Guidance on Monthly Inspections

We have received the following advice from the Allotments team for societies carrying out monthly inspections under OMAs.

1. There is a clause in the 'new' tenancy agreements that states that the Council or its agents will not enter on to a plot for the purposes of inspection without giving at least 24 hours notice in writing.

The Council therefore advise that when inspecting plots Society Committees should stay on the site road or access paths and not go onto individual plots. Abas think that where the inspection requires it - e.g. when a complaint has been made by a neighbour about a plot-holder storing waste on a plot - the Society reps can take photos from an adjoining plot (with that plot-holder's permission / consent).

2. If a Society has issued a Stage 1 notice to a plot-holder and on reinspection after four weeks they are unsure as to whether to move to a Stage 2 (official Council notice) they may extend the Stage 1 notice (even to the extent of putting a plot under 'continuous monitoring'). This might be particularly useful with tenants who have a history of doing the minimum to stave off an offical notice and who then let thei plot relapse into its previous state, as it means any subsequent lowering of standards can directly trigger a Stage 2 without the issue of a new Satge 1.

Minutes - 11.08.14

 

 

Minutes of Last Meeting and Matters Arising

The minutes of the meeting of 14/07/2014 having been posted on the Association’s website at http://www.abas2014.blogspot.co.uk were accepted as correct.

 Matters Arising from the Meeting

It was stated at the last meeting that a member society had been told by a Council official that having paid membership to the NSALG the society gained automatic public liability cover through NSALG. This is in direct contradiction of information given by the National itself. Members are directed to two articles in “Allotment and Leisure Gardener” Issue 3, 2014 pages 7 and 8 which give more information.

Matters raised between Meetings

The position of registered buddies – The Council has said that buddies acquire no rights to succeed to the plot when / if the tenant retires. The Association feels that this is not a fair situation, and whilst we accept that in the past the buddy system has been abused to help people jump the waiting list, we will ask the Council to reconsider its ruling. We are encouraged that the Council has re-opened the ability to retrospectively turn a tenancy into a joint tenancy. The meeting was however told that the Council is intending to restrict this facility to spouses, partners and family members.

 The definition of a community plot – the Assistant Secretary repeated the definition given to us for the last meeting – any plot being cultivated (with the Council’s approval) for which no tenancy agreement is applied. This means that various forms may be adopted to suit each site’s individual needs,

 Some Societies are having difficulties sending Stage 1 ‘Breach of Tenancy’ letters to plot-holders as they do not have current addresses for the tenant and cannot contact the tenant. The Council will not release the addresses that they hold to the Society (Data Protection). It has been suggested that one solution in such cases will be to go straight to Stage 2 and have the Council issue a formal notice. It was suggested that the Council should provide lists of CURRENT tenants to society secretaries (to include contact addresses), each year after the rent payments in October and whenever new tenants are taken on. It was suggested that Tenancy Renewal notices might be amended to contain a clause in which tenants agree for their contact details to be given to Site Secretaries for administrative purposes.

 We have been informed that Bolton Council may be extending the OMA principle to Bowling Clubs. We are not aware of the terms Bowling Clubs are being offered and so members were asked to use their contacts to find out what is being offered.

 The NWCAA has issued warnings about ‘Protecting Our Plots’ and on the need for vigilance in the face of the new ‘developer friendly’ planning climate. Members were directed to look at the website www.locality.org.uk for information on community rights and community assets and at the National’s website www.nsalg.org.uk  members are urged take any opportunity to speak to their ward councillors and their MP about the need to protect Allotments sites.

 A number of points have been raised by the Regional Rep, and newly elected Chair of the NAS Management Committee (Andy Percival).

Mr Percival has asked sites who are asked to undertake unpaid for work by their Councils to consider this very carefully. He argues that doing so makes it harder to hold Councils to fulfilling their responsibilities to maintain sites properly. He argues that sites which cannot achieve self-management, should aim for self-maintenance status in which councils pay an allowance to societies for conducting minor Maintenance works.

In general OMAs don’t include much maintenance (weed-killing or some grass cutting at most) mostly being concerned with administration, (primarily new tenancies and mal-cultivation) but the point about an allowance is one ABAS has raised frequently.

