Minutes of the Monthly Abas meeting held on 14/03/2016 at Astley Bridge
Cricket Club
The abas vision statement
Abas exists to
achieve fair treatment for all plot-holders on allotments sites within the
Bolton Borough boundaries. It seeks to achieve this through effective
representation of plot-holders and societies to the Council and the provision
of support to individuals and societies.
AGM 2015
Minutes of the AGM 2015
The minutes of the
2015 AGM having been placed on the association’s blogsite at www.abas2014.blogspot.co.uk
prior to Christmas 2015, and no matters having been raised by members, the
Committee proposed that the minutes be accepted as a true and accurate record.
This motion was
proposed by Lennard Nuttall (Rawlyn Rd.) and seconded by Brian Southwood
(Rawlyn Rd.)
The matters
arising from the minutes were covered by items in the meeting’s agenda
Report
back from Progress Meeting with Bolton Council on 24/02/2016
Abas were given
ssight of a new copy of the Council’s site refresher monitor – showing numbers
of vacancies etc.
The Council’s
current “savings review” is nearing completion. The status quo will apply on
allotments, we will still be in a balanced budget situation.
The
Council has invited abas to consult with members as to the priority areas for
any funds which may become available
A discussion was subsequently held in which the following priorities were
identified:
1. Assistance
in installing composting toilets (or other facilities) at those sites without
toilet facilities
2. Fencing
to secure sites
3. Assistance
in acquiring and installing security cameras and lights
4. Expansion
of the Self-help scheme with a more proactive role by the Council in organising
materials etc.
5. Access
to plant e.g. a mini-digger or even a JCB – many sits have work for such
equipment
It was recognised
that in most cases sites will have to secure grant funding for these
initiatives though the Council could assist with e.g. planning applications,
support for bids etc.
Other
points
Notions that
Horwich Town Council might take on a more active role in managing sites in
Horwich seem to have been shelved. Lever
Park Avenue remains however a possible site for expansion if funds could be
introduced from somewhere.
Longworth Rd,
Horwich is now an OMA site, and is the only OMA site not currently in abas
membership.
Local Councillors
are taking an interest in matters at Longworth Rd., Egerton. They are hoping to
convene / facilitate a site meeting to discuss concerns raised with them. MR
has agreed to attend such a meeting.
A number of
individuals have contacted the Council stating that turning off the water
supply discriminates against poultry keepers. The Council believe that the
risks of damage to the piping if the water is left on during winter is too great
to allow extension of the season.
They argue that
tenants are aware of the situation when they opt to keep poultry.
The
Abas Concerns Matrix
The Association
maintains a Record of issues which member societies request that we raise with
the Council on their behalf. We also record the results of representations etc.
We are reliant on
member authorities both informing us of issues that need to be tackled and also
updating us on progress (or the lack of it)
A number of site specific issues were raised on 24/02/2016 and the
responses have been communicated to the societies involved
General
Issues raised at the Meeting
(Matters common to more than one site)
(Matters common to more than one site)
The
Council cannot provide site secretaries with tenants’ lists containing names
and contact details (Data Protection) – abas would advise all
societies to keep a record of names and addresses of all society members –
providing this info should be a condition of membership) – such a record is a
condition for all those insured through the NAS
The
Council cannot provide site secretaries with lists of those who haven’t paid
their rent and who thus may be liable to Notice to Quit.
There
have been delays in the transmission of payments data from Finance to
Allotments which has delayed the Vacancy Process
Secretaries are
reminded that they should not take action to re-let plots until they receive
information from the Council that the plot is free to re-let (unless the
tenant has signed a termination / amendment form) (OMA sites only)
The Allotments Section is currently preparing and circulating up to
date waiting lists and these are being circulated to OMA
secretaries as they become available. Part of this process may include
cross-checking Council records against those held by secretaries.
Reporting
The Council had
not been expecting Monthly Reports to be submitted during the winter period and
had not allocated staff time to deal with them.
The Allotments
section is still very short-staffed and is especially vulnerable to staff
sickness and absence. The section is also involved in dealing with the
aftermath of the January floods.
The section would
still prefer all communications to be through Monthly Reports as there is no
capacity to provide a guaranteed, timely response to emails.
The Council would
not anticipate any requests (outwith emergencies) for actions on Breach of
Tenancies or mal-cultivation before the April Monthly Reports.
Abas membership
Abas membership
remains as stated at the 2015 AGM
The Treasurer
confirmed that all existing members have paid 2016 subscriptions.
The Committee will
be launching a second drive to increase membership. The Council however has not
so far been able to distribute any membership materials to individual tenants
on our behalf.
The Selling of Produce
The following
draft policy statement has been received:
The Council is
keen to support Societies both in terms of 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. On that basis the
Council, as landlord, will permit the sale of surplus produce on allotment
sites subject to the following criteria
·
Sales are of SURPLUS produce
·
Sales must be COLLECTIVE and proceeds must go
to the Site Society not to individuals
·
Sales must be ON-SITE and there must be NO
OFF-SITE advertising
(some sales at off-site venues e.g. church
fetes would be acceptable)
·
Societies should not create any purpose built
structure for the purpose of selling produce
·
Sales should be of ‘in season’ produce grown
on the site, no produce can be brought from another source
·
There should be no sale of processed produce
UNLESS the Society goes through registration as a Food business and Food
Hygiene Testing Inspection etc. with the relevant regulatory departments
·
The Site Society should notify the Council by
e-mail (allotments@bolton.gov.uk)
that they propose to sell surplus produce / food sales at least 2 weeks
prior to sales commencing
The Council
reserves the right to require a Society to cease sales if the Society is not
following the above criteria OR if other relevant issues are brought to the
Council’s attention.
