Moss Lane Allotment Society

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Management Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday 10th January 2019, 20:00 Park Tavern, Macclesfield

1. Introductions and Apologies

Present:

Mark Vincent (Chair)

Andy Greenhalgh

Joyce Perkin

Trevor Connor

Dave Connor

Nick Mannion

Apologies:

Chris Radcliffe,

Jenny Brame

2. Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising Owner

The minutes from the October meeting were approved via email.

Mark and Joyce to confirm that plot 44 is now vacant. It is now vacant and has been re-let. Action complete.

Andy to email Nick a figure for the cash jar when next in site. Action complete.

Mark to produce an attendance register for the AGM. Action complete.

Mark and Joyce to add the waiting list to the share. Action complete.

Nick to email the rent plots spreadsheet to Mark to be included on the share. On-going. The spreadsheet also needs to be sent to Joyce.

Nick

Nick to write up and share lessons learned from the open day. A document was discussed at the meeting. Action complete.

Use of the land by the equipment shed. Nick to review whether there should be a rent increase. Mark to inform plot holder. Plot holder has been informed. It was thought that there should not be a rent increase. Action complete.

Nick to liaise with Cheshire East Council to see whether they could remove the asbestos on plot 1. The council have now removed the asbestos. Action complete.

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3. Officers Reports

Secretary: Some general admin, removing of tree cuttings from next to the equipment shed to the front plot. Filing of documents approved at the AGM.

Lettings: There are currently 8 people on the waiting list. Plots 43,44 and 45 have been re let.

Equipment and Website: There have been a few updates to the website. Nothing to report on equipment.

Finance: As at 31 December 2018 we had £3331.65 in the bank and about £100.00 cash in hand.

Shop: Nick will contact David Jones at Brookfield Lane allotments to se whether we can share a pallet of compost for sale in the shop.

Nick

4. Timetable for 2019

The following timetable was agreed for 2019

Committee Meetings: 14th March, 9th May, 11th July, 12th September, 14th November.

Manure Drops: early November and early December. Exact dates to be confirmed nearer the time.

Plot Inspections: In line with the plot inspection process. June and September. Exact dates to be confirmed nearer the time.

Best Kept Allotment Judging: Provisionally for the weekend of the 22nd or 23rd June subject to the availability of John Dean to undertake the judging. Nick to contact John to check availability.

Nick

Open Day: To tie in with the National Allotment Society week. Provisionally 12th to 18th August. Nick to suggest a date.

Nick

Annual Show: We would like to tie this in with the weekend of the Brookfield Lane’s show. Nick to liaise with Brookfield Lane to establish when their show is and then tie this in with the availability of John Dean to judge. Joyce to book the hall.

Nick

Joyce

AGM: 27th October. Joyce to book the hall. Joyce

Working Party: 22nd September.

5. Approval of H&S Document

Ongoing. Les

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6. Use of the Google Drive for Plot Rents.

Covered in matters arising.

7. Asbestos Removal

The asbestos has been removed and plot 1 can now be let as an allotment as per the agreement at the AGM. Joyce to let plot 1.

Joyce

8. Status of Plot 40

There was a slight error in the Members List spreadsheet. This has now been corrected.

9. Hedge Trimming

Thanks were given to Trevor and David who have now trimmed a significant amount of the hedge along the access road. Keith Roberts has been asked to attend site to chip the trimmings. Trevor and David will endeavour to complete the task. Mark offered to help.

10. Removal of Trollies

It was agreed that a small shelter would be built in the niche along the access path from the equipment shed to house the new trucks. There will be a chain securing them. The old front gate padlock can be used for this and we can get a new padlock for the front gate. Mark volunteered to build the structure. Trevor and David offered to see what spare timber they had. Once this has been built and all plot holder have access to the new trucks, the old trollies can be removed.

Mark, Trevor

and David.

11. AOB

Nick said that he has received a request from the National Allotment Society for a complete list of current members or our society. The committee were reluctant to provide such a list without good reason. Mark to liaise with the National Allotment Society to establish why they needed the list.

Mark

The question was raised as to whether we should produce a new year newsletter. It was suggested that we wait until the spring.

Many of the plot holders have excess seeds and plants. Many of these are swapped amongst members on an informal basis. It was suggested that we could take some simple steps to encourage this on a wider basis. Suggestions were either a space by the gate where plot holders could leave spare plants, or a particular day where

Mark

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people turned up and swapped or a space on the notice board where people could write down what they had spare. To be discussed at the next committee meeting. Mark to add to the agenda.

Nick has been approached by some local schools to see whether they could bring some of the schoolchildren round the allotment gardens for a visit to se what we do. This idea was fully supported by the committee. Nick to investigate further and liaise with the schools.

Nick

12. Next Meeting:

20:00 Thursday 14th March. Park Tavern.