The situation in Bolton (as understood by ABAS) is that Bolton Council has flatly refused to support true self-management or to offer any such allowances to Societies or to debate the level of services we receive

ABAS would like to take this opportunity to correct the view (held by some) that ABAS promotes OMAs. ABAS believes that OMAs offer much of value but also involve Societies in some costs. It is for each Society to decide (in its own individual case) whether the advantages of being able to directly influence the letting of plots, the operation of the tenancy rules (especially the issuing of mal-cultivation notices) and the building of structures on their site outweigh the work  / costs involved in their particular OMA. For a number of sites the choice has been to adopt an OMA , for others it has not been accepted. ABAS supports all members societies in their decisions.

 In the recent report from the North-West Region Allotments Officers Forum it was stated that in some other authorities, Society Secretaries carrying out duties similar to those our Site Secretaries carry out under OMAs receive benefits for so doing. Possible Benefits have included – a free plot for the Society Secretary and payments of up to £85 p.a. There was no support for individual benefits to be paid to Society officers but the meeting felt that some payment to the Society would be appropriate and instructed the Committee to raise the matter with the Council. It was also felt that societies should raise the matter with their ward councillors.

 

RESULTS OF THE COMPETITIONS have been posted on the blog-site.

The prizes were presented on August 10th by Cllr Sufrana Bashire Ismail at Harpers Lane Allotments Site.

 Issues from the Floor

 Dealey Road reported that there was a clause in their OMA that specifically allowed for surplus produce donated by plot-holders to their Society to be sold by the Society to raise funds for the Site. The meeting felt that such a clause should be added to all OMAs.

 The question of gates and locks was raised. Some societies felt that grants for new locks etc. were still available from Area Forums, whilst others felt they were not. Other sources of grant funding can be accessed through the ‘Portal’ at Bolton CVS.

 On a lighter note, a question was raise as to how a pet rabbit (which had been released onto a site) might be captured without harming the animal. Numerous suggestions were made.

Date and Venue of Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place at Astley Bridge Cricket Club at 8.00 p.m. on Monday September 8^th.

 

 

The Annual Bolton Allotments Awards (organised this year by the Association of Bolton Allotments Societies) were presented on Sunday 10^th August at the Harpers Lane Allotments Site. Despite appalling weather conditions, over 100 people crammed into a marquee at the Harpers Lane Allotments Site to see Cllr Sufrana Bashir-Ismail (– Executive Member on Bolton Council for the group of services which include Allotments) present the Awards to the winners.

The results were as follows:-

FAIRHURST TROPHY – for the Best ‘Full-Size’ Plot (>200 square metres)

1^st G Hamer (Longworth Rd. Allotments Society)

2^nd D Urmston (Sapling Rd. Allotment Society)

3^rd R & J Dyson (Sapling Rd Allotment Society.)

 FRED GREENHALGH TROPHY – for the best smaller plot (<200 square metres)

1^st M Marsh (Nasmyth St Allotments Society)

2^nd A Wood (Nasmyth St Allotments Society)

3^rd J Dainty (Nasmyth St Allotments Society.)

NEW ENTRANTS TROPHY – for those who have held their plot for less than 12 months

1^st E Hartigan and Roy Bottomley (Tonge Moor Rd Allotment Society.)

2^nd Ann Armor (Tonge Moor Rd Allotment Society.)

3^rd Harry Booth and Peter Sellers (Tonge Moor Rd. Allotment Society)

ABAS ROSEBOWL – for the Best (Council owned) Site in the Bolton Area

Dealey Rd. Allotments Society

 Terry Farrell, Treasurer of the Association of Bolton Allotment Societies (ABAS) said

‘Given that the Association had a late start  to the Competition – stepping in when the Council felt that due to resource constraints it could not run the awards this year – there was a very encouraging number of entries and all entries were of a high standard – “there were no losers”.

The Association aims to run the competition again in 2015.

Mr Geoff Hamer receives the Fairhurst Trophy from Cllr. Sufrana Bashir Ismail assisted by Mr George Wild (Secretary – ABAS)

 

 

Mrs Marsh accepts the Greenhalgh Trophy on behalf of her husband

Eileen Hartigan and Roy Bottomley receive the New Entrants Shield

 

Training Opportunities

 BOLTON CVS IS ORGANISING A PROGRAMME OF TRAINING IN THE AUTUMN

Allotment Societies are voluntary bodies, we urge you to join the CVS and take advantage of the training opportunities that they can provide. membership is free.

