Minutes of the meeting of Abas on 12.10.2015 at Astley Bridge Cricket Club

Minutes and Matters Arising

The minutes of the previous meeting having been posted on the abas blog-site they were accepted by the meeting.

Matters from 14.09.2015

 The promised discussions on “the sustainable management of sites and the potential role that sites / societies could play in the local community around food growing, health and wider social benefits”.

These discussions began in late October.

The Onion and Leek Show

The Onion and Leek Show took place on Sunday 27/09/2015

There were over 80 entries in 14 classes

Exhibits were judged by John Woods National Vegetable Society (NVS) who was impressed by the quality of entries

The Prizes were presented by George Holmes – Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bolton, and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the Duchy of Lancaster

 The Prize-winners were:

BAC Challenge Trophy (most points gained by a site) – Tonge Fold Allotments Society

Collection of 4 Vegetables – Les Butterworth

Secretaries’ Shield (most points by an individual) – Les Butterworth

Stan Pickles Trophy / NVS Silver Medal – most meritorious vegetable – Jeff Gibson

Acknowledgements and Thanks

Terry Farrell (Show Manager) and Margaret Farrell (Show Secretary) and the Show Committee (Les Butterworth, Teresa Morris and Jeff Gibson) for organising and managing the show

All those who sponsored individual classes and to the Duchy of Lancaster for their grant

Astley Bridge Cricket Club – for providing the venue and refreshments on the day

 Status of OMAs

Latest Council Figures show the following sites with OMAs

Deeley Rd., Florence Avenue, Harpers Lane, Lever Park Avenue, Haslam Park, Moss Lea, Rawlyn Rd., Sapling Rd., Settle Street, Shepherds Cross St., Tonge Fold, Tonge Moor Rd.

Ainsdale Rd. and Longworth Rd., Horwich are in the process of discussing OMAs with the Council.

 Outstanding Issues

Essentially we see this item as relating to response (or lack of it!) to issues raised by Site Secretaries in their Monthly Reports to the Allotments Section. Non-OMA sites should however use it to report any outstanding problems which require Council action.

 Issues from Rawlyn Rd., Moss Lea, Smedley Avenue and Harpers Lane were tabled for the meeting with Malcolm Russell. The results of that meeting have now been communicated to the sites with outstanding issues. A further report on this “Progress Meeting” will be given at the AGM on Monday 9^th November.

 Abas membership update

 The following sites have paid their subscriptions for 2016:-Tonge Fold, Deeley Rd., Lever Park (H), Sapling Rd., Florence Avenue, Rawlyn Rd., Tonge Moor Rd., Smedley Avenue, Moss Lea, Harpers Lane

 The following member sites have not yet paid:- Clammerclough, Cemetery Rd., Shepherds Cross St., Haslam Park, Settle St., Ainsdale Rd.

 Some individual members have paid / we await others

 IT IS VITAL THAT WE MAINTAIN (AND EXPAND) MEMBERSHIP AS THIS CREATES OUR VALIDITY IN THE COUNCIL’S EYES

AGM NOTICE

The Annual General Meeting of the Association of Bolton Allotment Societies (abas) will take place on Monday NOVEMBER 9^TH. The meeting will commence at 8.00 p.m.

 Nominations are needed for those wishing to stand as Officers (Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) and for the Committee. Nominations will be accepted at the meeting.

An agenda will be published in the normal way.