AGM

Moss Lea Allotment Society

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on

Tuesday 27th October 2015, 8pm at Astley Bridge Cricket Club

Present

Steve Barlow, Steve Cowell, Andy Warburton, Gwen Kinloch, Phil Almond, Barry Ashton, Brian Bentham, Ray Hardcastle, Amanda Bowen, Stephen Perkin, Wendy Bradbury, Barrie Cryer.

1. Apologies

Steve Watson.

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

Minutes of the last meeting held on 28^th October 2014 were accepted as an accurate record.

3. Secretary's Report

Steve Barlow reported that it had been a successful year with almost all plots being full, with little difficulty in letting plots. There is currently one plot vacant as Sue White has recently given up one of her half plots.

The show was a success with more plot holders participating. The Society is trying to branch out and play more of a part in the local community eg by participating in the Astley Bridge Festival. Next year it is hoped there will be more participation in Bolton allotment competitions with more plot holders entering the Onion and Leek Show and the site being entered for the best site.

A new hut was put up and this should lead to space being used better. And the site has looked good, especially considering the Council now do no maintenance.

The Society is attempting to improve site security, as a result of break-ins. Greenhouses were damaged in bad weather in the spring and the Council has said that repair is imminent.

More plot holders are coming to meetings and the Moss Lea Society has a good relationship with ABAS.

Sadly two plot holders passed away during the year, Ken and Ronnie. Harriet has also moved to another allotment site.

4. Treasurer’s Report

Ray had prepared the annual accounts for the year ending 30^th September 2015, which was presented at September meeting. There have been some losses this year due to theft from the hut and expenditure on the new hut. The bank balance at 30^th September was £788.64.

5. Show Report

Andy presented the show report at the September meeting. The show made £231.

6. Insurance

The insurance is to be renewed when it is due in January. The existing insurance may only cover one public event (ie the annual show). This needs to be checked as there may be more events next year (eg for the Astley Bridge festival). Otherwise no changes are required to the policy. There have been no claims during the year.

7. Election of Officers

Chair:                                    Steve Cowell

Treasurer:                           Ray Hardcastle

Secretary:                           Steve Barlow

Show Secretary:               Andy Warburton

Maintenance Officer:     Provisionally Steve Watson

8. Subscriptions

These will remain at £5.

9. Secretary’s Honorarium

Steve was offered an honorarium by the members present, in recognition of costs re.work for the society during the year, which he declined.

10. Any Other Business

There was no other business

11. Date of Next Meeting

Provisionally Tuesday 25th October 2016, 8pm at Astley Bridge Cricket Club.

Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 27th October 2015

Moss Lea Allotment Society

Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on

Tuesday 27th October 2015, 8pm at Astley Bridge Cricket Club

Present

Steve Barlow, Steve Cowell, Andy Warburton, Gwen Kinloch, Phil Almond, Barry Ashton, Brian Bentham, Ray Hardcastle, Amanda Bowen, Stephen Perkin, Wendy Bradbury, Barrie Cryer.

1. Apologies

Steve Watson.

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

Minutes of the last meeting held on 29th September 2015 were accepted as an accurate record.

3. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

4. Secretary's Report

Steve Barlow reported back from the last ABAS meeting. A meeting is to be arranged between Bolton Council and ABAS regarding the potential for extending the community use of allotments and how they relate to the health and social agenda for the borough.

The Leek and Onion Show is to be re-named the Bolton Vegetable Show and will be held at the end of August, at a new venue.

A copy of the monthly return to the council will now also be sent to ABAS, so that they can keep a check of common issues for allotment sites.

There are three long running issues which ABAS has raised with Malcolm Russell at Bolton Council on our behalf and has received the following responses:

1. Greenhouses and sheds on plots - This is a policy matter for the council but it has not been possible to get it onto committee agendas. A ruling is to be requested from the legal department as to whether it can be re-classified as a management matter, in which case it can be dealt with by council officers. If it cannot be re-classified Malcolm Russell will ensure it gets to committee by Christmas.  A point of concern raised at the meeting was that the email from ABAS detailing the discussion referred only to Greenhouses … Steve Barlow has since written to ABAS and the Council to re - emphasise that the request to the Council to change the restriction applies to sheds as well as greenhouses.

                2. Repairs to greenhouses - Measuring up should now have been done and repair is       imminent.

3. Building of compost bins onto common ground in corner of the site - Malcolm Russell considers that the area was a dead, unused piece of ground and so has allowed the bins to be there. This is on the understanding that there will be no further use made of this land by cultivation or further erection of bins etc. If there was to be a change to this there should be full discussion at the Society meeting..

5. Site maintenance and Repairs

People are still putting material on the compost bins, even though a notice has been put up saying that no more should be put on the bins. Plot holders should compost on their own plots, burn weeds or take them home to put in their green bins.

Repairs to the green house should be carried out soon, plot holders are reminded to ensure all items are secure on their plots to prevent any items being blown by the wind and damaging the greenhouses again.

The site is being kept tidy and the paths mown.

6. Any Other Business

Barry Ashton has purchased some signs warning that the site is monitored by cameras. These are to be put up at key locations in an attempt to improve security. Barry's costs were reimbursed from Society funds.

11. Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 24th November 2015, 8pm at Astley Bridge Cricket Club.