Wednesday 18 May 2016

Comments of Tony Heeson - Chair of the NAS' management Committee


Those of you who receive copies of “Allotment and Leisure Gardener” the National’s quarterly magazine may have seen the Chairman’s Comments section in issue 2 2016 (page 5). There were certain elements in that piece that seem to have relevance to the situation here in Bolton.

We reproduce it below, with some of our comments in italics, the National’s Management Committee Chairman – Tony Heeson wrote:-

Unfortunately, we are still hearing of local authorities that are attempting to make their allotment ‘Service’ cost neutral. This is essentially the case in Bolton with its ‘balanced budget’ which equates spending to the amount brought in in rents. Bolton would argue that the balance is only on ‘direct costs’ and that the (unquantified) costs of administrative and clerical time represent a subsidy. Certain of our members have disputed this, perhaps there is a case for a Freedom of Information Request to gain more information?

The usual way is to hike the rents up by ridiculous amounts (this is not the case in Bolton where rent increases have been kept in line with inflation. The National’s recent Survey suggest that Bolton’s rents are on the cusp between the top of the lower block of 59% (£20-£50 p.a.) and the bottom of the second lowest block of 16% (£50-£80 p.a.) ) or encourage sites to become self-managed or under devolved management (OMAs may loosely fit under devolved management) depending on the politics or fashion of the moment; all attempts to reduce the costs to the LA. Personally I am a big believer in self-management, but I have been around long enough to know that it is not a panacea and is not suitable for all occasions and situations.

We are now hearing of local authorities that are looking to commercial companies, although if the authority cannot run it at a small costs to the ratepayers, I don’t see how a commercial enterprise that by its very nature, has to make a profit, can hope to provide such a service. Others have reportedly asked voluntary organisations such as community groups to undertake the work. Have they the ability and can volunteers provide the amount of effort to run a number of sites that could encompass hundreds of plots, or do they think it will be easy and that profits they make from the rents will enrich their coffers? Are they aware of statutory and temporary sites? Do they know of the many acts concerning allotments and where are they going to get such advice when it is needed? Are they in fact capable of the day-to-day management of such an enterprise? Self-management by allotment federations (for example) has been seen to work successfully, (in Bolton this would mean abas) but others including voluntary groups have failed. Are the local authorities aware that as Landlord Paramount they cannot absolve their responsibilities along with the lease? If the new landlord fails or other such problems occur then the LA still has to pick up the pieces. They should do, as has already happened, and it could be at a very high cost.

We have had assurances from the Council that ‘the Allotment Service’ is not on any current agenda for major restructuring, the basic argument seems to be that costs have been cut to the bone and the likely return to the Council from further action would have negligible effect. This is in a way reassuring but it has meant that (for example) the idea of taking allotment site self-management to the Bolton Innovation Fund was deemed a non-starter (no savings to the Council to be demonstrated). In the past there have been unsubstantiated rumours about transfer to Bolton-at-Home or the Lancashire Wildlife Trust but that is all it has been, rumours.

The Abas Committee’s views on self-management echo the National Chair’s, in principle we find it attractive, in practice the problems loom very large, and we are currently supporting the Council’s middle way (OMAs).

The Chair of the National’s Management Committee’s piece raises a number of points and a number of fears (without it must be said proposing any solutions or ways forward). How do members feel about what’s being said? Let us know.


Tuesday 17 May 2016

Notes from the meeting 09.05.2016


Meeting was attended by some 13 people from 7 Allotment Sites.



Apologies Dave Jackson (illness) , Terry Farrell (annual holiday)



Talk

We welcomed our Guest Speaker Mr John Woods FNVS who gave a interesting and informative one hour Talk on “Growing Quality Vegetables for the Table and Show Bench”. John will also be Judging at the Harrogate Show in September and our Onion Leek and Vegetable Show in August.

 Following Mr Woods’ talk, the normal business meeting was held.



Minutes of previous Meeting 

The minutes of the meeting on 11 April (as Posted on our Blog site) were agreed by our Members Present



Matters arising from the Minutes

    Allotment Crime, - it was reported that there had been minor break-ins at Harpers Lane

    The Secretary had reported no progress on finding a contractor /plant hire firm to work with

    us



Abas Concerns Matrix

    Points as mentioned in previous Minutes

    Rawlyn Rd , no one present from Rawlyn Rd to provide an up date

    Shepherd X Street no one present from Shepherd X Street to provide an up date

    Florence Avenue , there has been no development regarding the Car Park

    Harpers Lane have had no action on the Rat infestation

    Smedley Avenue The Council were contacted about their OMA but no one present at  

    meeting to give an up date



Questions of the Meeting



Have all secretaries received up dated Waiting Lists? - Yes but a limited  response from those present. NB Sapling Road reported that they had no-one presently on their Waiting List

Have Secretaries re commenced their Monthly reports and Plot Inspections? - Yes but a limited response from those present

Has Council reviewed / Commenced Eviction Notices re Mal cultivation or Non Payment of Tenancy Renewals, - limited response from those present

Moss Lea has there been any status update from Council regarding Individual Greenhouses, no but we were advised that the Secretary has done a Survey to determine who is interested in having a Greenhouse on their Plot.



