MLAS Committee meeting 12 th October 2017

Transcription

1 MLAS Committee meeting 12 th October 2017 Park Lane Tavern 20:00h 1. Introductions and apologies Present: Apologies Andy Greenhalgh (AG) (chair), Chris Ratcliffe (CR), Charles Kirsfelds (CK), Nick Mannion (NM), Joyce Perkin (JP), David Connor (DC), Trevor Connor (TC) Jenny Brame (JB), Jason Dunkley (JD) 2. Minutes of Last Meeting Minutes approved 3. Matters Arising No additional outstanding actions/issues not already on the agenda 4. Officers reports Secretary (CK) i. Autumn Newsletter distributed along with AGM notices etc. Any contributions for a Winter Newsletter welcome e.g. A Chairman s preamble; a Shop update etc. ii. Chased the first seed order Kings Seeds are still awaiting more deliveries of onion and garlic bulbs. A second seed order expected to be sent after 21 st October iii. Couple of items arising from the AGM a. Arthur Sutton raised a query on the need to request permission from the committee to plant fruit trees, although AG responded there may have been some confusion, AG to clarify fruit tree tenancy rule with Arthur. b. Brian Flood requested that the committee should apply further pressure on East Cheshire regarding the ongoing boundary fence issues with Clever Mews. After discussion decided that CK should send an to Cllr Laura Jeuda (previously involved with the issue June 2015) and to log a call with East Cheshire Asset Management stating that with the previous winter gales further damaged the fencing and now posed a health and safety risk to both the public and tenants. iv. Requests a. Trevor Connor plot 23 Request to add concrete posts and gravel boards in an attempt to sure up the boundary fence with the site track. Previously granted by AG b. Ian Buckley plot 8A Request to install a water standpipe and tap on his plot as an extension from the standpipe on plot 9. Request granted. Note:- Need to document how the standpipe on plot 9 is connected to the mains water supply missed during the last survey. 1

2 v. New tap and back plate installed on plot 20 when tap splitter failed and the old tap could not be turned off. vi. Reminder Manure Day is Saturday 21 st October. Delivery ~ 11.00am vii. Keys returned from :- Mike Partridge plot 9 family reasons for leaving Mr C Hulley - plot 11 following notice to quit Lettings (JP) 13 people on waiting and with plot 48 free and now plots 9 & 11 available for re-letting. Plot 48 has not yet been offered as a re-let due to its neglected state and that the next person on the waiting list was a female. Long discussion on rent rebates for badly neglected plots resulting in NM approving that JP has the final decision to apply a rent rebate when re-letting a neglected plot. Equipment (AG) i. The Blue WorkZone 800w generator, is now up and running starts first pull after priming, no smoke and idles evenly. Required cleaning out of sediment in the fuel tank, replaced spark plug, fuel line and, carburetor with parts costing ~ 8. Having not been used for some time the residual magnetism in the generator had been lost so the generator needed a re-flash. Note: The generator output is somewhat unsophisticated and won't run some equipment with electronic controls e.g. a Dremel fails but a standard 550W power drill OK. ii. Following use at the working party, the Ryobi strimmer is in need of maintenance and has been taken off site. Finance (NM) NM announced that receipt for the purchase of Shop stock had been missed in preparing the 2016/2017 year end accounts which explains why the Shop seemed to have a higher profit margin than expected. Missed receipt to be processed as part of the 2017/2018 accounts. Rents for 2017/2018 are steadily coming in as cash, cheques and bank transfers. Since the MLAS account at Lloyd s does not allow on-line banking we will have to wait till the next month end bank statement until a final list of which tenants have/have not yet paid their rents. Currently waiting for the insurance renewal and then later in the year the NSALG membership renewal. Shop (JD) In JD absence there was a general discussion on the running and operation of the site shop. Some comments, suggestions and actions included:- 2

