AGM 2020

Hi all,

We usually do not send these minutes out until before next years AGM, but times are very different now, and here are the AGM minutes. Six of us met last night (socially distancing of course)

AGM (following the rule of 6) – 09.10.2020.

Present:

E. Stevens, A. Klecha, S. Cheeseman, C. Cheeseman, A. Collins, C. Collins

Matters Arising:

None

Rosedale Road Report:

Site in good order. Scrap raised £87.60 for funds, thanks to Stuart for use of lorry. Sale of produce by Alan so far raised £31.05 for funds. Manure on order. Did any member pin a strange letter from a resident to the notice board? If so, could you give us further information please. Gro Organic on site for sale £6.50 per bag.

Bull Meadow Report:

Scrap needs to be taken away. PLEASE PUT any METAL in the red trailer. DO NOT DUMP YOUR HOUSEHOLD RUBBISH THERE PLEASE AND EXPECT SOMEONE ELSE TO GET RID OF IT.

Carpets dumped in middle of car park need to be moved ASAP. Letter to be sent to plot holder.

£20 raised for funds from sale of scaffold boards. Manure needed.

Membership:

12 names on waiting list. (66 members registered)

Treasurer’s Report:

Books audited 31.8.2020. (Thanks to Craig Gibson) Balance at audit £4028.51.

Peppercorn rent paid to Council, Waiting for water bills.

Water:

Water is to be turned off 1^st October as usual. PLEASE USE WATER WISELY, we are expecting a rather large bill, if this is the case we will have to investigate ways of saving on water use.

Election of Committee:

Dean Smith is now a Committee Member. As no nominations or volunteers were put forward for position of Chairman, Secretary, Membership Secretary or Treasurer, the present Committee agreed to carry on for another year.

Lorraine Roast resigned as a Committee member, thanks for your help as a Committee member during the past Lorraine.

Cost per Rod:

It was agreed by all present to raise the cost per rod from £2.60 (concessions) to £2.80 And from £2.90 to £3.10 from September 2021.  Membership charge will not be changed at the moment.

Plot 4N:

Is to be kept as a site plot for another year, to be reviewed at the next AGM.

CHAIRMANS REPORT 2020:

This time of year I am usually welcoming you all to our AGM, sitting comfortably with drink in hand at the top room Tyrells Hall Club.

This unprecedented year find us unable to meet together due to the ongoing restrictions of the Coronavirus.

So, for our 17^th self-managed AGM, the committee alone are gathered in our secretary’s house obeying the Rule of six.

I hope you all have come through unscathed by the virus and have enjoyed the freedom our allotments and gardens have given us through the pandemic.

As you will all be aware anybody who has been fortunate enough to have an allotment, has had access to fresh air, exercise and nature, with the added bonus of growing and eating their own fresh fruit and vegetables. Notwithstanding the mental health and wellbeing this all brings.

Our growing waiting list shows the true value of an allotment during these troubled times. Hopefully reiterating the long- term importance of sites for future generations.

Please remember if at any stage of your tenancy you are struggling with your plot for whatever reason please contact our secretary or your site manager. Please also be considerate to your fellow plot holders.

So, no summer BBQ, Open Day, Outing, Bonfire BBQ and highly unlikely the Christmas Quiz this year.

Never the less I would like to thank all those who have helped to keep our sites running.

At Rosedale Rd Site, Manager Alan Collins ably assisted by Clive Robertson, Tony Briggs and numerous other helpers.

A special mention for Alan who helped the Allotment shop in Chadwell distribute Composts and seeds during the Lockdown, along with supplying fresh eggs from Kent to any welcoming member.

Also, a special mention for Tony and Clive who revamped the pond at the Boscombe Rd end.

Les Dartnell with help from Alan Gorringe and myself have managed to keep the Bull Meadow Site ticking over,

A special mention also for Russell Cherry who added another pond to the site.