Update on the Allotted Exhibition Market Hall 30th June

The Exhibition may be extended till the 7th Aug

  Meeting advised two books are to be produced – the first being the images of the artwork,  

  the second essays, prose and poetry.



 Up-Date on the Allotments Competitions.

 Those present advised Judging will commence W/C 6th June followed by W/C 18th July

 New Tenants Competition - regarding the question regarding whether the effective starting date should be the start of probation or the date a tenancy agreement was offered. Those present were advised that our opinion is that any prospective Tenant on probation should be allowed to enter, this will encourage and not restrict those entering,



Up date on Onion Leek and Vegetable Show

Those present were again advised that we were still seeking individual Sponsors for the 25 Classes. Florence Av to again Sponsor a Class at the Show



Up date on the Harrogate Show

Those present were again advised that if anyone is interested that they should contact Terry Farrell

Sapling Road expressed interest



Report back from NWCAA AGM Southport Sunday 24th April

Those present at our meeting were advised that Terry Farrell and Jeff Gibson attended the NWCAA AGM representing Abas and Minutes and  details of what was discussed and are now on the NWCAA website.

Interesting opportunities mentioned to those present at our meeting were the Opportunities of the B&Q Wastage Scheme and the Tesco Bags of Help Programme



Best Allotment Competition again to be run this Year Sponsored by Maher's again this year  Details on the NWCAA website



E-mail from the Allotments Section



The following points were raised.

 1.    Allotments are moving back to their office today so will have access to all their paper records and information again. The last few weeks have been a bit difficult. 

2.    Allotments have had complaints about smoke from fires affecting neighbouring residential properties, can all societies remind members of their tenancy agreement regarding Nuisance to other plot holders & neighbours. Allotments will be enforcing this rigorously if they get repeated problems. 

3.   Allotments have managed to make some progress with Cemetery Road, Kearsley and a number of Breach of Tenancy letters went to tenants last week. Allotments will be progressing offering plots over the coming weeks. 

4.    Allotments are in discussion with the local Councillors regarding making progress at Longworth Road, Egerton to address unmaintained plots and offer tenancies. 

5.    Allotments have a number of sites with no-one on the specific Waiting List so will be trying to identify anyone on the Waiting List for other sites who might be interested.



 There have also been discussions with the Allotments Section as to the correct action for a Secretary to take should someone refuse the offer of a plot.



The current position (as understood by abas) is as follows:-

In our view there are three grounds for turning down a plot that would mean you should not automatically go to the bottom of the waiting list 

1. Current and temporary incapacity - e.g. we had an applicant who was 8 months pregnant

2. Plot is too large or inaccessible in some way - and that the reasons for this are valid e.g. only some 4 or 5 of the plots at Harpers Lane are readily accessible in a wheelchair or a mobility scooter

3. The applicant is a buddy on an existing plot and is serving time either to gain a joint tenancy or to take over that plot 



We don't think the statement that they wanted a larger plot is valid - policy has often been that you take a smaller plot, serve your apprenticeship and apply for a transfer when a full plot is available



The decision to keep the person in their current position on the waiting list would be communicated to the Allotments section via the monthly report (there is an appropriate section).

If an applicant disagrees with a decision to put them at the bottom of the waiting list then they have the usual rights of appeal.



Anyone now offered a plot is put on probation and therefore should be informed of the criteria and the date at which a judgement will be made



“What's On”

Florence Avenue have an Open Day Saturday 4th June,

Sapling Road have an Open Day Sunday 14th Aug

Harpers Lane have an Open Day on Sunday September 11th

Bolton Onion Leek and Vegetable Show is on Saturday 20th August. Further info regarding Show schedule available end June

Abas Allotment Competitions are to be judged in June and July with the Presentations and Prises on the 20th Aug

The Allotted Exhibition from June 30th to August 7th.



We need information about other events as soon as possible.





Meeting Closed at 9:50 pm



Date of next Meeting Monday 13th June 2016 8 pm Prompt



The Secretary would like to thank Jeff Gibson for stepping in to run the meeting at short notice and Carol Deplitch for assisting with the minutes.