MINUTES OF THE ABAS MEETING OF 13.04.2015

 

The first item was a talk by DAVE METCALFE on GROWING AND SHOWING ONIONS.

This talk was very informative and excellent preparation for those intending to enter the Leek and Onion Show in September. The talk lasted until approximately 9.00 p.m. and was followed by a short presentation on behalf of the National Vegetable Society.

 

After a short break, and the drawing of the raffle there followed a shortened version of the usual monthly meeting.

 

Minutes of the Meeting on 09/03/2015

The minutes of 09/03/15 having been posted on the blog-site for members, the Committee moved that the minutes be accepted as a true record.

Matters Arising

Issues Register

There had been a request that Societies supply ABAS with lists of issues raised with the Council either in Monthly Reports or otherwise on a regular basis and that ABAS will use this to create a register for use at Partnership Meetings with MR

Future Talks

The Secretary is hoping to arrange a talk by GMP on Allotment Security (ideally for the July meeting)

Works at Cemetery Rd. –

The works at Cemetery Rd were initially commissioned through the Cemeteries section at Bolton MBC. Neighbourhood Services have been unable to get a response about this matter to date.

Shows and Competitions

The Onion and Leek Show

Handouts showing the Schedules of Classes are available together with the criteria for judging class 1 were distributed.

ABAS are still seeking sponsorship for some classes and for the show in general.

The Show Committee are seeking funding through a grant from the Lord Lieutenant’s Fund

The Borough Allotment Competition

Entry forms are available and Society Secretaries should have received entry packs through the Post. If you haven’t please email the Secretary – boltonallotments204@yahoo.co.uk.

We are seeking sponsorship for the competition

It is hoped that the presentations can take place at ABAS’ August Meeting

Update on Council Matters

There have been no Partnership Meetings with the Council since the meeting of 09/03/2015

There has been one informal meeting between the Secretary and the Head of Neighbourhood Services – it is likely that the experiment with combination locks will not proceed

A contact with an Allotment Society in the Wigan area has lead to the Committee trying to find out more about the implications for plot-holders of the proposed joint working between Bolton and Wigan’s Environmental Services Departments .

Issues Raised by Societies

A number of societies have expressed disappointment with the performance of the Allotments Section.

These centre around mistakes in billing, lack of response to monthly reports, repeated requests for the same information, loss of information sent to the Council etc.

The Committee has discussed these with the Section. The key problem (as we are all aware) is the lack of resources in the section certainly in terms of staffing and in some people’s opinions in systems. Given the Council’s views on a ‘balanced budget’ this is unlikely to change in the near future.

We hope the idea of compiling a register of key issues / problems and taking it to the Partnership Meetings will help.

Issues from the floor

External Matters

The NWCAA is the ‘Regional’ layer of the National Allotment Society of which many local societies an individuals are members

NWCAA Annual General Meeting – Southport

Committee Members attended the Annual General Meeting of the North West Counties Allotments Association

NWCAA Arts Exhibit at Southport Flower Show 2015

Margaret Jackson (Harpers Lane) is organising an Arts Exhibit to be part of the NWCAA display at this year’s Southport Show. Society Secretaries are co-operating by allowing artists to visit sites.

NWCAA – The Best North-West Allotment Site 2015

The NWCAA is organising a competition to find the best allotment SITE in the North-West. The competition is being sponsored by Mahers. Details from and entries to nwcsecandrea@gmail.com

Abas speakers’ programme –

The next talk is on 11^th May and will be delivered by a representative of the National Vegetable      Society (who are also providing the judge for the Leek and Onion Show) – it will be at 8.00 p.m. at Astley Bridge Cricket Club.

Future events are being arranged

Any other business

A query was raised as too whether it is still possible for a plot-holder on one site to apply for a transfer to a plot on another site without having to go onto the waiting list for the new site. It was stated that in Alan Crook’s day such transfers were possible. General opinion was that such transfers are not generally available these days, and that someone wishing to make such a move would almost certainly have to relinquish their existing plot and take their place at the bottom of the waiting list for their chosen destination site. However the Secretary will contact the Allotments section to determine whether this is true.