If any member would like to volunteer for any site works please contact the Site Managers or any committee member.

Speaking of which, appreciative thanks once again go to our Secretary Chris Collins, Treasurer Elaine Stevens & Auditor Craig Gibson, Membership secretary Sheila Cheeseman, Seed Secretary Jayne Priest, Mark Kennedy for the website, Dean Smith our social media guru & committee member Clive Cheeseman (who has also been busy this year transforming the derelict half of the Bull Meadow site with his band of volunteers).

Hopefully this time next year we can all once again enter our fruit & Veg in our AGM Above and Below ground competition. Along with welcoming back our most improved plot winner.

Something we all stand a chancing of winning this year, with all the extra time most of us had on our plots.

May your plots keep enriching your mind and bodies during the coming seasons.

Please take care.

Andrew Klecha (Chairman) 

– Note from Chris – Thanks to Andrew our Chairman too!

MEETING SEPTEMBER 2020

Socially distanced meeting of committee in Secretary’s garden 9^th September 2020.

Present:

S. Cheeseman, C. Cheeseman, A. Klecha, E. Stevens, A. Collins, C. Collins

Apologies:

L. Dartnell.

Matters Arising:

Chadwell Allotment shop is only open on a Sunday 9.30 – noon. They have onion sets. Reminder that they will shut for the winter months.

Rosedale Road Report:

Thanks go to Tony B and Clive R for their work on the Boscombe end.  New wheelbarrows purchased are in the barrow store by the main gate. Scrap will be taken next week. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS TO GET RID OF HOUSEHOLD RUBBISH!  e.g. garden chairs with fabric. This is for scrap metal/car batteries only to raise funds for the Association. Manure needed, also woodchip at Boscombe end. There have been some reports of blight on site. Dispose of any infected plants. Blight resistant tomato seeds are available e.g. Mountain Magic, Crimson Crush.

Please keep an eye out for any strangers on site as some members have had fruit go missing. A polite reminder that no produce should be taken from another plot without plot holder’s permission.

Bull Meadow Report:

Manure on site, scaffold board obtained, monies raised from sale of boards went into allotment funds. Andrew will phone a plot holder regarding pile of carpets left in the car park as we have had no reply to emails, also their uncultivated plot. DO NOT PUT HOUSEHOLD RUBBISH ON SCRAP HEAP.

Membership: 

No vacant plots, 14 names on the waiting list.

Treasurer’s Report:

Balance: £4668.51.    

Wheelbarrows purchased, plumbing bill Bull Meadow, NSALG membership,

Council peppercorn rent paid.

 43 members have paid subs.

IF YOU HAVE NOT PAID YOUR SUBS BY THE 30^TH SEPTEMBER, £10 WILL BE ADDED TO YOUR INVOICE.   IF YOU DO NOT INTEND TO WORK YOUR PLOT NEXT SEASON, PLEASE LET US KNOW a.s.a.p.                     

Thanks to Elaine for hopefully resolving the Bull Meadow Water Bill Saga!

A.O.B.

Kings Seed Order books will be left in the Shelter at Rosedale. Jane will collate any orders, please let her have them by 30^th October. (Books will be taken to Bull Meadow)

If anyone has spare produce, see Alan or leave them on plot 4N and he will sell them at the local club to raise funds.

It was decided that the AGM this year (because of the rule of 6) will be attended only by the committee member. However, if you want any issue raised or wish to nominate anyone as Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary or as a committee member please let us know. Dean Smith has put his name forward as a committee member and has been seconded by Clive Cheeseman.

AGM Meeting (Committee only): Friday 9^th October 2020.

AGM 2019

Present:

B. Childs, A. Collins, C.  Collins, E. Stevens, A. Klecha, S. Klecha, S. Cheeseman, C. Cheeseman, J. Record, S. Record, J. Guerrero, C. Robertson, A. Osborn, D. Osborn, G. Nicholson, E. Henry, B. Henry, D. Brown, L. Roast, S. Maloney, P. Jay, S. Carter, A. Davison, C. Davison, K. Fisher, G. Ashurst, L. Dartnell, T. Dady, J. Dady, P. Williams, J. Williams.

