AGM November 9th 2015 Minutes

Abas AGM
9^th November 2015

Astley Bridge Cricket Club – Bolton

The meeting convened at 8.00 p.m.

 

Item 1: Minutes of the 2014 AGM and Matters Arising

The Minutes of the 2014 AGM having been posted on the Association’s blog-site (http://www.abas2014.blogspot.co.uk) during the year, the Committee asked that the minutes be accepted. The motion was proposed by Ray Maginn (Sapling Rd.) and seconded by Carol Barlow (Sapling Rd.) and was carried unanimously.

 All Matters arising from those minutes were subsequently covered during the body of this meeting

 Item 2 -Current membership – 16 sites – based on information to hand on November 9^th 2015

SITE                 no of PLOTS    OMA?  PAID    UNPAID                                                                      

Ainsdale Rd                 49        Y                      x         

Cemetery Rd               26        N                      x         

Clammerclough          12        N                      x         

Dealey Rd.                   25        Y          x                     

Florence Avenue         52        Y          x                     

Harpers Lane               83        Y          x                     

Lever Park Avenue      31        Y          x                     

Haslam Park                23        Y                      x         

Moss Lea                     44        Y                      x         

Rawlyn Rd                   45        Y          x                     

Sapling Rd                   61        Y          x                     

Settle St                       41        Y                      x         

Shepherd Cross St        63        Y                      x         

Smedley Avenue         28        N          x                     

Tonge Fold                   38        Y          x                     

Tonge Moor Rd.           54        Y          x                                                                                 

TOTAL                          675                  417      258     

 

Non-members (1)

SITE                             no of PLOTS    Society                       

Crown Lane                             51        N/S                 

Longworth Rd Egerton            49        N/S                 

Lowndes St                              32        SOC                

Hatfield Rd                              27        N/S                 

Green Lane                              20        N/S                 

Longworth Rd Horwich         18        SOC     OMA  

SITE                             no of PLOTS    Society           

Firwood Lane                          16        ?                     

Nasmyth St                              15        N/S                 

Willows Mercantile                 11        N/S                 

Tippings Rd                             10        N/S                 

TOTAL                                      249      10 sites                       

 

Non-members (2) – smaller sites

SITE                             no of PLOTS                           

Cross St                                    7          N/S                 

Thicketford Td                         5          N/S                 

Plodder Lane                           4          N/S                 

Glebe St                                   4          N/S      B@H   

Avondale Rd                            3          N/S      B@H   

Chequerbent Gardens             3          N/S                 

Garstang Avenue                     3          N/S                 

New St                                     3          N/S      B@H   

Hall Lea Bank                          1          N/S                 

Westhoughton Central            1          N/S                 

Seymour Rd                             0          N/S                 

TOTAL                                      34        11 sites                       

 

NB B@H means that ‘ownership’ of the site has been transferred to Bolton at Home from Bolton Council

 Please Note – there was some discussion as to the accuracy of the above figures and a corrected version will be issued during the gap in meetings over the winter.

 Item 3 - Annual Accounts

INCOME                                             

CVS Grant                                            £341.17          

Members Subscriptions Received       £205.50          

Bank Interest                                       £    0.50          

Cash Transfer                                      £135.00          

Cash paid in                                        £ 23.95           

Raffle Income                                     £112.00          

Onion and Leek Show Grant               £250.00          

Other                                      

TOTAL INCOME                                   £1,068.12       

 

EXPENDITURE                        

CVS Grant-related Expenditure           £363.66                      

Leek Show grant-related Exp              £250.00                      

Secretary's Expenditure                      £108.00                      

Allotment Comp Prize Money             £130.00                      

Presentation Flowers                           £ 50.00                       

Engraving and Postage                        £ 32.48                       

NVS Subscription                                 £ 19.00                       

Printing Costs                                      £ 21.00                       

Lecture Fees                                        £ 70.00                       

Other                                                   £   0.98                                               

TOTAL EXPENDITURE                         £1,045.12                   

                                   

NETT SURPLUS                                   £     23.00       

 

 

OPENING CASH AND BANK               £1,305.12       

NETT SURPLUS                                   £      23.00

CLOSING CASH AND BANK                £1,328.12       

 

CURRENT ACCOUNT                           £    427.25                  

BUSINESS ACCOUNT                         £    900.87                  

                                                           

 

                                   

Accounts of the Leek and Onion Show 2015

INCOME                     

Duchy Grant                            £250.00          

Donations / Sponsorship         £183.00          

Entrance Fees                          £  22.30          

Raffle                                      £  40.23          

Prize Money not used             £  22.00          

                       

