Friday 24 November 2017

MINUTES OF THE 2017 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING


Held at Astley Bridge Cricket Club, on 13th November 2017 starting 8.00 p.m.
Present: 30 representatives from 18 sites
Plus Mr Malcolm Russell (Head of Neighbourhood Services, Bolton MBC)

Minutes of the 2016 AGM 

The Minutes having been posted on the Association Blog-site for the appropriate period and there being no objections the minutes were adopted as correct.

Matters Arising 

GMSF – The Chair has continued to liaise with other GM societies (through the Salford Federation)

There are no other outstanding matters from the 2016 AGM

TREASURER’S REPORT



SOURCES AND APPLICATIONS OF FUNDS


1/11/2016 to 31/10/2017







INCOME







Grant from University of Bolton
£500.00


Members' Donations
£130.00


Show Entry Fees
£20.80


Donation from J Gibson
£34.40


Prize Monies Unused
£56.00


Subs 2016 (belated)
£129.00


members' Subs 2017
£260.00


Raffles
£20.00


Bank Interest
£0.21






TOTAL INCOME
£1,150.41
£1,150.41





EXPENDITURE







Computer Security
£60.00


NVS Membership plus Medal
£28.10


Printing & Stationery
£67.50


Mileage Costs (Competitions Judging)
£34.40


Show Judges Fee
£25.00


Prize Monies for Show
£258.00


Room Hire
£75.00


Catering For Guests (Show)
£30.00


Event Insurance
£104.00


Engraving Trophies
£28.00


Presentation Flowers
£20.00






TOTAL EXPENDITURE
£730.00
£730.00









NETT INCOME


£420.41




BANK BALANCE 7/11/2016



(current and Reserve)

£2,195.44





BANK BALANCES 13/11/2017



Current
£714.29


Reserve
£1,901.56




£2,615.85





NETT CHANGE IN FUNDS


£420.41






The accounts were accepted unanimously

ABAS Membership

A number of societies have not yet paid their annual subscriptions to the Association.

Of these the majority had expressed their intention to pay their subs at this AGM or in the near future once their own AGMs have taken place. We will therefore review membership at the March 20178 meeting.

We intend to actively campaign to get more sites (especially non-OMA sites) to join the Association

Secretary’s Report and Report on the Progress Meetings with the Council

During the year we have tried when asked by member societies to raise their concerns and get clarifications of their queries.

A full Report on the Progress Meetings held with the Council and on related matters such as the updating of the OMA documents was given (in written form) to all Society Representatives present.

Copies of that Report and the Annual Accounts were subsequently emailed to any societies not represented.

A number of key points were made.

It is important to remember that:

Abas is not the Landlord (or Manager) of the Allotments Sites – plot-holders are tenants of the local authority, their relationship with the Authority is governed by their Tenancy Agreements.

Abas’ comments and advice on matters relating to policy and management are made in good faith and on the best information available to us at the time, (whenever possible after full consultation with the Council’s appointed officers) but they are exactly that comments and advice (unless we state clearly that we are simply repeating the precise interpretation issued by the Council)

As situations change we may revise our advice to reflect new information.


ABAS EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES 2017

Bolton Allotments Competition 2017 – organised by Abas, prizes sponsored by J Maher Ltd.

Bolton Onion Leek and Vegetable Show 2017 – organised by Abas, with financial support from the University of Bolton

Liaison with NWCAA

The Chair reported on the last NWCAA Forum on 30/10/2017

Issues covered had been:

·         Concerns over Bullying have been referred to NAS HO
·         Widespread complaints of Councils “not keeping promises”
·         NAS still investigating blanket insurance scheme for all NAS members
·         NVS as an organisation


MR BRIAN SOUTHWORTH

The Chair reported that Mr Brian Southworth was retiring from Rawlyn Road Allotments after 45 years on the plots. Mr Southworth has been a firm and valued supporter of Abas since its relaunch in 2014. We all wish Mr Southworth a long and happy retirement.


ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was a general discussion on relevant matters

Points to note are:

·         Secretaries should only consider submitting Monthly Reports during the winter months if they feel there is a need to do so.

·         MR has advised that Breach of Tenancy requests (essentially mal-cultivation) will not be actioned during the period November to March.


ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The following were (re)elected

Chair Jeff Gibson
Secretary Dave Jackson
Treasurer Terry Farrell

Committee Members – Carole Deplitch, Phil Warren, Alan Key, Teresa Morris

Next Meeting

Our next Meeting will be in March 2018