Date of next meeting

11^th May – Astley Bridge Cricket Club

 

FUTURE EVENTS

Harpers Lane Allotments Site is holding a Spring Event on the 9^th and 10^th of May.

 

The 9^th of May is an Open Site Event featuring a Local Produce Market with plant sales etc. There will also be (subject to demand) a Car Boot Sale on the top field. Stalls in the Produce Market or on the top field are available at £10.00. The site will be open from 10.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.

 

The 10^th of May features a visit by the Mikron Theatre Company who are presenting ‘One of Each’ in the Society Marquee. This company has been here several times and is very popular and very entertaining, with a show suitable for all the family. Admission is free, but a collection will be taken at the end of the performance. Refreshments will be available.

 

WILL ANY OTHER SITES PLANNING EVENTS PLEASE LET US KNOW AND WE’LL PUT YOU ON THE BLOG-SITE – email us at boltonallotments2014@yahoo.co.uk

 

 

AGENDA 13.04.2015

7.30 to 8.15 p.m. – Talk by Dave Metcalfe – Growing and Showing Leeks and Onions

Minutes of 09/03/2015 and Matters Arising

Current Membership Position

Shows and Competitions

Borough Allotments Competitions

Onion and Leek Show

 

ABAS Speakers Programme

 

Update on Council Matters

 

Issues Raised by Societies

Issues from the Floor

 

External Links

NWCAA Art Project at Southport Flower Show

NWCAA – report back on AGM

 

Any Other Business

Date of Next Meeting

 

ABAS MINUTES OF 09/03/2015

 

Open Meeting at Astley Bridge Cricket Club

 

ABAS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

ABAS exists to achieve fair treatment for all plot-holders on allotment sites within the Borough boundaries. It seeks to achieve this through the effective representation of plot-holders and societies to the Council and the provision of support to individual societies.

 

MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

The Minutes of the AGM having been posted on the Association’s Blog-site at http://www.abas2014.blogspot.co.uk the Committee moved to accept those minutes as a true and accurate record

There were no outstanding matters arising from the minutes of the AGM

 

MEMBERSHIP

ABAS membership currently covers some 502 plot-holders (either through their society or individually)

ABAS’ target is to increase that membership to cover all 950+ plot-holders on Council plots

Membership renewals (for 2016) will be due in June / July -

 

SHOWS AND COMPETITIONS

Borough Allotments Competition

Judging will take place in June / July 2015

Entry forms were made available from the Treasurer at the end of the meeting. Other forms will be mailed out to Site / Society Secretaries during March.

 

Onion and Leek Show

Will take place on the 27^th September 2015 at Astley Bridge Cricket Club

A provisional schedule of classes has been prepared by the Show Committee and will be published on the blog-site, together with the scoring system for class 1. The show will be judged by a National Vegetable Society Judge.

 

ABAS SPEAKERS’ PROGRAMME

Two speakers have been arranged

13^th April – Dave Metcalfe – ‘Exhibition Onions’

11^th May – J Woods ‘ ‘Growing and Showing’

These meetings will start at 7.30 p.m.

 

Other speakers will be arranged on topics agreed with the members

There will be raffles at these events to raise funds to support our costs in arranging the speakers, the Allotment Competitions and the Onion and Leek Show

 

THE COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME

The Council has launched an initiative called the Community Empowerment Programme

There are two elements – small projects for which one-off grants are available and larger projects which can be funded for up to 2 years.