TOTAL                                      £517.53          

 

EXPENDITURE            

Laminator and Pouches          £  63.98          

Abas Trophy                             £  59.95          

Prize Cards (Printing)              £  20.00          

Table Tops                               £129.60          

Prize Money                            £148.00          

Judge's Fee                              £  30.00          

Gifts to ABCC Staff                  £    8.00          

                       

TOTAL                                      £459.53          

                       

SURPLUS FROM SHOW          £  58.00          

Item 4: Election of Officers

Officers from the current year were returned unopposed

 

Hon President:             Richard Heyes (Tonge Moor)

Hon Vice-President:    George Wild (Tonge Moor)

 

Chair                           Jeff Gibson (Tonge Fold)

Secretary                     Dave Jackson (Harpers Lane)

Treasurer                     Terry Farrell (Tonge Fold)

 

Two Committee Members from the current year were re-elected Ann Craven (Settle St.) and Theresa Morris (Tonge Fold). In addition Carol Deplitch (Dealey Rd.) was elected to the Committee.

 

Item 5: Setting Subscriptions for 2016-2017

 

The 2014/15 Committee’s proposal that subscriptions for 2016-2017 should be raised to £1.00 per member was passed unanimously.

It was pointed out that the previous rate – 50p per member – had been fixed since 1981

 

Item 6: Competitions

 

The Committee proposed that Abas run the four Borough Allotment competitions (Fairhurst, Greenhalgh, New Tenant, Rosebowl) in 2016

 

The Committee proposed that Abas run an expanded Show in 2016 – this will be a Vegetable Show rather than an Onion and Leek Show.

A proposed schedule of classes had been drawn up (which is given below)

It was proposed that the Show take place on either Saturday 20^th August or Saturday 3^rd September – the proposed venue being Trinity Methodist Church. The meeting opted for Saturday 20^th of August – although some sites reserved judgement until they have fixed the dates of their own shows and Open Days.

 

Proposed Show Classes 2016

1. Best Display of Vegetables
2. Three Stump Carrots
3. Three Parsnips
4. Three Onions from Sets < 250 g
5. Three Onions from Seeds < 250g
6. Three Onions from Seed > 250g
7. Three Onions (1 < 250g, > 250g one <450g, one > 450g)
8. Two Blanched Leeks
9. Two Pot Leeks
10. Ten Shallots < 30mm
11. Ten Shallots > 30mm
12. Three Red Onions
13. Heaviest Onion
14. Four Tomatoes
15. One cucumber
16. 6 Pods of French Bans
17. 6 Pods of Runner Beans
18. 6 Pods of Peas
19. One Marrow
20. Four potatoes (White)
21. Four potatoes (Coloured)
22. Three Beetroot
23. One Cabbage
24. One Cauliflower
25. One of any other type of vegetable not listed above

 

More details of rules etc. are available

 

Item 7: Talks and Lectures

 

Members accepted that there are two audiences for Abas meetings. The first is the secretaries and committee members of the member societies – they are essentially attending a business meeting the primary topic of which is the ongoing relationship with Bolton MBC and its impact on the allotment community. They are thus interested in policy developments at the Council and how Abas can act collectively to resolve ongoing issues affecting sites (e.g. maintenance failures etc.) The second audience are the general plot-holders on allotment sites in the Borough. They are less likely to be interested in the details of individual issues (unless personally affected) but more interested in general topics of horticulture etc.

 

It was suggested (and the suggestion will be studied by the Committee during the winter break) that talks of no more that 30-40 minutes on general topics could be scheduled at the start of the monthly meetings, after which the meeting would turn to site management matters.

 

Possible topics included:-

Advice for new plot-holders

Composting / Worm Composting

Starting with Poultry

Starting with Bees

 

How to show Vegetables (with the talks given by experienced local plot-holders e.g. Jeff and Terry rather than the more professional competitors who spoke in 2015)

 

It was also suggested that Abas organise visits by groups of Abas members to other Allotment Associations and Sites to compare Good Practice and also visits to Shows (e.g. Harrogate / Southport), Gardens and perhaps Stately Homes.

 

The Committee will consider this suggestion over the winter break.

 

Finally it was suggested that Abas and its member societies should work together to co-ordinate the advertising and promotion of their events and fund raising.

 

 

Item 8: Progress Meetings with the Council

 

The Committee reported that regular meetings had been held with the Council to address issues of concern to members..

The Council has proposed three to four meetings per annum

Other meetings can be scheduled if either side feels an urgent issue needs to be addressed

 

At the last meeting (Oct 2015) Abas raised issues on behalf of Rawlyn Rd., Moss Lea, Harpers Lane, Tonge Moor and Smedley Avenue. In general sites were satisfied with progress made but there seems an ongoing issue with work placed with contractors by the Counciil not being done and/or not being followed up by Council Officers.