Working with young volunteers and volunteers with additional needs   Free
Date: Thursday, 25 September 2014  Time:10:00am - 12:00pm   

Hallmarks of an effective Charity – What every committee member needs to know
Date: Friday, 26 September 2014 Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Finding the Right Grant using the Funding Portal   Free
Date: Tuesday, 30 September 2014 Time: 10:00am  - 12:00pm

Stronger Together Seminar – Using Social Media   Free
Date: Wednesday, 8 October 2014 Time: 10:00am  - 12:00pm

Completing Bolton CVS Grant Applications   Free
Date: Friday, 17 October 2014 Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm

Hallmarks of an effective Charity – Financial Management
Date: Thursday, 23 October 2014 Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Win that Bid – Applying for grants
Date: Monday, 10 November 2014 Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Hallmarks of an effective Charity – Strategic Planning – Ensuring your group is on track and planning for the future
Date: Thursday, 20 November 2014 Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Showing the funder why you're needed
Date: Monday, 1 December 2014 Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Developing a Marketing Plan
Date: Thursday, 11 December 2014 Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Stronger Together Seminar - Developing Case studies that help you promote your cause
Date: Monday, 15 December 2014 Time:10:00am - 12:00pm  Free



For more information about any of these courses please email training@boltoncvs.org.uk or telephone 01204 546014.

MINUTES 14/07/2014

ABAS - Association of Bolton Allotment Societies

Meeting 14^th July 2014

 

Present: Committee – Richard Heyes (Chair), George Wild (Secretary), Terry Farrell (Treasurer), David Jackson (Asst. Secretary), Jeff Gibson, Margaret Jackson, Phil Warren plus representatives of : Sapling Rd., Tonge Fold, Haslam Park, Dealey Rd., Rawlyn Rd., Smedley Avenue, Settle St., Florence Avenue, Shepherd Cross St., Tonge Moor Rd., Moss Lea and Harpers Lane.

 

Minutes of Last Meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 9/06/2014 have been posted on the Association’s website at http://www.abas2014.blogspot.co.uk   The minutes were agreed.

 

Matters Arising from the Meeting

ABAS had contacted the Council about reinstatement work at Cemetery Rd. Farnworth. What has happened since could not be discussed as no representative of Cemetery Rd. was present to provide an update.

 

Matters Arising between Meetings

Contact from the National – members with projects relating to Bees that might form the basis for a piece in Allotment and Leisure Gardener were asked to contact Diane Appleyard – diane@nsalg.org.uk

 

Update on Council Actions
(information provided by the Allotments Desk at Bolton MBC)

 

OMAs

• Completed 4 – (Harpers Lane, Florence Ave, Shepherds Cross St, Moss Lea)
• Expected Completion in July 2 – (Dealey Rd., Sapling Rd.)
• Site Visit Completed, In progress 3 –(Rawlyn Rd., Tonge Fold, Tonge Moor Rd.)
• Site Visit to be arranged 1 – (Settle Street)

 

The Council are currently aware of 42 vacant plots borough-wide (excluding plots on OMA sites)

This is down from 69 in March

The Council are currently filling vacant plots at Crown Lane, Rawlyn Rd. and Manningham Rd. They aim to tackle 2 more non-OMA sites in September

 

Waiting Lists

There are currently 293 people on the Council’s waiting list (down from 305 in March)

 

Community Plots – a definition

A community plot is any plot where the person(s) working it do not have a tenancy.  On OMA sites this may include people clearing a plot for their own subsequent use (provided they complete the clearance) with no tenancy and making no payment.

 

Non-OMA sites

The Council is struggling through lack of capacity to make inspections on non-OMA sites. They have reported on only one site to date at which 12 plots were served with Notices to Improve

 

Competitions Update

Report on Judging – 5 sites have been judged so far. Judging will be completed on 15/07/2014.

 

Sponsorship of Prizes

Sponsorship by J Maher Ltd of First and Second Prizes for the Fairhurst, Greenhalgh and New Entrant Trophies. The balance of prize money etc. will be provided from ABAS funds.

 

Presentations to Prize Winners

Will take place at Harpers Lane Open Day at 3.00 p.m. on August 10^th 2014 by Councillor Sufrana Bashir-Ismail (executive Member for the area covering allotments)

 

A representative of Sapling Rd. enquired why Harpers Lane’s Open Day had been chosen as the venue for the prize giving. The reason given was the limited time to find, and the limited funds available for, other venues. This reply satisfied the representative.

