Minutes of Meeting Thursday 12 June 2003 at 19:30
at The Allotment Shop, Cricket Road
Present: Stewart Young, Claire Stentiford, Andy Henson, Pat Mansfield, Mick McNaboe, Maureen Allsworth, Chris Rumble
The minutes of 20 March had been emailed to Stewart. He read them out and they were accepted.
All matters were already on the agenda.
There have been several thefts :
The equipment shed was broken into on Sunday 27 April, probably between 6:15 and 8:30 PM. The rotovator and strimmer were stolen, as was the urban wildlife group strimmer and a strimmer belonging personally to Pete. Two mowers remained. This was not covered by insurance.
Also, various plots have had thefts from sheds, and some vandalism has occurred on the newly planted birch trees for no apparent reason (was it for pea sticks?).
Related to this: people were found camping in the allotment area, and they were asked to leave by members of the committee. A few weeks later they were back. They were very helpful, and explained how they managed to get in through a hole in the fence.
Thanks were given to Claire for replacing the wooden frame of the door which the thieves had broken to gain access to the equipment shed. Claire has replaced it with a good thick piece of hardwood instead of the thin piece of softwood which had been broken.
The lack of insurance for the lost items prompted Claire to investigate how much it would cost to ensure the equipment in future. She got a quotation of £371 a year for £1200 worth of cover. The general consensus was that we had saved over £3000 or not insuring over the last ten years and it was not worth doing in future. Fears were expressed that the thieves may come back as soon as we had replaced the equipment.
It was felt that we needed to replace the strimmer soon, but the replacement for the rotovator could wait. Stewart had received a quote of £375 for a medium duty strimmer from a web site, and Stewart and Mick volunteered to go and look at strimmers from local companies.
We had an emergency newsletter (thanks to Claire) covering the thefts. The next newsletter is due at the end of July. It should cover: Florence Park, security of sheds (don't put anything valuable in them) and some contributions from other people were promised. Andy will write newsletter, deadline for contributions 13 July. Claire can get them printed at work.
As a related item: the price of canes is £20 a bundle and is wrong on website – Andy
Jo has been phoning around to get people to work parties. This appears to have been very successful, since we had several people who would not normally have turned up but who did so because of this phoning. The work parties are currently every Sunday in June.
So far, we have covered two plots on the first work party, three half plots and patched the hole the fence in the second work party.
Jobs for the next three Sundays:
More plots to be covered;
Washer on tap to be replaced – Chris volunteers;
Gate welding: padlock, and the top of the other gate
Pat is to look at the cycle track Bramble and decide if it needs trimming back;
Moving the light switches in the shop to near the door (wires can simply come over the rafters).
There was a proposal to charge people an extra three pounds per year rent if they do not come to the work party at least once a year. This will need to be decided closer to Rent day.
75 bags of Mushroom compost needs to be ordered - Claire. We had 100 bags last year , we sold it all but it took a very long time.
Manure was also is requested by Pat.
Mary Pie had requested a copy of the rota, and it was suggested she did this Sunday as she missed her duty recently. Her telephone number also appears to be wrong on the rota, it should end 124. Andy to phone her.
The hedge at the main entrance does not go as far as the failed fencing, which is where we really need it.
Recruitment is continuing, no special actions.
This can be discussed at the next committee meeting.
Maureen, Mick, Stewart all volunteered to staff a stall at Florence Park.
Claire has booked a table for us.
The water bill was exceptionally high, £255. They had charged us extra because they hadn't charged us the standing charges for the last four years. Claire has taken exception to this and complained. The matter is ongoing.
Neil has now taken a job in Hereford, so he will leave the committee.
The Arcucci family are going to leave. They have three very nice plots.
A certificate awarded to J Aston has been found. He was a local chimney sweep who lived in Howard Street and died in the 1980s. He was awarded a certificate of merit dated 1948 by the Ministry of Agriculture, awarded for the best cultivated plot of land.
It was proposed to put it up in the shop somewhere.
The meeting closed at 20:55
Next meetings:
24 July
4 September