The
Committee would make the following observations:
There are no
limits as to the period during which sales may be held nor to the number of
occasions on which sales may be held.
Whilst there would
be no objections to say offering tea and coffee from the site hut during ‘open
site’ sales any extension into cakes etc. or a full café style operation would
constitute creating a food business.
The question of
cake stalls etc. on Open Days was not clarified, we suspect if they’re one-offs
then common sense will prevail, if they become a regular feature then they
might attract attention.
On the question of
notifying the Council it was later clarified that our understanding is that a
single notification setting out a number of dates / events would be acceptable.
Allotment Watch
Following the
NWCAA meeting held at Bolton on 24/01/2016 the notion of establishing an
Allotments Watch system across Bolton was raised.
There seem no
available resources and little enthusiasm for this within the ‘management’
ranks at GMP. Like all public services they are dealing with cut-backs and we
are a low priority.
However, PCSO
Sandra Furnival at Middlebrook is trying to collate allotment crime data across
the Division(s) and keeping us informed.
It
would be a great help if societies informed abas of any crimes on sites so that
we can inform Sandra.
Again, the advice
is report ALL crimes to the Police and give a FULL valuation of any property
stolen or damage done.
Important
The meeting was
informed by Alun Morris (Sec. Florence Avenue) that he had recently got GMP to
accept a single report on behalf of a number of victims of break-ins. Because
he was able to provide details of each individual crime (including the victim’s
name, address, approx. age etc.) the call handler gave separate crime numbers
of each break-in. This emphasises the importance of Secretary’s having full
information about tenants / members.
Allotment Competitions
Entry Forms for
the Fairhurst, Greenhalgh, New Tenants and Rosebowl Competitions are now
available from Terry, 0786 393 3064
It’s important to
get copies of the scoring criteria
Closing date for
entries is 16th May 2016
Judging will be
w/c 06/06 (1st round) and w/c 18/07 (2nd round)
Prizes will be
presented at the Veg Show on 20/08/2016
Abas Onion, Leek and Vegetable Show
The
expanded Bolton Vegetable Show will take place at Trinity Methodist Church on
20th August 2016.
There will be 25
classes this year (schedules will be available)
Last
year abas members (societies and individuals) sponsored all classes (@£10.00
per class), we need sponsorship again this year if we are to provide the
prizes. Could anyone interested please contact Terry.
We’re hoping for
an increased entry this year both in terms of the number of entries and the
number of participating sites.
Grant Applications
The Committee
applied to the Big Bolton Fund (run by Bolton CVS) for funds to run both the
Allotment Competitions and the Vegetable Show.
The CVS has
provided a partial grant (£620.00) but felt unable to provide monies that would
be used for prizes.
This has left a
deficit in our budget of around £465.00
We are actively
seeking other funding and sponsorship.
There was suggestion that we again approach Asda
Community Fund which we shall do.
The “Allotted” Exhibition
We are supporting
a group of local artists and writers who are staging an exhibition at
neo:gallery27 in the Market Place from 30th June to 31st
July 2016.
The broad theme of
the exhibition is around allotments, wildlife, food growing etc. It will
feature paintings, prints, installations, 3-D work, textiles, photography,
stained glass and there will also be a written record featuring interviews with
plot-holders and others plus both fiction and non-fiction writing on
allotment-related subjects.
Abas will be
allocated an area within the gallery where we will promote allotment gardening
in general but more importantly all the events that our member societies are
holding over the summer (so make sue you let us know what you’re planning and
when)
External Affairs
Abas hosted the
NWCAA Quarterly Forum at Hollywood Rd Social Club on 24/01/2016. The central
theme was “Allotment Crime” and a presentation was given by officers of GMP.
The minutes of that meeting are available on the NWCAA website.
It was clear at
that meeting that there are tensions both within the NWCAA and between some
elements of the NWCAA and the NAS. Some
within NWCAA proposed a motion for the NWCAA AGM for leaving NAS and forming
their own organisation. Should this proposal become fact Abas would need to
take a position.
The meeting noted
that Andrea Hallissey (Secretary NWCAA) has announced her impending retirement
from the post (she is relocating to the North-East). The meeting felt she would
be hard act to replace.
The meeting also
expressed concern that a break-away would remove our access to support from Liz
Bunting and Di Appleyard at NAS.
The general
feeling in the meeting was that whilst member societies support the National
there would be little enthusiasm for joining a regional break-away.
National Vegetable Society
As members of Abas
you are also members of the National Vegetable Society.
The Committee
would encourage you to visit the NVS website and to examine their list of
publications many of which deal with questions on which you have suggested we
have talks.
If you wish to
access the members-only areas please contact Terry or Jeff for the membership
number
Compost Donations
Viridor – GM Waste
are running a scheme whereby community gardens and allotments societies can
receive a free delivery (1 pallet -
60x40L bags) of Revive compost / soil conditioner
The contact in the
first instance is JBolger@viridor-laing.co.uk
who can provide an application form
Future Programme
Current
suggestions for our future programme include:
Organising a
further talk by John Woods FNVS
Organising a trip
to the Harrogate Autumn Show
Both these
suggestions attracted support from members. Terry will follow them up.
We shall also hold
the monthly meetings here at ABCC (8.00 p.m. every second Monday in the month)
AOB
The next meeting
will be here at ABCC on 11th April 2016
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