 

Abas is creating a Register of the Issues which members send us – this register will be shared with the Council. Site Secretaries are asked to inform us of all outstanding issues that they report on their Monthly Reports (for OMA sites) or that they email / write to the Council about (for other sites). This updating should continue during the winter break.

Progress on items on this Register will be discussed at the monthly abas meetings

 

On-going Consultation

Since the ‘Plotties’ issue, Elected Members have become interested in the whole issue around food growing and sales.  They have expressed the view that if the sales can be shown to be benefiting the community they should be encouraged.

Areas of general agreement seem to be:

• 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 fete would be acceptable on a one-off basis).
• Societies should not create any purpose built structure for the purpose off selling produce
• Sales should be in season (the Council would like to set maximum occasions)
• There should be no Sales of processed produce unless the Society goes through registration and Food Hygiene Testing Inspection etc. with the relevant regulatory departments

 

The Council wishes to work with Abas on the wording of a definitive statement for the start of the Spring growing season.

 

Community Plots

 

As part of the above the term Community Plot is to be reserved solely or plots being worked by ‘communities’ or groups – in all practical respects these are the same as any other plot and subject to probation, rent, regulations etc.

 

An area for discussion over the winter is the question of SOCIETY PLOTS

These are plots where the society is the tenant. Our current interpretation of council thinking is that they must serve some community purpose (e.g. education or some social benefit) and must not be solely some kind of income generating market garden, but the position is not set.

 

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The proposal that Abas maintain a log of break-ins on sites and share this with the NWCAA was approved. This will need Site Secretaries to keep the Abas secretary informed of break-ins and vandalism.

 

The NWCAA are organising a regional forum on allotment thefts which will be hosted by ABAS. It will be held in Bolton on January 24^th 2016. GM Police have been invited to speak.

Further details will be posted nearer the date and a calling notice will be sent to member secretaries by email.

 

 

The meeting closed at 9.50 p.m.

 

Next Year’s Meetings

 

It is proposed that next Year’s meetings will (as this year) be on the second Monday in each month. They will be held at Astley Bridge Cricket Club and will start at 8.00 p.m. The first meeting will be in March 2016.

 

Should this change all secretaries will be informed by email or letter.

 

 

AGM 2015

AGENDA FOR THE AGM OF THE ASSOCIATION OF BOLTON ALLOTMENT SOCIETIES TO BE HELD ON 09/11/2015

Item 1: Minutes of Previous Meeting and Matters arising

Item 2: Overview of Abas  its Membership and what Abas intends to do regarding Non OMA and smaller Allotment Sites and Meetings with Council the NAS and NWCAA

Item 3: Treasurers Report/Accounts of the association including the accounts of the Onion and Leek show

Item 4: Election of Officers and Committee

The current Officers and Committee are:_

            Hon President Richard Hayes [Tonge Moor]

            Hon Vice President George Wild [Tonge Moor]

            Chair Jeff Gibson [Tonge Fold]

            Secretary David Jackson [Harpers Lane]

            Treasurer Terry Farrell [Tonge Fold]

            Management Committee

            Ann Craven [Settle Street], Teresa Morris [Tonge Fold]

            All have indicated their willingness to stand again

       

Other Nominations may be made via boltonallotments@yaho.co.uk

Item 5: Review of Abas Membership

Item 6: Setting of Subscriptions for 2017

The Committee has proposed a fee of £1:00 per Member to be payable June/July 2016

Item 6: Competitons for 2016

     It is proposed that Abas will again organise the Annual Allotments Competition in 2016

     The return of the Onion and Leek Show,following an absence of 24 years, was a great success with over 80 entries. It is proposed that Abas brings the show forward in 2016 and introduces a wider range of classes.

Item 7: Talks and Lectures for 2016

Are members interested in more talks in 2016 if so “on what topics”

Item 8: Future “Progress” Meetings  with the Council to review the Site Refresher Matrix and any outstanding site Issues

Item 9: A.O.B.

 

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.

 

SOUTHPORT FLOWER SHOW

Members of Abas and Harpers Lane Allotments Society created an art exhibition as part of the North West Counties Allotments Association's stand at the Southport Flower Show. The 'photo shows Maggie Hargreaves of Bolton art collective Neo:artists and Margaret Jackson, Secretary of Harpers Lane Allotments Society with the Challenge Cup (for best voluntary organisation stand) and the Gold Medal Certificate which were awarded to the NWCAA.

