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Allotment Committee Minutes 8 May 2017


PRESENT:       
   
North Ward   

Councillor P Pester
Councillor D McGeough

South Ward   

Councillor S Inch
Councillor B Wootton

East Ward   

Councillor S Robinson

Pollyfield   

Mr A Mitchell

Tricks   

Mr K Jackson
Mr S Long

IN ATTENDANCE:   

Mr R Coombes (Deputy Town Clerk)
1 x Marland Tenant

Prior to the start of the Meeting the Deputy Town Clerk confirmed that everyone had appended their details on the Fire Register.

24.  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Ms J Anderson (personal).

Councillor D Brenton (South Ward) apologised, post Meeting (personal).

25.  DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

There were no declarations of interest.

26.  PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD

The Public Member expressed concern at the implications of agreement not being met upon the Marland Lease; he intimated that he would not wish to compromise the position (of the Association).

27.  MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 28 February 2017 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 7, Against: 0, Abstention: 1)

28.  INTER SITE CHALLENGE

Councillor Inch believed (Members voiced agreement) that the judging of the Inter Site Challenge should be brought forward to mid-June, noting that much of the produce would have been harvested by early July and that the Plots would not be at their best.

Given that both he and Councillor Johns had been the judges in recent years he felt that it would be beneficial to introduce new personnel to carry out the task, albeit that they should have some gardening knowledge.

Discussion followed on the potential to invite outsiders, include the Mayor and or Allotment Chairman of the day.

Councillor Inch, with a view to the mid-June 2017 timeline indicated that either he or Councillor Johns would judge alongside the Chairman of the Allotment Committee.  It was agreed that at the Autumn meeting of the Committee the item would be re-visited with a view to confirming date and potential judges.

Proposed by Councillor McGeough, seconded and

RESOLVED: that the Chairman of the Allotment Committee would judge the Inter Site Challenge mid-June 2017 with either Councillor S G Inch or Councillor T Johns. 

(Vote – For: 8, Against: 0)

29.  MARLAND SITE - IMPROVED RENTAL DCC OFFER

Members had received an improved tenancy rental payment offer from DCC for the twenty one year Marland lease.

Proposed by Councillor McGeough, seconded and

RESOLVED: that the terms of the twenty one year Marland Lease, including the amended terms, be accepted with an annual rental of £500.00.

(Vote – For: 7, Against: 0, Abstention: 1)

30.  POLLYFIELD SITE

a.   Weed Killers.  Members had received a report that included information from the NSALG:

There are no legal restrictions in the UK at the current time that prevent the sale, safe storage and use of glyphosate based products that have been identified as “for amateur gardener use only”.
Health and Safety Executive advice also included:

Professional Chemicals should not be used on allotment sites and that only Retail Products intended for use in gardens should be used on (allotment sites).

They had also received further information and direction to website information.

Members were content for the correct use of pesticides and weed killers by tenants provided their practise did not interfere with neighbouring plot holders.

b.   Update.  Mr Mitchell advised that there were two plots that had not been tended this year and the widow of former tenant Mr Kersey intended to vacate (Plot 13) by the end of May 2017.

He expressed gratitude at the removal of rubbish albeit that unsolicited items had been left by errant or misinformed tenants. Also, the work of the Council’s Maintenance Operatives that would see them return in the Autumn to complete the hedging work.

31.  TRICKS SITE

a.   Update.  Mr Jackson confirmed that aggregate had been gratefully received and distributed in the vicinity of the entrance and communal plot.  Also that the waste had been removed.  The Site remains in good order.

b.   Fence Extension on the West Side of the Site.  Members discussed the opportunity to extend the fencing by a further fifty metres and the cost of materials. 

It was agreed that further material quotes should be obtained with a view to the work beginning in the Autumn.

The Chairman, having established that there was no further business to discuss, thanked the Members for their attendance and concluded the Meeting at 6.21 pm.





     
     
     
     
     
     
   






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