after gardeners had left the allotments leaving hosepipes running. This was an ongoing problem and there had been occurrences each season. Everyone understands that people make mistakes but if it’s an action that is reoccurring then we need to do something about it. However, there is no written guidance as to what action to take and is basically left to the discretion of the secretary. The tenancy agreement has stated that hose pipes should not be left attached to the water taps and the water taps should be turned off after use and water should not be running if the gardener is not present on the garden, however there is no sanction when this occurs. Hence repeated transgressions. Jackie wanted to ensure fairness and therefore wanted a policy to deal with such incidents.

Proposal was.

1st occurrence. The gardener is informed if not already aware and a verbal warning is given. This is kept as a written record by the secretary.

2nd occurrence. The gardener is issued a written warning and a record of this is kept by the secretary.

3rd occurrence. The gardener will be written to and warned that any further occurrence that season could lead to the termination of the tenancy agreement and a fine would be imposed.

The floor was in agreement and the question of how much that fine would be was left to the floor. The amount agreed on was £30 which was accepted by the majority in attendance.

The warnings would not be carried over to another season.

The new rent bill was explained and why the bill had increased and why it would do so again next year on October 1st 2017. A decision would be made on exactly how much that would be during 2016 this would be after we had received final confirmation from the council and had taken into account where the new lease agreement is in its completion.

The meeting closed at 13.30pm and the BBQ started.

As an extra note after the meeting several complaints were made as to the attitude and language used in the meeting by JG. After a discussion between the secretary and chairman a formal warning letter was sent to JG, he did not accept this and subsequently removed himself from the gardens.

Posted in Events, Minutes |

Information Requested

27th Feb 2017 by Dogbury

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHO HAS LEFT THE FULL WHITE BUILDERS SACK IN THE RECYCLING BAY AND ALSO WHO HAS PUT THE PILE OF SAND AND BROKEN TILES NEAR THE MAIN GATES ?

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO HEAR IT.  

CALL ME ON 07931 950950
JACKIE

Posted in Notices |

Annual General Meeting 2017

27th Feb 2017 by Dogbury

This years Annual General Meeting will be held on 19th March 2017 in the poly-tunnel adjacent to the association hut off the main area car park

Arrival and refreshments at 10:00am meeting to start promptly at 10.30am

To save on paper i am not printing copies of the previous meetings minutes, they will be read out. They will be published on the web site in a few days. Please read them and print your own copies off. The agenda will also be published prior to the meeting.If anyone has something for the agenda or wishes to contribute a topic, please get in touch with Jackie before Sunday 12th.

We are always on the lookout for new Committee Members if you would like to become one please see Jackie for a nomination form, alternatively you can access the form and print it off using the link below:

https://goo.gl/3FlIxm

This is your organisation please support it by turning up.

Thank you

Jackie Medcalf

Secretary

Posted in Events, News, Notices |

Compost Sales

20th Feb 2017 by Dogbury

For the information of all.  Compost and other supplies are now on sale from the association hut off the main car park.  To make things easier the hut will be staffed between 10am and 12 midday on Saturdays and Sundays for the next few weeks to facilitate sales.

Please be aware that these supplies are already selling fast and that at least a quarter of the compost we had delivered last week has already gone as well as half of the bamboo canes.  If you want some you need to come and get it while stocks last.  The price of supplies available are as follows:

  • Mother Earth Compost 70 litres – £4.20
  • Growbags – £2.60
  • Growmore Granules – 25 Kg – £16.00
  • Fish Blood and Bone Feed – 25 Kg – £12.00
  • Canes 8ft – £0.40 each
  • Lime – £4.30

If you want supplies outside of these times please find Steve Williams, Steve Yorke or Jackie and Steve Medcalf when they are available.  Also try and remember to bring the correct money for the items you want to buy as we struggle for change at times.