Apologies:

K. Walsh, J. Lane, N. Fielder.

Matters Arising: 

None.

Rosedale Road Report:

Scrap from both sites raised £92. All plots let. Wheelbarrows on their way.

Bull Meadow Report:

One plot vacant, to be re-let. New padlock purchased, will try to get a chain welded to it.

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Treasurer’s Report:

Balance at end of Sept. : £5518.61p. Books audited by Craig Gibson (our thanks go to him for this)

Peppercorn rent paid to Council £50. Waiting for water bills for both sites. Raffle tonight raised £34 – thanks to Sheila and Clive.

Use of Water on Site:

Three new taps are needed, these will be purchased from the scrap money. Large bills expected because of dry summer.

CHAIRMANS REPORT 2019:

Welcome all. Tonight is our 16^th Association AGM as a self- managed site.

Once again our summer was long & hot with no real prolonged rain arriving until mid September. It feels churlish to complain but watering was definitely a regular daily job.

On June 22^nd, we held our summer BBQ at the Rosedale Road site, preceded by a work party. An excellent turnout for both was blessed with good weather.

The NSALG Annual Allotment Open Day was held on a sunny Saturday morning in mid August and finished just before the rain came down. A record amount of £350 was raised from members’ excess produce along with delicious homemade cakes and refreshments.

I would like to once again thank everyone who either attended or supplied produce, cakes or delivered flyers.

Back on the agenda this again this year, was the day trip to a food festival. This September the Deal Food Fair was our destination, and even though a lot smaller than the Canterbury food fair, I believe everyone who made the coach trip had an enjoyable day. Thank you Chris for once again organising it.    

Winter work parties in February had a good- turnouts and much was achieved at both sites.

John Little also helped me again, to complete the topping of the vehicle entrance to the bull Meadow site for just the cost of the road scalping and thanked with a bottle of single malt whiskey.

Phuman Singh, a long standing member of Bull Meadow site unfortunately passed away this year. Clive & Sheila attended the funeral.

As always I would like to thank Site managers Alan Collins(assisted by Clive Robertson & volunteers)at Rosedale. Les Dartnell (assisted by Alan Gorringe) at Bull Meadow. Our secretary Chris Collins, Treasurer Elaine Stevens, Membership secretary Sheila Cheeseman, Seed secretary Jayne Priest, Auditor Craig Gibson, committee members Clive Cheeseman & Lorraine Roast. Mark Kennedy for running the website(rrbm.co.uk) and Dean Smith our Social Media whizz kid.

Last year’s most improved plot was Ashley Osborn’s plot from Rosedale Road Site; who received a certificate & sack of Grow Organic, this year’s winner will be announced later.

Once again this year we have the Best up to three Vegetable or fruit Above & Below Ground Competition, the winners receiving the wood turned trophies for a year with their names engraved for posterity, to be returned at the next AGM.

Good luck & happy growing

Andrew Klecha (Chairman)

Election of Committee: In the absence of any new nominations, the existing committee agreed to carry on for another year.

Cost per rod: It was agreed that there was no need to raise the cost per rod (£2.90) this year.

Plot 4N: It was agreed to use this for allotment produce for another year – to be reviewed next AGM. Thanks to Alan, Clive, Norman, George and Stuart.

Most Improved plot: Elaine Henry Plot 34W.

Veggie Competition: 

Best Above – 1^st. B. Childs – cauliflower, 2^nd J. Guerrero – grapes, Joint 3^rd S. Maloney – butternut and C.Collins – cabbage.

 Best Below – 1^st. S. Maloney – parsnips, 2^nd J. Record- celeriac,                     3^rd A. Klecha – potatoes.

Next AGM. Friday October 9^th 2020.