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.