Present: Steve Yorke (Chairman), Jackie Medcalf (Secretary), Steve Williams (Treasurer). Jane Bowden, Phil Hilsden, Joe Dyer and Steve Medcalf.
Apologies: Ronnie Gayle and Paul Marshall.
Chairman and group welcomed our new treasurer to the committee.
M& M’s from 23rd March 2014.
Read and approved. Steve M and Phil proposed and seconded.
COMPOST SALES: Decided compost money from sales can go straight to Steve W. Jackie to keep eye on stock levels as last year.
GATE: Jackie attending meeting next week hopefully their will be some info re council extra funding.
GATE KEYS: Steve M in process of costing will report back next meeting.
Proposed changes to rent year which was accepted at AGM will go ahead. Hopefully it will make a difference to the state of gardens we can let each year.
Reg’s Pots. Garden number 37 had been let; two other people had been put off by the amount of pots in the garden. Decision made to get skip and have a clear out. Phil to explore “free cycle “on the net to see if we can get rid of any.
Chairman: Had no further feedback from AGM everyone seemed to be positive. Briefly explained about availability of pallets which basically can be supplied to any gardener as and when required.
Secretary: Jackie reported that all gardens had now been let apart from 31. The intention being to get on and do some clearing when her garden allowed some time.
Committee told of one gardener who will not be able to move on as quickly as he hoped due to personal circumstances. Committee to offer help if required.
Concern over Henry who has not been seen after obviously being very unwell,Jackie to write to him.
Already a few gardeners had made no effort at all during weeks since the rent year started and had therefore had missed the start of the main growing season. One disappointingly is a new tenant. Others had previously been mentioned at inspection or had after consideration decided to keep their gardens on.
Action: Jackie to write to all those falling behind towards end of month setting out standards and giving one month to comply. Further action then to be taken if no response.
Treasurer: Still have a fairly healthy bank balance even taking into account the compost bill. Decide later which big project to do obviously our expenditure on the gardens has to be reported to the council.
Steve pursuing changing signatories etc with the bank, feeling that we should stay with Lloyds as it was local even though they are not the most dynamic at sorting things out.
AGENDA ITEMS
Jackie would like to look at the rules and regulations and give them a more modern feel, closely based on the inspection requirements and also our own expectations. Agreed that work could be undertaken. Obviously any proposed rule change would have to go to the AGM.
Discussed Steve Y idea of allowing a garden to be paid for and then left to lie for a year if gardener’s personal circumstances warranted “time out”. In principal it’s a good idea but could lead to more problems than solves. Agreed to put on back burner for a while.
It was agreed that an admin charge of £10 would be introduced for late payment (without prior agreement of delay in payment on time) on the rent bills next year. It is ridiculously time consuming having to chase payments and making separate arrangements to collect rent, then banking the money etc around a dozen gardeners had been late this year.
Bees: Decided not to create an area for hives at on Steve W’s advice. One of his hives will be placed on his garden later in year. If any other gardener wishes to have a hive please talk to us first. Advice and help can then be given. Person needs to be a member of the Nottingham Bee keeping association and receive the appropriate training.
Show and BBQ: Again to be held on August Bank holiday Saturday so the 23rd August.
Agreed: Phil to be in charge of liquid refreshments. Jackie/Steve will do shopping, catering and cooking.
Joe will be head judge aided by Steve.
Steve to enq if Kay and Peter will do admin for show.
Jackie suggested we moved the “social side” of party to the orchard to give more room.
Mower: Steve M queried if we should again look at purchasing one to use on communal areas. All agreed it would help but all worried about security. To look at cost of a second -hand container, Maybe hire out space in it to gardeners.
Sadly our mean thief has struck again. Phil Shaw’s seed potatoes have been taken.
Secretary will do a notice re theft and access to others gardens. . Everyone agreed that this is a particularly mean low theft!
Wild flowers. Steve W raised prospect of having set aside areas to plant wild flowers which echoed Jackie’s ideas of forming some conservation areas. Would need to be signed designated areas to avoid well meaning but mistaken spaying.
Jackie to circulate dates for next meeting.
Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association 