Any project must demonstrate that it

• Saves the Council expenditure AND / OR
• Enables the continued provision of a service which would otherwise be cut AND / OR
• Enables a service which has been discontinued to be reintroduced

Details are available on the Council web-site www.bolton.gov.uk

 

 

 

REPORT BACK ON THE COMMITTEE’S MEETING WITH MALCOLM RUSSELL 24.02.2015

There are no foreseen changes to existing communications between the Council and ABAS and/or Society Secretaries

The annual OMA reviews will continue with existing OMA sites, there may be some simplification of the earlier agreements

The Council wishes to consider whether on sites where there is no society it could appoint a single person (who would have to be an individual member of ABAS) to act as Site Representative

The Council has now completed its billing exercise (begun October 2014) and in its view resolved all issues

As part of its review, in future ‘Eviction Notices’ will be served by Registered Post (i.e. not placed on plots)

As part of its review the Council will be issuing new guidance to Site Secretaries about plots which are re-let during the period July – Sept (inclusive)

There are currently some 50 vacant plots (borough-wide) available for re-letting

 

From discussions we think the Council currently feel under pressure on two fronts.

• The numbers on the Council waiting list - hence the notion of splitting plots to get more people off it and more quickly.
• Income - the allotments budget is balanced and there is no leeway, there is a need to keep rents coming in - hence the need to get plots re-let quickly

This has led to more suggestions from them to split plots as they become vacant and demands that site secretaries on OMA sites re-let vacated plots promptly. Abas has posted a procedure on the blog-site which Site Secretaries might wish to adopt if under pressure to split plots 

 

REPORTS BACK FROM SOCIETIES AND ISSUES ARISING

Society Secretaries report increasing frustration with communications with the Allotments Section. We appreciate that the section is understaffed (essentially just one part-time clerical worker who has many other duties as well) but there is a strong feeling that some matters e.g. responses to the Monthly Reports are not adequately dealt with.

v  It was suggested that societies should keep a record of all issues raised with the Council. They should inform ABAS of these issues on a monthly basis so that ABAS can present a Borough-wide picture to the Allotments section in future meetings.

There are issues relating to Break-ins and Vandalism on Allotments Sites.

v  It was suggested that secretaries should a) ensure that any member affected by a break-in or vandalism reports this individually to the police b) that the secretary also informs ABAS and c) that ABAS keeps a central log of all allotment=based incidents. ABAS could then seek a meeting with representatives of GMP about the problems.

v  It was further suggested that a representative of GMP be invited to speak at the June meeting about schemes such as Allotment Watch and about security in general.

 

ISSUES REMAINING FROM 2014 – CLAMMERCLOUGH, CEMETERY RD. ETC.

Having held a site meeting Clammerclough have decided not to proceed with plans for an OMA

No information has been received from Cemetery Rd. We understand that Malcolm Russell is pursuing the matter with the Cemeteries section whose contractor caused the problems

 

EXTERNAL LINKS

Links to the National Vegetable Society – ABAS has now collectively joined the National Vegetable Society and members will be eligible to access its website and services. The Secretary is exploring how this may be done and will post updates on the blogsite.

Links to the North-West Counties Allotment Association – The Chair and Treasurer have volunteered to act as liaison with the NWCAA and will be attending its AGM on the 29^th March,

Links to the National – The Regional Mentor is currently on sick leave and we have also had no communication with the Regional Representative – it is hoped to reopen contacts via the NWCAA AGM.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

Monday 13^th April – 7.30 start as we have a guest speaker at Astley Bridge Cricket Club

 

 

SCORING SYSTEM FOR CLASS ONE - LEEK AND ONION SHOW

Schedule of Onion and Leek Show

Association of Bolton Allotment Societies [ABAS]

                          Onion and Leek Show 2015

To be held at the Astley Bridge Cricket Club Sunday 27^th Sept

Provisional list of Vegetables to be Tabled on the Day of the Show.

1.      Best Display of 4 Vegetables, One of each kind from a list provided, space allowed is 60cmx 45cm. Nb only one entry per exhibitor.

