MINUTES 14/07/2014

ABAS - Association of Bolton Allotment Societies

Meeting 14^th July 2014

 

Present: Committee – Richard Heyes (Chair), George Wild (Secretary), Terry Farrell (Treasurer), David Jackson (Asst. Secretary), Jeff Gibson, Margaret Jackson, Phil Warren plus representatives of : Sapling Rd., Tonge Fold, Haslam Park, Dealey Rd., Rawlyn Rd., Smedley Avenue, Settle St., Florence Avenue, Shepherd Cross St., Tonge Moor Rd., Moss Lea and Harpers Lane.

 

Minutes of Last Meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 9/06/2014 have been posted on the Association’s website at http://www.abas2014.blogspot.co.uk   The minutes were agreed.

 

Matters Arising from the Meeting

ABAS had contacted the Council about reinstatement work at Cemetery Rd. Farnworth. What has happened since could not be discussed as no representative of Cemetery Rd. was present to provide an update.

 

Matters Arising between Meetings

Contact from the National – members with projects relating to Bees that might form the basis for a piece in Allotment and Leisure Gardener were asked to contact Diane Appleyard – diane@nsalg.org.uk

 

Update on Council Actions
(information provided by the Allotments Desk at Bolton MBC)

 

OMAs

• Completed 4 – (Harpers Lane, Florence Ave, Shepherds Cross St, Moss Lea)
• Expected Completion in July 2 – (Dealey Rd., Sapling Rd.)
• Site Visit Completed, In progress 3 –(Rawlyn Rd., Tonge Fold, Tonge Moor Rd.)
• Site Visit to be arranged 1 – (Settle Street)

 

The Council are currently aware of 42 vacant plots borough-wide (excluding plots on OMA sites)

This is down from 69 in March

The Council are currently filling vacant plots at Crown Lane, Rawlyn Rd. and Manningham Rd. They aim to tackle 2 more non-OMA sites in September

 

Waiting Lists

There are currently 293 people on the Council’s waiting list (down from 305 in March)

 

Community Plots – a definition

A community plot is any plot where the person(s) working it do not have a tenancy.  On OMA sites this may include people clearing a plot for their own subsequent use (provided they complete the clearance) with no tenancy and making no payment.

 

Non-OMA sites

The Council is struggling through lack of capacity to make inspections on non-OMA sites. They have reported on only one site to date at which 12 plots were served with Notices to Improve

 

Competitions Update

Report on Judging – 5 sites have been judged so far. Judging will be completed on 15/07/2014.

 

Sponsorship of Prizes

Sponsorship by J Maher Ltd of First and Second Prizes for the Fairhurst, Greenhalgh and New Entrant Trophies. The balance of prize money etc. will be provided from ABAS funds.

 

Presentations to Prize Winners

Will take place at Harpers Lane Open Day at 3.00 p.m. on August 10^th 2014 by Councillor Sufrana Bashir-Ismail (executive Member for the area covering allotments)

 

A representative of Sapling Rd. enquired why Harpers Lane’s Open Day had been chosen as the venue for the prize giving. The reason given was the limited time to find, and the limited funds available for, other venues. This reply satisfied the representative.

 

 

National Allotments Week

National Allotments Week runs from 4^th August to 10^th August

The National have issued a pack to help any society to promote events in connection with the Week. Memebrs were informed that they could get an electronic copy from ABAS at boltonallotments2014@yahoo.co.uk or direct from the National at www.nsalg.org.uk from whom you can also order free posters (some posters were made available at the meeting.)

ABAS will be trying to get material about allotments into the Bolton News during National Allotment Week

 

Open Days etc.

Sites having any ‘public’ events over the summer (whether in connection with National Allotment Week or not) were asked to inform ABAS. A provisional list was drawn up which will be posted on the ABAS blog-site. ABAS will try to get events posted on the North West Counties’ website

 

Good to Grow Project - Presentation by Alun Morris

 

Any Other Business

 

The meeting approved a suggestion for the Committee that we have invited speakers at some of our meetings. Suggestions ranged from a visit from Robinson’s Seeds, to dahlias and chrysanthemums, worms, beekeeping and poultry-keeping. The Treasurer’s suggestion that ABAS joins the National Vegetable Society was agreed by the meeting.

 

The Assistant Secretary asked whether (in view of the number of events taking place in August) we should still have an August meeting. The feeling of those present was that we should.

 

Date and Venue of Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place at 8.00 p.m. at Astley Bridge Cricket Club on the 11^th of August.

 

Close

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed.