HARPERS LANE
ALLOTMENTS ASSOCIATION
Committee Meeting –
June 7th 2016 at Hollywood Road Social Club
Present: Keith Worsley
(Chair), Margaret Jackson (Secretary), David Jackson (Treasurer), Veronica
Burns, Kathryn Worsley, Paul Williamson.
Apologies: Glyn Platt
It was agreed by the
Committee members present that Paul Williamson be formally co-opted onto the Committee.
The Secretary read
through the minutes of the last meeting (10.05.2016), the following points were
noted:
Plot 23B should have been included in the list of plots
entered into ABAS Allotment Competitions. The full list is: New Entrants –
1&2 (combined), 23B, 38A, 60B and Fairhurst 41
Grass Cutting on the top field has begun – the cost is £40
per cut – we estimate 4 cuts per season.
Following the report of the break-in to the building on plot
61, we have been informed that a cultivator belonging to "a plot-holder" was
stolen during the incident.
There is still a problem with the main (Church Rd.) gates
being left unlocked and often wide open. The
Secretary was asked to place a prominent notice on the gate stating that it is
a condition of tenancy that the gates be locked by any tenant when entering or
leaving the site. The only exemption is on Sundays between 10.00 a.m. and
2.00 p.m. The Committee resolved that any tenant who repeatedly does not secure
the gates will be reported to the Council so that action may be taken. Since
not securing the gates is a ‘breach of tenancy’ this could mean loss of the
plot.
Some plot-holders had stated that the gates are often left
open for long periods by one of the owners of the garages at the end of the
site. We have no jurisdiction over
these people, but have placed the matter
with the Allotments section to see what can be done through Corporate Premises.
We have also had reports of young people entering or attempting to enter the garages
at the top of the road to congregate in, in the evenings and
possibly for the purposes of smoking cannabis etc. The Secretary was asked to contact the local PCSOs about this matter.
.
The Secretary was
asked to speak with our local Councillors about these problems.
It is hoped that the issue about water running off the road
onto plots has been resolved through the purchase of a new tap adaptor.
The Council has been
asked whether we might have some of the redundant 240 litre wheelie bins to use
as water butts on plots. We await a reply.
No progress has been made on ‘Area Forum’ monies to enable
the refurbishment of the Amenities Hut. It was therefore resolved as a matter
of urgency to fit metal plates to the Ladies Toilet door. The Secretary was asked to enquire where these plates might be
purchased.
The Society is not
now having a Green Waste skip. When the Secretary approached Dickinsons’,
she was told the price had increased considerably. We may consider having a
normal skip but the problems of policing its use remain.
A decision on new banners for Open Day will be deferred to
the first meeting of the Open Day Committee which will be on July 31st.
This will give time to get banners from Minerva Print if we decide to do so. It
was decided (in advance of that meeting) that we will purchase a new Tea Urn. It
was also agreed that Veronica Burns will co-ordinate the café volunteers on
Open Day.
It was decided that it was not appropriate to proceed with
Stage II notices to the two plots identified at the previous meeting. There was
some feeling amongst the Committee that they should be kept under observation.
It was reported that two members had inquired as to what
action had followed Mr Russell’s promised intervention on the condition of one
particular plot. The Treasurer agreed to
ask Mr Russell.
OTHER MATTERS
The Summer Solstice Bonfire – this will
take place on 18/06.
The fire
will be built on Friday 17/06.
The Secretary is organising the cleaning and sorting out of
the Brew Room in advance (w/c 13/06)
Use of the Brew Room
Electricity to charge tools. This facility should be for Society members
only. There was some concern that non-members are charging battery operated
tools in the Brew Room. It was agreed to remind everyone that THE SOCIETY pays
for the supply of electricity. It is NOT a Council Service. The Treasurer will check electricity bills
monthly and if usage rises above affordable levels action may be needed.
There is support for a SCARECROW
competition on Open Day. The Secretary hopes that this might extend to
people putting strong smelling items in the scarecrows pockets as this has been
reported as deterring deer (which are again becoming a nuisance.)
We have had 4 more volunteers for the Shop Rota – thank you
After discussion the beekeepers do not feel able to have a
Harpers Lane Honey stall at Open Day. We
will therefore invite the Settle Street Beekeepers to have a stall.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on July 5th at Hollywood Rd at 7.30
p.m.