2.     Three Stump Carrots [ with 5-8cm of tops]

3.     Three Parsnips [with 5-8cm of tops]

4.     Three Onions dressed from sets under 250g

5.     Three Onions dressed from seed under 250g

6.     Three Onions dressed from seed 250g and over

7.     Three Onions dressed one under 250g one 250g to 450g and one over 450g

8.     Two Blanched Leeks with foliage and roots

9.     Two Pot Leeks with foliage and roots, not to exceed 6” [15cm] to tight button

10.                        10 Shallots dressed under 38mm

11.                        10 Shallots dressed 38mm and over

12.                        Three Red Onions dressed

13.                        Heaviest Onion as grown complete with foliage and roots

14.                        Four Tomatoes complete with calyces attached

Nb. Class 1 is one entry per exhibitor all other classes max of two entries per exhibitor.

Above list is provided to enable those interested in the show to plan and grow their exhibits.

Monthly updates regarding the Show will be provided at our Monthly Meetings

Official Show Schedule to follow 

ABAS March 2015.

ABAS MARCH MEETING

The first meeting of the Association of Bolton Allotment Societies for 2015 will take place at Astley Bridge Cricket Club on Monday 9th March. The meeting will commence at 8.00 p.m.

The agenda is

• ABAS membership
• Issues outstanding from 2014 meetings
• Shows and Competitions
•     Borough Allotments Competition
•     Leek and Onion Show
• Speakers' Programme 2015
• The Council's Community Empowerment Programme
• Report Back on the Abas Committee's meeting with the Council on 24.02.2015
• Reports Back from Societies and Issues arising
• NVS Membership
• Links with the NWCAA and the NAS
• Any other Business
• Date and Time of the next Meeting

We hope to see you there and look forward to your support in 2015

Dave Jackson - Secretary ABAS

SPLITTING PLOTS

 

From discussions we think the Council currently feel under pressure on two fronts.

 

1. The numbers on the Council waiting list - hence the notion of splitting plots to get more people off it and more quickly.

2. Income - the allotments budget is balanced and there is no leeway, there is a need to keep rents coming in - hence the need to get plots re-let quickly

This has led to more suggestions from them to split plots as they become vacant and demands that site secretaries on OMA sites re-let vacated plots promptly.

If under pressure to split plots, Site Secretaries might wish to adopt the following procedure.

 

1. Check how many 1/2 plots you already have on your site - if it's 25% or more you have achieved your council quota and you can rightly decline to have any more
2. Check each plot in question – is the plot less than 250 square metres – if so it is NOT suitable for splitting since to do so would result in at least one plot of less than the recommended minimum of 125sq metres.
3. Check whether the plot can be split in such a way that BOTH 1/2 plots are directly accessed from the site path - if not then this plot is NOT suitable for splitting
4. Look at the Greenhouses / Sheds etc. on the plot - if splitting into two halves would leave one 1/2 plot virtually covered (or seriously unbalanced) then this plot is NOT suitable for splitting. If none of the above apply and the Council has notified you of demand for plots on your site, then the Council's request for you to use 1/2 plots to get your waiting list down does not seem unreasonable.
5. If splitting the currently available vacant plots presents a real problem for you then you could consider designating a block of plots on your site (in advance) which you agree that you'll spilt as and when they become vacant and see if the Council might accept this as an alternative.
6. If there are going to be delays in re-letting a plot, please make sure that you inform the Allotments section (preferably by email) as to which plots and the reasons why (transfers within the site and the need to do remedial work on the plot are both possible reasons)
7. When seeking to re-let a split plot, we suggest that you do not use the term 1/2 plot - simply tell the applicant that you have a plot for them. After all on some sites ALL plots are under 250 sq metres anyway - so size doesn't determine whether this is or is not a “plot”.
8. Finally, make sure that people get offers in strict order i.e. the person at the head of the waiting list gets first choice on what's available. If they refuse they go to the back of the queue and you move to the next person. Try to avoid situations with two prospective tenants on-site arguing over who gets a particular plot.

 

Hope this isn’t seen as ‘teaching Granny to suck eggs’ but we’re trying to make the system as simple as possible.