ABAS minutes 14.09.2015

Meeting at Astley Bridge Cricket Club 14/09/2015.

 

The Meeting began with a presentation by Andrea Hallissey Secretary of the North West Counties Allotments Association (the regional layer of the National Allotment Society). Andrea gave a persuasive presentation as to why societies and individuals should join and become involved with the National. Setting aside the direct benefits questions such as insurance and seed schemes, Andrea concentrated on the need for the allotment community to stick together to maintain the position and indeed existence of allotments in the face of the pressures that they currently face in these times of expenditure cuts and demands for new development sites. A number of members asked questions and voiced concerns about their perceptions and experience of the National, which Andrea addressed and a useful discussion was had. The Committee would like to record their thanks to Andrea for coming over to Bolton on Monday evening and giving us her time and energy.

 

The next presentation was by Stephen Best, PCSO with the section of Greater Manchester Police that covers the Astley Bridge Area. Stephen have a bright, informed and enjoyable presentation which developed into a question and answer session with the audience and ranged over a whole gamut of topics relevant to plot holders and site security. Particular points to mention were the idea of Allotment watch schemes (there is one in Horwich, and Andrea also offered to give us contacts at a scheme in Salford) and the use of cameras and audible alarms on sheds and buildings. Stephen also emphasised the need for EVERY person affected by thefts and vandalism to make an individual report of the incident to GMP as only in this way can the statistics on which policing is planned reflect the real level of incidents that we face.  The Committee would like to record its thanks to Stephen for his time and to his superiors for letting him attend our meeting.

 

There then followed a discussion on a range of issues surrounding the selling of produce

This was prompted by the case at Tonge Fold Allotments which had received a high level of coverage particularly in the Bolton News but also in national journals.

 On 10/08/2015, following a complaint by a member of the public to the Council’s “Regulatory Services”, Malcolm Russell instructed the Secretary of Tonge Fold Allotments to instruct plot-holders at that site to desist from selling produce from a stall set up at the gates of the site. This stall had been widely advertised in the locality.

At a meeting that evening Abas undertook to get legal advice from the National about the situation

 An email to abas from Malcolm Russell (10/08/2015) stated:-

 “the principle of advertising and selling produce from any allotment is one that we (the Council) don’t want to get into. We are comfortable with the societies having annual shows that include some sales of produce from the site, but we can’t have societies or individuals advertising and / or selling on a regular basis.’

We reproduce below the reply from Liz Bunting (NAS – legal officer) to our email asking for guidance on the legal position around selling surplus produce.

“As I mentioned (in our telephone conversation) I have had numerous conversations with senior Trading Standards Officers throughout the country and they are not concerned with the sale of surplus seasonal produce where the proceeds are for Association funds.
 
However, where a stall has been set up at the gates of the allotment, this brings a great many issues into the scenario. The Planning Department may require planning permission, the Highways Department will be looking at signage and traffic build up. Trading Standards and the Environmental Health Department will be concerned about the produce being sold and particularly where this includes jams and pies. There is a registration involved in trading as a food business, street trading licenses and HMRC will also be interested in any business activity.  Neighbourhood services will also look at any breaches of the Lease, because they will be receiving pressure from these other departments.

The individuals who are taking part in these activities, all of whom have direct let tenancy agreements, preventing business activity, each one will be in breach of their individual leases and therefore this gives the Council the opportunity to issue a Notice to Quit”

 
Clause 21 of the Bolton Tenancy Agreement covers business activity
 
Some further points are recorded from a conversation between abas secretary Dave Jackson and Ms Bunting.

  “Allotment Law” (P Clayden, page 7, section 4, para b) states that decisions about ‘commercial use with regard to site shops and the sale of surplus produce’ should be made on a site by site basis by the local authority. Bolton Council’s criteria on such decisions was stated by M Russell in the email referred to earlier.

In response to a query that it is the Society that is selling not individuals and the society has no tenancy agreement with the Council, so how could there be a breach of that agreement, Ms Bunting’s opinion was that this is not a defence – the Council could hold those taking the decision to sell (e.g. the Committee) as being responsible for the breach and take action against them.

 Essentially Ms Bunting’s view is that the actions of the site society in question are potentially wrong both in terms of accepted custom and practice and in Allotments Law and the Council could be justified in taking action.

 She also feels that interventions by the other Regulatory agencies mentioned would also be likely and potentially damaging to the society and to individuals.  

 Ms Bunting’s advice and the information from abas’ conversation with her were passed to the Society Secretary at Tonge Fold.