 

 

National Allotments Week

National Allotments Week runs from 4^th August to 10^th August

The National have issued a pack to help any society to promote events in connection with the Week. Memebrs were informed that they could get an electronic copy from ABAS at boltonallotments2014@yahoo.co.uk or direct from the National at www.nsalg.org.uk from whom you can also order free posters (some posters were made available at the meeting.)

ABAS will be trying to get material about allotments into the Bolton News during National Allotment Week

 

Open Days etc.

Sites having any ‘public’ events over the summer (whether in connection with National Allotment Week or not) were asked to inform ABAS. A provisional list was drawn up which will be posted on the ABAS blog-site. ABAS will try to get events posted on the North West Counties’ website

 

Good to Grow Project - Presentation by Alun Morris

 

Any Other Business

 

The meeting approved a suggestion for the Committee that we have invited speakers at some of our meetings. Suggestions ranged from a visit from Robinson’s Seeds, to dahlias and chrysanthemums, worms, beekeeping and poultry-keeping. The Treasurer’s suggestion that ABAS joins the National Vegetable Society was agreed by the meeting.

 

The Assistant Secretary asked whether (in view of the number of events taking place in August) we should still have an August meeting. The feeling of those present was that we should.

 

Date and Venue of Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place at 8.00 p.m. at Astley Bridge Cricket Club on the 11^th of August.

 

Close

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed.

 

 

SUMMER EVENTS IN BOLTON

Association of

BOLTON ALLOTMENT SOCIETIES (ABAS)

 

AUGUST ON THE ALLOTMENTS – OPEN EVENTS AND NATIONAL ALLOTMENTS WEEK

Started twelve years ago, National Allotments Week is an initiative which runs annually to help raise awareness of allotments and the role they play in helping people to live healthier lifestyles, grow their own food, develop friendships and bolster communities.  The National Allotments Society’s annual awareness week will run this year from 3 to 10 August 2014, and events in Bolton will start with Sapling Rd. Allotments Site’s Open Day on August 3^rd and end with the presentation of the ABAS Competition Prizes at Harpers Lane on the 10^th.

However Bolton allotment societies (as part of this awareness raising and also to raise much-needed funds to maintain and improve allotments sites) aim to extend this initiative throughout August with a programme of activities that all the community can join in with.

By opening up our allotment sites and inviting the local community to see what happens behind the gates, our hope is that more people will begin to see the benefits allotments bring and support us in our efforts to protect and improve existing sites. Allotments not only benefit those who garden the plots, from families and school children through to working couples and retired individuals but also provide habitats for wildlife and help to keep towns and cities breathing.

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS ON ALLOTMENTS SITES – AUGUST 2014

August 3rd          SAPLING ROAD                 OPEN DAY (at the allotment site)

August 10^th         HARPERS LANE                  OPEN DAY AND FLOWER & VEGETABLE SHOW

                                                                                (At the allotments site)

includes               ABAS                                     BOROUGH-WIDE ALLOTMENTS COMPETITIONS

                                                                                (Presentation of Prizes by Cllr Bashir-Ismail)

 August 16^th         TONGE FOLD                      VEGETABLE SHOW (At Trinity Methodist)

August 16^th         SHEPHERD CROSS ST.     BARBECUE - (At the allotments site)

August 23^rd         SHEPHERD CROSS ST.     CAR BOOT SALE (At the allotments site)

August 30^TH        MOSS LEA                            OPEN DAY (At the allotments site)

August 30^th         FLORENCE AVENUE         OPEN DAY (At the allotments site)

IF ANY OTHER SITES ARE ORGANISING EVENTS PLEASE LET US KNOW - boltonallotments2014@yahoo.co.uk

 

.

 

 

 

 

Allotment Competitions

The prizes in the Borough-wide allotments Competitions (Fairhurst, Greenhalgh and New Entrants) will be presented on 10th August 2014 at 3.00 p.m. in the show marquee at Harpers Lane's Open Day.

The presentation will be made by Councillor Sufrana Bashir-Ismail the Executive Member with responsibility for Allotments on Bolton Council.

The prizes have been generously sponsored by J Maher Limited (Garden Supplies) - Lever Edge Lane, Bolton.

We hope that as many as possible will turn up to support the winners and runners-up.

The Harpers Lane site is off Church Rd., Bolton between Harpers Lane and Captains Clough Road. There is a 501 bus stop within 100 metres of the entrance. It's also very close to Moss Bank Park. The Open Day itself starts at 12.00 and runs through to 4.00 p.m.