AGM – October 2023
| ROSEDALE ROAD & BULL MEADOW ALLOTMENT ASSOCIATION AGM MINUTES – Friday 13th October 2023 | ||
| 1 | Present: C Robertson, M Watts, L Dartnell, A Osborn, B Charles, J Alabaster, B Alabaster, C Cheeseman, S Cheeseman, C Davison, A Davison, T Whiberley, L Brede, S Simmonds, J Bishop, J Stephens, A Felton, J Felton, K Walsh, S Walsh, A Klecha, S Klecha, J Fielder (23 total) | |
| 2 | Apologies: B Rees, K Stephens | |
| 3 | Minutes AGM 14th October 2022 agreed | |
| 4 | Election of Committee AK CR nominated for chair, seconded by JS Your committee for October 2023 to October 2024 is Andrew Klecha (Chair), Sharon Walsh (Secretary), Jane Fielder (Treasurer), Sheila Cheeseman (Membership Secretary), Clive Cheeseman, Dean Smith | |
| 5 | Membership/Subscription Rates (Andrew Klecha) AK reported that the committee agreed at their pre-AGM meeting to not increase fees from October 2024. | |
| 6 | Treasurer’s Annual Report (Jane Fielder) JF presented finance report bank balance at end August 2022 £3944.23, compared with end August 2023 £4296.83, £352.60 more in the bank this year. Christine Collins has audited the accounts. The invoice from Thurrock Council for payment of rent has just been received, unclear where initial invoice was sent to as this is headed debt recovery. JF to check and pay. Water bills for April to October are Rosedale Road £354.47 and Bull Meadow £47.44, both accounts are in credit and lower than last year. Five members have not paid their fees, they will be chased and have to pay the late fee of £10 in addition to fees outstanding. | |
| 7 | Membership Secretary’s Annual Report (Sheila Cheeseman) 16 on waiting list Zoned system introduced this year and is working well 8 new members/plotholders have joined us this year | |
| 8 | Chair’s Annual Report (Andrew Klecha) Welcome everyone to our 19th self-managed Annual General Meeting. Once again spring seem to come late this year with temperatures not really warming up until late June. However this summer was a lot more suitable for growing with frequent well timed showers helping with the watering. Amazingly even with the rain there wasn’t too much blight about. I hope everyone has coped much better with the dipping troughs this year, and I would just like to remind all members that you are allowed to use hoses on your own IBCs. These can also be refilled by a site manager for £3.00. If anyone needs help setting up an IBC to collect water please contact your site manager or a member of the committee. The waiting list is still getting added to and vacated plots are soon filled by willing newcomers, please make them feel welcome. If you are struggling to cope with your plot cultivation, please communicate with your site manager or committee member. We have a responsibility as an Association to keep the site cultivated in the terms of our lease with the council. This year’s Summer BBQ was held on Sunday 7th May to celebrate the King’s coronation. Thank you to everyone who attended. The weather was fine for another enjoyable event. It was crowned by another victory for the Ladies in the annual Boules tournament who now lead 2-0. On Saturday 12th August we held the Annual NSALG open day at Rosedale. This year the refreshments were back in style with Clive R’s pop up cafe. Thanks to everyone who supported it with donations of cakes, produce, elbow grease or serving skills. A record amount of £359.10 was raised for our funds, over £100 more than last year! Unfortunately last year’s bonfire night was cancelled due to very wet weather hopefully this year we shall be more successful. Keep your eye on Minutes, notice boards and email notifications. Now it’s time again to show our appreciation to all the members who volunteer their time to help run our self-managed sites: Firstly I would like to thank Sharon Walsh who has stepped into the secretary role with aplomb. Along with the regular meeting minutes she has updated our rental agreements and site inspection procedures to make them more compliant to close scrutiny. Sharon has also taken on the Facebook updates from Dean Smith. Thanks also go to Committee members Clive and Sheila Cheeseman (our membership secretary) and Jayne Fielder (aka Priest) in her 2nd year as our Treasurer and Mark Kennedy for his work on our website. At Rosedale Road site thanks go to Alan Collins, Clive Robertson and their band of helpers. At Bull Meadow site, thanks go to Alan Gorringe who helps Les Dartnell and I keep on top the maintenance there. Special thanks this year also for Jon Wakeley who built our new secure tool shed. This winner of this year’s most improved plot is Andy Felton of Plots 8n & 9s at the Rosedale Road site. Andy receives a sack of groworganic for his endeavours. Congratulations! I hope you all have brought your prized fruit & Veg along for this year’s competition. You all get to vote for your favourite in each section. Good luck to all entrants. Cherish your plots and they will reward your Body & Soul as well as keep your neighbours happy! Andrew Klecha (Chairman) CR commented on how successful the Open Day was and that, in his experience as RRBMAA’s representative at Thurrock Allotment Steering Group, that RRBMAA is unique across the 27 sites in Thurrock in our regular, well attended meetings and social get-togethers. | |
| 9 | Items from Members a) Remembrance Garden – Tina Whiberley TW opened a discussion about refreshing the remembrance garden at Boscombe Avenue end, to maybe include wildlife bee/insect hotel, sensory herb area, a beehive. The meeting agreed to discuss the overall idea of refreshing the area at the November meeting. Several concerns were raised about possible siting of a beehive and the meeting overall voted in the majority against progressing this part of the suggestion. b) Daytrip Organiser – Tina Whiberley TW has offered to organise a coach trip to Rochester Christmas Dickensian Festival on 2nd December 23. Entrance to festival is free, coach transport will cost around £38 each, or lower if enough folk are interested. SW will email the details to all members who can then liaise with TW directly if they are interested. TW was thanked by CC and AK for her suggestions. | |
| 10 | Annual Competition a) Best up to three grown above ground 6 entries and in reverse order – 6th place Andy Klecha’s Butternut Squashes 5th place Andy & Jane Felton’s Marrow 4th place joint Bill & Janet Alabaster’s Pumpkin 4th place joint Julian Stephen’s Swiss Chard 2nd place Tina Whiberley’s Butternut Squashes 1st place Les Dartnell’s Apples | b) Best up to three grown below ground 2 entries and in reverse order – 2nd place Andy & Jane Felton’s Parsnips 1st place Andy Klecha’s Onions Raffle Thank you to Sheila and Clive Cheeseman for raising £18 in tonight’s raffle. |
| 11 | Next meeting 7.30 pm on Friday 10th November 2023 at Tyrells Hall WM Club | |