Meeting of the
Association of Bolton Allotment Societies (abas)
July 11th
2016
Present: 16 members representing 12 allotment site societies
Apologies: Florence Avenue Society
Minutes of the June Meeting
The minutes of
the June meeting having been posted on the abas blog-site, they were accepted
by those present as a true and fair account.
Updates
We have received
no confirmation that the Council has confirmed its policy on the selling of produce – we advise acting
as if we had
Allotment Crime continues to be a
problem – Harpers Lane had a series of shed break-ins last weekend, Rawlyn Rd
has had similar problems as has Tonge Moor.
On-going
Concerns
Moss Lea – There has been no progress
on the decision on communal vs individual greenhouses. (Historical piece
appeared Bolton News 08/07/2016)
Harpers Lane – Neighbourhood
Services have promised that a Pest Control Officer will be on-site in the next
10 working days
Florence Avenue – No progress on the
car park
Shepherd Cross St – No
information on asbestos removal?
Tonge Moor – The Secretary has
raised the telephone manner of staff answering queries at Neighbourhood
Services. She asks that these staff remember that site secretaries are
volunteers giving up their time.
General – The Council says
it’s proceeding with mal-cultivation
notices and evictions – is there any evidence that this is actually
happening on the ground? The Committee were requested to make contact
with the Council about this.
Other issues?
Clarification of the rules about fires on allotments – The Treasurer has
a letter from Environmental Health saying plot-holders can have fires as long
as they take neighbours into consideration (i.e. not too frequently, don't burn
plastic or wet material etc.) Rawlyn Rd. argued that the distance to
neighbouring houses must be a consideration. Harpers Lane has had a rule
restricting fires to an area well away from houses, and has asked members to
try to keep to certain fixed events in the year. (This however has now been
challenged by a plot-holder who claims his 'lease' says he can have fires on
his plot.)
The Committee were asked to get a clear statement on the issue
Multiple plots at the same address – The Secretary and the Site Secretary
(Sapling RD.) reported on the policy that where a plot is already held by a
person living at a given address, no other person living at that address may be
offered an additional plot. The Council had said that this rule could be set
aside in the situation where there was no waiting list and the plot would
otherwise be left uncultivated. There was an objection to the policy by one
member who asked about the case of houses in multiple occupation and /or
lodgers.
The Committee will
seek further clarification
General Activities
Onion,
Leek and Vegetable Show – August 20th
Posters for the show
can be obtained from the Committee
We still need
sponsorship (£10 per class) for individual classes at the Show
Schedules of classes etc.
are now available through the Show Committee (contact Mrs Margaret Farrell, 13
Romer St., Bolton, BL2 6BG 0785 394 9570. A number have been distributed by the
Treasurer who is also posting copies to entrants in last year’s Onion and Leek
Show. It I hoped to post copies of the schedules on this blog site in the
coming week.
There will be stalls
at the Show showing local produce (honey, ice cream etc.) and with information
on the NAS and the National Vegetable Society. If any society or any of its
members wishes to take a stall then please contact Dave Jackson on boltonallotments2014@yahoo.co.uk
Stalls will be free, but numbers will be limited.
The
show is being sponsored by the University of Bolton
Bolton
Allotment Competitions
The first round
of judging in the Fairhurst, Greenhalgh, New Entrant and Rose Bowl competitions
has been completed
The second round
of judging will take place w/c July 18th probably starting Tuesday
19th July
The prizes will
be presented at the Bolton Onion, Leek and Vegetable Show on August 20th
by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Boton, Mr George Holmes
The
prizes have been provided by J Maher Ltd.
Both the show
and the allotment competitions have been supported by a grant from the Big
Bolton Small Grants Fund through Bolton CVS
The
Harrogate Trip
TheTrip to the
Harrogate Show will take place on Sunday 18th Sept
(The Treasurer) Terry
needs to know who wants to go and he needs the transport payments as soon as
possible if he is to book a coach
The
Allotted Exhibition
The Allotted
Art Exhibition is running (Thurs – Sunday 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.) in the
Market Place (Neo:Gallery 27 on the 1st Floor) until the end of July
and possibly ‘til August 7th.
There is a
catalogue of the art work on display at the gallery during the exhibition. The
catalogue has been funded by Bolton Arts Forum.
There is also a
booklet “Allotted: the back of the seed packet” which contains essays, stories
and poems inspired by Allotments. The booklet has been funded by the
National Allotments Gardens Trust.
What’s
on?
We have created
a poster detailing the events taking place on Bolton Allotment Sites this
Summer. Copies were available at the meeting and digital copies are available
from the Secretary (boltonallotments2014@yahoo.co.uk)
Future Events
Include:
13/08 – Craft
& Produce Fair – Florence Avenue
14/08 – Open Day
– Sapling Rd
27/08 – Society
Show – Moss Lea
28/08 –
Mini-Show & Barbecue – Shepherd’s Cross St
11/09 – Open
Day, Show and Market, Harpers Lane
NWCAA
NWCAA
is again running their “The Best Allotment Site in the NW” Competition
Details are now posted on their Web Site but societies were reminded
that a key factor is community involvement. Entries Close August 31st
The North West
Counties Allotments Association quarterly forum took place at Holy Trinity
Community Centre, Dean St., Ashton under Lyne on July 3rd, abas was
represented by Jeff Gibson (Chair)
Report
of the NWCAA Forum
Some 30 NW
members attended the meeting and the following points were noted:
Andrea Hallissey
will not now be relocating to the North-East and will remain Secretary of the
NWCAA
Revised Rules
for the National Allotments were proposed at the National Allotments AGM (York)
and will now be issued on line when approved. The point was made from the floor that both National and Regional
officials seem remote from our situation in Bolton and do not seem to recognise
the problems that arise in trying to work with a big ‘Met’ Council like Bolton
MBC.
Andy Percival
will be standing for election as President of the NAS at the next AGM
The NWCAA will
be again having a stand at the Southport Show this year (trying for a 3rd
successive Gold Medal)
The (NWCAA) Treasurer
indicated that the rebate the NWCAA received from the NAS was some £1500 down
on last year
There seems a
discrepancy between the Total Number of North West Members and the rebate that
the North West receives from the National
Subscriptions to
the National will be increased for the coming year from £2.75 to £3.00
An Allotments
Handbook by Sophie Andrews (priced £2.99) is available and may be of interest
to abas members
Issues of
Bullying were raised (Andrea has included a campaign poster on the July
Newsletter). Abas also sees this as an area to be discussed –see later
A Statement of
Accounts was provided
Statement
of Accounts
Income
Rebate from
nsalg £
3,806.80
Raffle Receipts £ 197.00
TOTAL INCOME £
4,003.80
Expenditure
Officer expenses
£ 255.64
NW AGM £ 431.36
NSALG AGM £ 605.75
Meeting room
hire £ 35.00
Meeting
Refreshment £ 91.66
TOTAL
EXPENDITURE £
1,419.41
Bal c/f £ 497.72
Income to date £
4,003.80
Excess income /
expenditure £
3,082.11
Presented by:
balance at bank £ 2,985.09
Cash on Hand £ 97.02
Bullying and aggression on sites - the NAS / NWCAA is running a
campaign about bullying on sites - members present asked that the Council
issue a statement saying that repeated aggressive or abusive behaviour towards
committee members and / or other plot-holders should be regarded as grounds for
termination of tenancy.
The Committee will
make that request
Any
Other Business / Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting
is on 8th August at Astley Bridge Cricket Club
Start Time 8.00
p.m.