Posted in Sales, Services |

Compost Delivery 2017

10th Feb 2017 by Dogbury

The compost will be delivered next Tuesday 14th Feb between 9.30am and 10.30am, it’s not a massive order but a few helping hands to offload the lorry would be appreciated. Can you let me know if you can come along and help carry them into store.

Thank you

Jackie

Posted in Events, Sales |

NEWS AND REMINDERS

4th Feb 2017 by Dogbury

For information the inspection of the Allotments will take place on Friday 17th February.

This years compost delivery will be some time week commencing the 13th February,  please look out for pleas to help unload. I will not know exact times until 48 hours before delivery.

There are some price changes but as always we are not making a profit and are passing on the cost price to us with a little give and take as i have tried to reduce the more expensive items without us making a loss. They prices are as follows.

  • Mother Earth Compost 70lts – £4.20 –  (RRP £4.73)
  • Growbags – £2.60
  • Growmore Granules – £16.00 – (RRP £18.52)
  • Fish blood and bone – £12.00
  • Canes 8ft – £0.40 each
  • Lime – £4.30

The Annual General Meeting will be on Sunday 19th March. The meeting will start at 10.30am with refreshments and sign in from 10am.

Also I know we are all concerned about the pot holes on the main roadway. We have sourced a supplier of road stone and this will be delivered and laid by April.  We will be asking for gardeners help to do this work nearer the time.

Posted in Events, News, Notices, Sales |

Missing Cat

14th Jan 2017 by Dogbury

I am writing to various organisations in the Bilborough and Wollaton area to remind them that my cat Bramble is still missing. I have had three independent ‘sightings’ of him over the past week or so in the area around Harrison’s Plantation, including one today from Torvill Drive close to the junction with Old Coach Road where it passes over the railway line and another on Grantleigh Close, which crosses Old Coach Road a little further south.
If this is my cat, he may be hanging around Old Coach Road on either side of the railway line, so please keep a lookout for him. He may also be living in Harrison’s Plantation and visiting the area around Martins Pond. He will not go near Glaisdale Drive or Wollaton Road as he is terrified of traffic, although he is used to using the railway embankment as a thoroughfare.
I am attaching some photos of him. He is large (about 34″ long) with a bib but no white on his face. If you see him, please contact me at any time on 0115 928 2896, my neighbour Mae on 0115 928 6385 or my cousin Lynn on 0115 989 0243. Lynn can arrange for you to send a photo to her mobile or by email. If he looks unwell, please do not hesitate to contact the RSPCA. He is listed with them locally as missing and his reference no. is 2193. He is a patient with Ambivet on Lambourne Drive and is microchipped. The Vet on Glaisdale also has a poster about him.
Please feel free to forward this message to friends in the area, especially the block described by Lambourne Drive/Torvill Drive and Russell Drive as if Bramble is still with us, this is likely to be one of the places that he would go, the other possibly being Balloon Woods (where I have investigated some sightings of lookalike cats recently).

 

If you spot the cat please contact the owner or her other contacts above.

Posted in Lost And Found |

COUNCIL INSPECTION

13th Jan 2017 by Dogbury

We have not yet had our inspection for 2016, i have just received notification that from now on the inspections will be carried out in January/February each year. The results will be known within two weeks and follow up inspections if necessary will be in May.

I know that the majority of our gardens are in good order however there are some hedges that are over the council’s 5ft limit.If you have plastic chain fencing within the hedge then it is acceptable in my view to have a hedge of around 6ft.

I have not yet arranged a date but have been asked to do so.  

Please therefore will you as a matter of urgency get your hedges to the required standard and if you are one of the few with gardens that look unkempt and show signs of not reaching the standard last year please arrange to do the work within the next couple of weeks.

If you are unable to do your own hedges I will arrange for it to be done for you but at a cost of £10 to £20 pounds which will go towards the running of a charity garden we are setting up.

If your plot is not of the required standard when the second inspection takes place, you are likely to lose your tenancy.

Please contact me urgently if this causes you a problem, Jackie

Posted in Notices |

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