3 The weekly Sunday shop opening will finish at the end of October restarting March Items can still be purchased from the shop but will require prior arrangement with an equipment shed key holder. There is a need for better storage of shop stock and maintenance equipment within the shed. After some discussion it was agreed that AG, TC and DC to review over the winter period what is in the equipment shed and how best to provide better storage for both shop and maintenance equipment. Early spring 2018 review shop stock and consider what other lines might be of use to our members e.g. bamboo canes.etc. 5. Calendar Dates 2017/2018 The following dates discussed and agreed:- 2 nd Thursday of each month Committee Meeting (No meeting in December) Sun 21 May Sat 9 June Sat 23 June Sun 9 Sept Sun 16 Sept Spring Working Party Plot Inspections Best Kept Allotment Annual Show Autumn Working Party This year s AGM on 8 th October was thought to be too early requiring a great deal of effort from NM the treasurer to both prepare the year end accounts and send out the rent invoices. CK also commented that the MLAS Constitution, the plot holder s Tenancy Agreement and operating practice as regards rents and timing of the AGM didn t really marry up. It was decided to hold further discussions early 2018 as to AGM timings and/or any constitutional changes that might be needed. 6. Annual Show 2018 Categories The following categories where agreed for the Annual Show 2018 Large Classes 1. Heaviest Onion dressed. Top not to exceed 50mm 2. Heaviest Marrow 3. Longest Bean Vegetable Classes 4. 3 Onions not exceeding 250g each - dressed 5. 3 Onions exceeding 250g each - dressed 6. 5 Tomatoes - with stalks 7. 3 Chillies 8. 3 Beetroot with tops not to exceed 75mm 3

4 9. 3 Carrots with tops not to exceed 75mm Runner Beans Potatoes - washed Leeks with roots Shallots - dressed 14. Squash or Pumpkin 15. Any other vegetable Fruit Class 16. Bowl of fruit Flower Classes 17. A single bloom spikes of Gladioli 19. A vase of flowers Others Classes Eggs 21. An unusual or rude shaped item of fruit or vegetable Home Produce 22. A pot of jam or jelly 23. A jar of chutney 24. A jar of pickle 25. A cake CK to publicise the category list in the next Winter Newsletter, AG to post onto the Web Site. It was also agreed that an Annual Show Hints and Tips guide would be useful e.g. CK and AG to liaise on a suitable MLAS version that can be publicized in the Summer Newsletter and on the web site. Additional Trophies CK and JP offered to donate suitable trophies for the two additional classes added to the list. 7. Plot Inspections Inspection team of AG, JP and LL to re-visit the improvement notices sent out to tenants of plots 8, 26&27, 24, 25 and to report back at the next committee meeting. 8. Fruit Trees Paddock Area After a short discussion it was decided that the planting of fruit trees in the paddock area should be shelved until such time that the piles of asbestos materials being temporarily stored in the paddock are finally removed. With still more asbestos sheeting still to be collect from various plots along with the roof of the equipment shed it may well be 12 to 24 months before a grant is applied for the asbestos removal. 4

5 9. Projects 2017/2018 Land Drain Update AG reported that approx. 50% of the work to install new land drains across plots 33 & 34 had been completed this week hiring a man with digger made fast progress in preparing the trenches along with backfilling with stone. However whilst removing a large cherry tree AG strained his wrist placing further work on hold. CK offered manual labour assistance and to also finish off any work on plot 33. Grant Application for Winter Tree Work NM reported that he still had not received any quotes from either ANSA or Keith Roberts to carry out the tree work After some discussion and with the drivers that we need to know how much the project might cost it was agreed that NM should clearly mark the four trees in scope of the work so that other committee members (DC and/or AG) could approach tree surgeons for a quote. Additional Shed TC knows of a concrete shed that is available, similar in size to the existing equipment shed, that TC, AG and DC considered could be a useful storage addition to the allotment site. A suggested sighting for the new shed would be behind and adjoining the existing equipment shed providing a lot more storage space along with the potential to house a toilet. LL and CR quickly argued that the shed would encroach onto their plots! After further positive and constructive discussion the committee requested that TC, AG and DC investigate further the need, estimated cost (financial, effort and time) together with possible sightings for a new shed to report back at the January committee meeting. 10. Any Other Business None 11. Date and time of next meeting 20,00hrs, Thursday 9 th November 2017 at Park Lane Tavern 5