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 - Article 035
THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF ALLOTMENT AND
LEISURE GARDENERS LIMITED
East Midlands Regional Committee
Email www.eastmidlands-allotments.co.uk
_____________________________________________________
MINUTES OF AN ORDINARY MEETING OF THE EAST MIDLANDS REGIONAL COMMITTEE held on Saturday, 06th May 2006 at 10.45 a.m. in the Cosby Working Men’s Club and Institute, Leicestershire
Chairman Mr. P.Howgill - Leicester City
Vice Chairman Mr.B.Rayner - Life Vice President
Secretary Mr T Matthews - Leicestershire
Treasurer Mr. P.E.Lofts - Northampton
Members Mr. J.Cooper - Leicester City
Mrs.P.White - Lincolnshire
APOLOGIES Mrs. S. Fleetwood (Regional Representative)
457.06 Minutes of last Meeting – 7th February 2006
The Minutes of the last meeting were, approved and signed as a correct record,
458.06 Matters arising there from
There were no matters not covered by the agenda
459.06 Reports
(a) - Chairman
The Chairman reported that the Jim Tandy Award has been awarded this year to Alan Reece Mr. George Kirby was also a nominee.
The National website needs more input from HQ Corby if it is to remain a credible source of information. Regional Representatives, other than Leicestershire need to be more active in promoting the national body. A letter has been received from a Mr. Tony Cave, who is a member of the Mereway Allotments Association, East Hunsbury, Northampton regarding a dispute/conflict of interest involving a the keeping of livestock on the allotments.
Agreed: that the letter be received and the Chairman be recorded as dealing with the matter
The New Parks Allotments Association, Leicester has recently opened its new £120,000 Community Allotments Pavilion with grants from the Leicester City Council.
(b) -Secretary
The Secretary reported on a letter which has just been handed in by Mrs. White from Mr. Frank Matthews (Treasurer) Littlecoats Allotments, Grimsby concerning a decision by the North East Lincolnshire Council and their request for a site for their trading hut.
No decision will be made until all outstanding works on the site have been completed and negotiations with Peter, acting as the Deputy Regional Representative has offered his advice. The delay is causing concern amongst the members and affects the money they are able to raise for their community projects.
The existing trading hut on the site is allocated for all members use but is currently controlled by the other association, West Marsh Allotment Association. The Littlecoats Association is the longest standing association of the two having been there over 60years but have fewer members.
Mr. Rayner informed how the second association came into being allowed to operate on the site due to earlier disputes.
Agreed: that this letter be considered along with one which the Chairman has received under the Current Cases on the agenda
Green Flag Award Scheme – Green Pennant award
Members were reminded of the letter from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, concerning the Green Flag Award Scheme. This scheme rewards good management and maintenance of green spaces, including allotments. The Government recognises that allotments provide valuable opportunities for increasing healthy physical activity, promoting healthy diets, providing access to nature and generating community spirit and cohesion.
The Green Pennant award gives particular recognition to those green spaces managed by voluntary community groups. Any allotment site, less than three hectares in size is applicable for a Green Pennant Award as long as they are freely accessible to all. Sites which do achieve an award have seen their waiting lists grow and become more active in the local community. Whilst nominations are closed to applicants this year 2006 to prepare for the next round sites need to obtain more details from: - the website www.greeenflagaward.org.uk/.
County Secretaries and regional committee members are asked to promote this award scheme amongst their member associations.
Agreed: that the information be noted and acted upon by panel members
Notice of the newly appointed Allotments Officer – N. E. Lincolnshire Council
A letter has been received from Mr. M. Knapp (Specialist Manager) Architectural
Consultancy informing of the recent appointment of
Mrs. Lesley Smith - Property Management Officer – Allotments.
460.06
(c) Treasurer
The treasurer reported current Balances as follows:-
£3,687:55
National cheque received of £2,136:50
Agreed: that the information be noted
461.06 Management Committee Minutes/Regional Rep Report
Peter acting as Shirley’s Deputy gave a brief report on activities currently being undertaken. including his visit to Lincolnshire as part of the case list. There were no outstanding matters which he needed to bring to the attention of members, the region was functioning as best possible. Members had no management minutes to consider in detail.
462.06 AGM 2006
Members have now received final details of the 2006 AGM in Derby on Saturday the 3rd June. Registration needs to be completed from 9.30am – 10.00am. The East Midlands contingent from Leicestershire will travel together via Mr. Cooper.
Delegates were reminded to ensure that they take their yellow admission cards for presentation at the registration desk.
