Present: Gill
Chamberlain (Chair), David Jackson (Treas), Tom Liptrott, Barry Savage, Kath
& Keith Worsley
- Apologies for absence
Glynn Platt, Margaret Jackson
- Minutes of last meeting
The minutes having posted on the blog
site were approved
- Matters Arising
- Hire of Mechanical Scythe
- Site Security – feasibility of CCTV
DJ reported that no action had
been possible on these matters and they were referred to the next meeting
- Site Management Issues
- Stage 3 notice on plot 3
The Council have served a stage 3
notice on plot 3 – it should be repossessed at the end of October, when it will
become available for re-letting
- Stage 3 to be issued to plot 22A
The Council are in the process of
serving a stage 3 notice on plot 22A
- Re-inspection and decision on 23 and 71
These plots will be re-inspected at
the beginning of November, after which the Council will be requested to take
appropriate action
- Plots let to new tenants / plot transfers
All available plots have been re-let
except plot 47A. Potential tenants are awaiting Council actions on plot 22A and
the newly created plot 38A. The Secretary will contact the next persons on the
waiting list about plot 47A once she has recovered from her current illness.
- Community Plot for Church Rd. School
Church Rd. School are on the Harpers
Lane waiting list and are coming close to the top. It is proposed that plot 3
be designated a community plot which will be worked by volunteers associated
with the School until such time as a formal tenancy may be offered. We await
confirmation from the Council that plot 3 is available.
- Members of the Committee questioned the lack of
action on certain plot-holders. The Treasurer reported that the Secretary
had not felt that formal action was appropriate and that she was in communication
with the persons involved under the normal procedures for stage 1.. The
Committee felt that this was insufficient and instructed her to contact
the Council with a view to a formal Stage 2 notice being issued. The
Treasurer agreed to communicate their views to the Secretary. The Secretary has subsequently
declined to do this, on the grounds that stage 1 has not yet been
completed and she is hoping to resolve the matter without Council
intervention.
- Feedback on Car Boot Sale
The Car Boot Sale took place on
19/10/2014. The sums raised were:-
- Rent of pitches - £90
- CafĂ© Takings (net) - £ 49.28
- Book stall – £26.60
A large number of books remain unsold
– the Treasurer will see whether the ‘Hub’ would be willing to take them.
- Sales of surplus ‘gazebo parts’ prior to the sale - £ 15
A total of £ 180.88
- Council Offer on Drainage
- Current state of balances – the Treasurer explained the monies available to the Society. The maximum that might be allocated to contribute to these projects without jeopardising e.g. Insurance and National membership payments is £550.
- Task 1 – drainage on plots 1-4 - the Council estimate that the cost of this work will be £400 which they are willing to fund.
- Task 2 – drainage under compost bins - - the Council estimate that the cost of this work will be £400 which they are willing to fund.
- Task 3 – drainage on plot 41 – the Council estimate that the cost of this work will be £1,370. They have asked the Society to contribute £1000 towards the cost of this work. As explained in 6 (a) the Society does not have sufficient ‘free’ funds to make such a contribution.
Members of the Committee also
questioned whether the solution proposed by the Council (which is confined to
work on plot 41 and assumes that the ‘pipe’ unearthed on plot 41 is capable of
carrying away the water) will solve the problem. There was concern about the
water coming out again on lower plots if it is not piped down as far as the
road.
The Committee will inform the
Council about its lack of funds and re-examine its options.
- Bonfire Issues
- Bonfire will be on 08/11/2014 start at 7.00 p.m.
- Food at Bonfire Night - it is anticipated that the following will be available:-
Curry – Pev
Black Peas – Margaret
Parkin – Sue
Potato Pie – Pauline
We do not know if Mick Carcione is
providing burgers as he always does – the Secretary will find out. The Secretary has since confirmed that Mick
will not be providing burgers.
- Wood Stacking Arrangements
Barry has agreed to strim a section
of the D-shape. This will include an area where plot-holders may stack wood for
the fire.
- Building Bonfire
We will try to build the bonfire on
Saturday 8th November starting at 12.30 p.m. – all help appreciated
- Lighting Fire
Barry and Dave will be lighting the
fire around 7.00 p.m. – again help appreciated
- Handing out Raffle Books at Bonfire Night and other times
It has been decided to have a
Christmas Raffle – we have a number of prizes (trial Gym membership, pamper
session at Aura, Christmas Hamper, Wine Box etc.) The Draw will be made on
December 2nd at the AGM.
Raffle books have been distributed to
the Committee by Tom – we hope as many people as possible will take strips to
sell.
The Secretary will be requested to
send a list of prizes to Tom so that he may put it up on the Brew Room.
- Beer / Wine / Soft Drinks
A barrel of ‘Clocking Off has been
ordered from Dunscar Bridge Brewery. There are also some bottles which if not
needed, can become a Xmas Raffle Prize. The Treasurer will arrange the
installation of a beer pump etc.
It is intended to make some of the
wine left over from the Bottle Tombola on Open Day available and also the tins
of Coke left over. We will also provide some Squash.
- Payment
It was decided that direct charging
for food and drink was inappropriate. Instead we will follow the procedure of
previous years and ask for donations – a guideline price of say £1.20 per pint
or 70p a glass for wine would recoup costs.
- AGM Issues
- The AGM will be held on December 2nd 7.00 for 7.30 p.m.at Hollywood Road Social Club, (off Harpers Lane).
- The Agenda will be :-
I.
Chair’s Report
II.
Secretary’s Report
III.
Treasurer’s Report
IV.
Election of Officers and Committee
Nominations
are invited
- Spring Events Issues
- The Mikron Theatre Company will visit on 10/05/15
- There will be a Spring Fair / Farmers and Growers Market on (06/04/2015 – Easter Monday – the Treasurer was asked to investigate how more local producers could be involved – this event will not use the large marquees, rather the gazebos.
- Other Fundraising Markets and Car Boots will be scheduled during the year
- Council proposals / Abas consultation – the Treasurer reported back on matters raised at the Abas meeting on 13/10/2014 – see http://www.abas2014.blogspot.co.uk
- Joint Tenancies
- Buddies
- Structures
- Poultry
- Forward Decisions
- Future of
Co-op and Society
Committee members were asked to
consider the future of the Harpers Lane Co-operative (HLA Ltd.) Options include
–keeping the status quo, the abolition of the Co-operative, the merging of the
co-operative and the Society and making the Co-operative ‘dormant’. The
Treasurer undertook to investigate the third option for the next meeting, when
the matter will be again discussed prior to a recommendation
- Insurance – Blue Fin versus Shield – the Treasurer will investigate the competing quotes
- Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting will take place
on the 27th of November
2014 venue to be advised (based on the Finisher’s Refurbishment plans.)