AGM 2011

September 2011

For those of you who were not able to attend the AGM on Friday 30th September, this is an informal write up/newsletter of what occurred during the meeting.

1. The minutes of the 2010 AGM were read and approved unanimously.

2. The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and said that he was glad to see that so many had made the effort to attend, but if many more had come he would have had the back door open for an escape route as trouble was likely to be brewing! He thanked the Town Council for their cooperation during the year and for their grant of £1500 toward the fencing project, their loan of £10,000 which helped to facilitate the progress of the Tractor project and the promise to provide 2 genuine dog waste bins for the Elizabeth Rd footpath. He mentioned the successful BBQ and thanked Saffron, Marcia, David and Tony for their efforts, with a special mention for Tony Champion's 'awesome' sausages. He thanked everyone who helped to bring the Elizabeth Rd fencing project to a successful conclusion. He said that the Tractor project had been successful and that the Tractor had already proved its worth shifting manure and clearing the waste area at Elizabeth Rd, which had been an eyesore for so long and could now be used as a manure dropping off point. He said that the Elizabeth Rd site and footpath had been transformed and that he had received many complimentary remarks about it from plot holders, the local householders and the Town Council. He then spoke about the Seed scheme and the need to get the orders to Saffron by November 5th at the latest and not to forget to add the additional £1 for the individual packaging.

3. The Secretary said that the main news for his report this year was the successful bid for the £10,000 from the EU/Sowing Seeds organisation towards the Equipment Circle machinery which funded the tractor and that additional machinery was soon to be purchased with a grant from the Housing association. This would complete our plans for being able to do any task on our sites and also to be able to assist the smaller societies in the DT11 area. He mentioned that the Poly Tunnel had been provided with guttering and collection tanks which had already collected 3000 litres of free water and asked all owners of Sheds and Greenhouses to install water collection systems on them to help with the ever increasing cost of water, which has increased by 100% in the last 3 years. He thanked Dave Buchan for layering the hedge bordering the bypass, which had allowed much more sunlight onto the plots near to the hedge, as well as making it easier to maintain the hedge itself. He reported that there was currently a waiting list of 18, but due to a high turnover of plot holders this would be considerably reduced in the next month or two. He also asked for any plot holder who was considering leaving their plot to notify him early, rather than just leaving the plot overgrown with weeds and leaving it to the Secretary to chase them up, since this only made more work for the Committee. He reported that the Trading store had done well again this year and was being supported by many of the plot holders from the smaller societies around us, which had led to such a demand that he would probably be ordering an extra half load of compost for next year. Finally he thanked the Committee for their efforts, the volunteers who helped at the Store every Saturday and those others who gave of their time voluntarily to cut the grass and other projects which kept the allotments running smoothly and looking so good.

4. The treasurer gave her report on the accounts, which showed an over spend of £294 this year. She explained that this was due to an early payment of a quarterly Electricity bill and additional expenditure on the fencing project. The funds are healthy and she hoped that the water bills would not be as large this year. The Trading store had made a significant contribution this year through funding the Tractor insurance and the purchase of a tent for the BBQ, which would be available for future events.

5. The Committee elections resulted in the existing Committee being re-elected unanimously. The Chairman stated that he heard the sound of a pin dropping when he asked if anyone else wanted to volunteer to serve, so everything must be going well!

6. The prize giving was then completed, with the following results: Lamperds Field - Best full plot: Martin Prior. Best half plot: Tim Farrow. Best quarter plot: Mr & Mrs Burgess. Elizabeth Rd- Best plot: Jon Stedham. Second: Mac McIntosh, to whom the meeting sent their best wishes for a full recovery from his recent illness.

7. During any other business Marica Miles noted that there were still two dogs causing problems on the Elizabeth Rd footpath and she was advised to get photographic evidence that could be sent to the Dog Warden.

8. The meeting closed at 7.40pm and everyone adjourned to the bar.

BBQ

July 2011

After a sucessful BBQ last year it was decided to repeat it again this year. It started off as a cool afternoon but soon warmed up. It was a really enjoyable afternoon spent with fellow allotments of all different ages. The food was fantastic, BBQ's were manned by Tony, Marcia and Dave and all the meat was cooked by the time the majority of people arrived. The salads were fantastic with a really diverse selection with many made of allotment crops. The dessert selection that was brought went down a treat too. Everyone left feeling they had eaten too much! The Marquee that Dick had got for our society was also great as it kept the sun off the food and at least we had somewhere to huddle if it had decided to rain. Luckily we didn't have to test it. Feedback this year was whole heartedly - yes do it again and no need to make any changes as it went so smoothly. So it looks like this is going to be a yearly social event. The funds came from the Kings seed scheme that we do - catalogues will be out in late August.

Water Bill

Date: 4th November 2010

The latest water bill has just come in at over £900 for lamperds Field. For the same period last year this was under £600 so that is a 50% increase! If that continues then rent increases will be coming our way to cover this or an extra water fee per plot. Watch this space...