Tonge Fold proceeded with an Open Day held on the site and we understand that they have since continued selling produce. The Tonge Fold Committee met with Malcolm Russell on 09/09/2015

 Abas also had some communications with Malcolm Russell following his return from leave on 01/09/2015.

 
Mr Russell clarified the Council’s view on discussions about this matter – the Council talk to abas about borough-wide issues (e.g. the interpretation of Allotment Law), with Site Societies on site specific matters and with individuals where their personal Terms and Conditions of Tenancy are concerned.

 On 09/09/2015 in an email to abas Mr Russell restated the Council’s position as follows

 ‘With regard to the fund-raising element, the Council’s current position is as previously advised and fits with the advice obtained from the National. (We are comfortable with the societies having annual shows that include some sales of produce from the site, but we can’t have societies or individuals advertising and / or selling on a regular basis.)

However we would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with Abas as part of a review of the council’s position on the matter. 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.

 At the same time there are potential regulatory issues that we all need to be aware of e.g. Planning and ‘prepared food’ sales.

 Members of the Tonge Fold Society who had been at the meeting with Mr Russell on 09/09/2015 said that this did not accord with their recollection of the position as he had stated it at that meeting. He had been much more positive and had essentially agreed that they could continue regular weekend sales.

 Abas has since contacted Mr Russell for clarification on this point. Essentially the position is as stated in his written email. The Council will however look at such issues on a case by case basis while the review referred to above is taking place.

 The meeting moved on to mandate the Committee to take part in the Council’s review 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. The meeting felt however that the review should concentrate on site management and maintenance issues.

We have received an email from Mr Russell. He reports that the Allotments section has been seriously understaffed due to the illness of a key staff member and that as a consequence of this some of the work that the section had wished to carry out prior to the sending out of plot-holders rent bills in October has not been completed. Consequently there will be errors in some of the bills that are sent out. He asks for plot-holders understanding on this. If an error occurs will the plot-holder concerned please either 'phone the number on the bill or email the Allotments section on Allotments@bolton.gov.uk

 

 

 

AUGUST 10^TH

Abas was honoured to have the Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Carole Swarbrick, as our guest at Astley Bridge Cricket Club on 10^th August to present the Trophies in the annual allotments competitions.

The Fairhurst Trophy for larger allotment plots went to R & J Dyson of Sapling Road Allotments Society. The photo below shows Mrs Dyson collecting the trophy

The Greenhalgh Trophy for the best smaller plot went to Mr and Mrs Marsh of the Nasmyth St. site in Horwich. The photo below shows Mr Marsh collecting the trophy.

The New Tenants Trophy for the best plot where the tenancy had been held for less than 12 months went to Mr and Mrs Buckley of Harpers Lane Allotments Society. The photo below shows Mr and Mrs Buckley collecting the trophy from Cllr Swarbrick.

The judging panel also gave a Highly Commended Award to Mr D Hargraves of Harpers Lane Allotments Society for his efforts in bringing back into cultivation an abandoned and flooded plot.

The photo below shows Mr Hargrave receiving his certificate.

And finally Abas’ own award for the best SITE, the Rosebowl, went to Florence Avenue. The photo shows their Secretary, Mr P Warren, accepting the trophy from the Mayor.

We’d like to thank everyone who took part in the competitions, our judging panel (Terry Farrell, Jeff Gibson, George Wilde and Richard Heyes) for making the rounds through June and July, Mrs Margaret Farrell for making the presentation cakes, the staff and Committee at Astley Bridge Cricket Club for hosting the event and most of all, the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Carole Swarbrick for presenting the prizes.

Following the presentations and the Mayor’s departure, we had an open discussion session and Dave Waring of Tonge Fold Allotments reported to the meeting that his society had been told they could no longer sell surplus produce from a stall at the site gates.

This has since become something of a cause celebre in the town with regular coverage in the Bolton News.

Some members of the audience were adamant that plot-holders could sell surplus produce. The Secretary reported to the meeting that he had received an email from Malcom Russell which restated that the Council were content with societies selling a small amount of produce to raise funds for the society at Annual Open Days and similar one-off events, but that this did not extend to regular sales from a stall.

The Committee undertook to contact both the Regional Association (NWCAA) and the National Allotment Society’s Legal Officer (Liz Bunting) to get a clear, informed opinion as to the position with regard to the selling of surplus produce.

The Secretary spoke to Ms Bunting on Tuesday 18^th August and gained a clear picture of the NAS’ interpretation of the position. This was followed up by a written opinion. The secretary will present this to the meeting on 14/09/2015.

The issue again highlights the importance of addressing how work under OMAs and how work to improve site amenities is to be financed. This will be placed on the agenda for 14/09/2015.