463.06 Cases in Hand
- - City of Leicester Consolidation Scheme. Current position is that there has developed some problems mainly with clarification on Section 8. (2) of the Allotments Act 1922. GOEM have now stated that this part is still operational. However the Secretary advises that possibly the problem is with the actual authority being used. It needs to be determined under what powers the City Council acquired the land involved. Under land appropriated for allotment purposes in accordance with the Small Holdings & Allotments Act, 1905 Section 32 (2) the sale of superfluous or unsuitable land, the proceeds of which must be used to either discharging any debt and liabilities remaining on the land or for adapting, acquiring other suitable land or applied to any other allotment purpose was repealed and removed from the statute in 1980. under the Local Government Planning Act – 1980 It is however understood that the amounts agreed by the City Council as given in the last Minutes have already been approved, which is good news for Leicester City. A meeting on the 7th June with NSALG Secretary Geoff Stokes when the matter will be considered further. The matter of re-investing the funds from the sale of allotments will also be considered. The City Council has now published a plan of the allotment sites.
Agreed: that the matter is considered as ongoing.
(b) The Saltings – Grimsby
A rationalisation process is in progress through the Allotments Forum with some of the land proposed to be sold. Consultants have been short listed and the Regional Representative has assured herself that the Council are following the correct procedures as far as the sale of the land is concerned.
The ODPM will however need to approve the sale under the Section 8 agreements after which invitations will be sought for the disposal. Someone is currently going around the site collecting £1.75 for the NSALG although currently not registered. This may be a precursor to the site becoming a member of NSALG. The matter needs to be kept under review.
Agreed: to consider the matter as ongoing and await a further report
(c) West Marsh & Littlecoats Associations - Grimsby
Peter reported on the current situation. A letter has been received by the Secretary from the Treasurer Mr. Frank Matthews in which he is seeking advice regarding an application to the Council for a site to erect a trading hut. The Council have not as yet made a firm decision due to the fact that until all the negotiations with Mr. Lofts are completed they are not in a position to take the matter further. The delay is causing some concern in view of the money they raise to support some charity work. The Littlecoats Association is the longest serving on the site, some 60years and the new West Marsh, whilst having more members is the younger.
Consideration as to a way forward was discussed and the outcome was that whilst there are 2 associations on the one site there will always be problem and that perhaps a re-unification of both associations, with a new name and a new set of officers should be attempted. Peter agreed to suggest this at his next meeting. There is already a trading section managed by the West Marsh members.
Agreed: that (a) a letter be sent to Mr. Matthews outlining the situation and that Mr. Lofts will try and bring both associations together, with the Regional Committee assisting to reconcile matters where possible
(b) a letter be sent to the West Marsh Association informing them that Mrs. Pat White is now the NE Lincolnshire Representative on the Regional Committee and that she will be supporting Mr. Lofts in trying to resolve matters
(d)- Clifton Leaseholders/Gardeners Nottingham
No further report at this stage matter continuing
(e)- Hassocks Nos 1 & 2 – Nottingham
No further report at this stage matter continuing
464.06 New Cases
(a) – Croft Allotments Association –Leicestershire
This item appears at the present as an information matter in view of no request having come from the site. The Croft Parish Council have brought
it to the attention of the NSALG as a matter of courtesy. The problem is with a site member who has not only contravened her tenancy agreement but also some damage to Council property, i.e. a security fence. The history is that the Parish Council have constructed for the allotment gardeners an Off Street car par adjacent to the allotments. They have done this with the help of a LCC Shire Grant. The car park has been built, new security fencing erected and a new drive and security gates constructed. A tenant objected to the fact that she now has to walk further from her plot in order to enter/exit the site and has cut a new gate from her plot direct to the car park. The Council have instructed her to re-establish the fencing at
Her cost. She is refusing all effort to comply, the Police have been involved on a matter of criminal damage charges, but the DPP will not allow the case to go forward. Whilst the Croft PC wish the matter to be settled, the only recourse now is to serve her Notice to Quit under the terms of her Tenancy Agreement.
Agreed: that the matter should be kept under review until a request comes fom the site and that when it does it passes to Leicestershire County as a matter for them to try and advice and resolve.
465.06 Regional Website
The Secretary reported on the further updating which the Webmaster had undertaken and requesting that more information is forwarded in order to keep the site viable. The City and County Minutes are now submitted along with the East Midlands therefore the site is becoming a valuable one for allotment gardeners.
466.06 Date of Next Meeting
Mr. Rayner reported that he has been unable to secure a meeting place in Lincolnshire therefore it will be necessary to revert to the former venue at Cosby
The date of the next meeting will therefore be on Saturday 5th August 2006 (AGM) at the Working Mens Club and Institute, Cosby, Leicestershire at 10.30am.
Meeting ended 2.30pm
[Jamie Cooper]
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