MINUTES of the meeting of ABAS held 15.05.2017 at Astley Bridge Cricket Club
Present 16 People from 10 OMA
Sites
·
Chair Jeff Gibson
·
Terry Farrell Treasurer
·
Carol Deplitch Committee Member
·
Phil Warren Committee Member
·
Alan Kay Committee Member
Apologies Dave Jackson (Secretary), Carol
Barlow (Sapling Rd.)
All Members at the meeting expressed
their Very Best Wishes to Dave and Margaret, with a hope for Margaret’s
full and speedy recovery.
MINUTES OF 10.04.2017
The minutes of the AGM having been posted on
the Association’s blog site and members invited to submit corrections etc. on
08/05/2017, the minutes were accepted as correct.
Matters from
Minutes
The Chair reported that the minutes of 13/03
and 10/04 plus our notes from the Progress Meeting had been sent to the
Allotments Section and the outstanding issues – Recurring Offenders and Failure
by Allotments to inform Site Secretaries of BoT notices etc. had been
communicated.
No substantive reply had been received by the
date of the meeting.
Over May, Site Secretaries had reported a lack
of response from Allotments to e.g. monthly returns.
The following specific items of concern
were mentioned
·
Moss
Lea Still awaiting a response regarding who has not
renewed their Tenancy Agreement so that they can re let Plots to new Tenants
·
Tonge
Moor Sent "E" Mail ref if existing Tenant has
finished so that they can re let No response from Council, Also phoned regarding
the need for new Locks told they should "E" mail the request - no
response to date.
·
Smedley
Av receiving no responses to their Monthly Reports.
·
Florence
Av. Following the previous Progress Meeting with the
Allotments Section it was agreed that they would consider the repairs to the
Site Fencing and Main Road on the Allotments , No response or Status
received.
The OMA Allotment sites present stated they are
continuing to issue their Monthly Reports but the only responses from the
Allotments Section is "Noted". May Monthly reports still to be issued
by the site Secretaries.
On behalf of the Committee, the Chair
expressed our concerns that there is a lack of Support and Commitment from the
Allotments Section to Abas and the OMA Secretaries, and it was evident that
the meeting shared these concerns.
Members were of the opinion that they
and Abas are losing Members due to lack of Responses/Support from Council.
Members appreciate that Abas are trying to do their best but they have no real
power and the Council is only paying lip service to co-operating with Abas.
The Council should remember that Abas
and the OMA Secretaries are Committed Volunteers trying to make the OMA
Agreements work and we would expect the Council to do the same.
Mr John
Woods
Mr Woods was to give a talk at the last abas
meeting.
A close friend of Mr Woods passed away the
previous day and in the upset Mr Woods completely forgot his appointment at
abas. Terry rang him the day after the meeting. Mr Woods was very apologetic
and has offered to give the talk at another time of our choosing.
SECURITY
ISSUES
There are increasing concerns about vandalism,
trespassing and thefts from sites, sheds and greenhouses. Tonge Moor, Harpers
Lane, Shepherd X St., Tonge Fold and recently Rawlyn Rd. have all reported
problems.
Florence Av. expressed concern that the
reported gap in the gap in their fence had still not been repaired.
Various suggestions were put forward by those
present:
Maintain and Repair Existing Fencing, (get the Council
to maintain and repair perimeter fencing on Allotment Sites)
Report and obtain an incident number from the
Police for very incident
Contact the Local Police/PCOs to request assistance
on Security
Install remote Security Cameras.
Use Anti Vandal Paint.
Abas to
contact GMP requesting suggestions as to how to reduce Break ins and thefts.
GM Spatial
Plan
It is now reported that Andy Burnham
the newly elected Mayor of Greater Manchester has appointed the Mayor of
Salford Paul Bennet to establish a team to re write the Spatial Plan with an
emphasis on reducing the planned Housing development on Green Belt Land ,
Building more “Truly Affording Housing”, and a shift away from Housing on Main
Roads to building in wards revitalising Town Centres with the improvements made
to Bury Town Centre as an example.
ABAS
ALLOTMENTS COMPETITIONS
We are again organising the Fairhurst,
Greenhalgh, New Tenant and Rosebowl Competitions.
We hope as many sites as possible will enter
plot-holders in these competitions
Judging will be in June and July (the scoring
system is set out as part of the 13.03 minutes on the blog-site)
Forms etc. available via Terry
ABAS ONION,
LEEK AND VEGETABLE SHOW
The Show will be held at Trinity Church, Tonge
Fold
The date is Saturday 12th August
The list of classes is given on the blog-site
We need sponsorship for the various classes -
£10 per class is suggested – the closing date for sponsorship is the June abas
meeting
PHOTOGRAPHIC
EXHIBITION
We have received no interest / communication
etc. about the proposed Photographic / Art Exhibition to be held in conjunction
with the Annual Show
Therefore we shall not take this idea forward
for 2017.
WHAT’S ON?
Could members please remember to advise us of
any events, shows or functions that you are planning for 2017 and we’ll put them on our blog page
as well as trying to get wider publicity.
NWCAA
Members were reminded that the minutes of the
North-Western Counties Allotments Association AGM held at Stanley Park,
Blackpool on 25th March are now available on the Association’s website (see
below) - www.nwcallotmentassociation.com
NWCAA can be contacted through the secretary
(Andrea Hallissey) at nwsecandrea@gmail.com
Abas’ representatives to NWCAA events are
Terry and Jeff.
Grants and
Funding Opportunities
Members were reminded that there are details of potential funding from TESCO for projects such as meeting rooms, chemical toilets, site and land improvements on the NWCAA web-site (Blackpool Federation has secure £13k so far with a possible £5k to follow)
Members were reminded that there are details of potential funding from TESCO for projects such as meeting rooms, chemical toilets, site and land improvements on the NWCAA web-site (Blackpool Federation has secure £13k so far with a possible £5k to follow)
Societies (and abas) need to look seriously
into future fund-raising since support from the ‘Big Bolton Fund’ / CVS has
diminished and is likely to be further cut in future. In addition many funders
are refusing repeat applications within a set period.
CVS grant advisors are advising even medium
size groups to look at designating a fundraising officer or committee and to
make maximum use of e.g. the Fundraising portals that Bolton CVS and GMCVO
operate
ANY OTHER
BUSINESS
Harpers Lane expressed concern that when they sent
an "E" mail to the Allotments Section requesting if they could have a
Car Boot Sale on the Site to raise much needed society funds, they received a
Flat no without any explanation as to why !!
Harpers Lane are concerned that they are trying to
raise money for their funds but get no assistance to do so .
Following
a conversation with Harpers Lane’s Secretary, Dave has
subsequently (20/05/2017) emailed the Allotments Section asking them to
reconsider.
Dates
Our next meeting is on Monday June 12th this
will be followed by:
Monday July 10th
Monday August 14th
Monday Sept 11th
Monday October 9th
And the AGM on Monday November 13th
All meetings start at 8.00 p.m.
The Meeting Closed at 21:20
