October Committee Minutes

CHAGFORD ALLOTMENT HOLDERS' ASSOCIATION
Minutes of the committee meeting held at 7pm on 17th October 2011 at 49 New Street
Present: Graham Adnitt, Anne Thorn, Matt Smith, Rosina Kellman, Dave Phillips, Helen Pitt and Ian Page.

1. Apologies for Absence:
Terry Lee

2. Minutes of the previous meeting 15 August 2011
These were approved.

3. Matters arising from the previous meeting.
i. Bank Mandate: Matt has handed in forms and Ian is still to visit bank.
ii. Fencing of Northern boundary: Contact church commissioners’ reference
who the fence belongs to.
iii. Encroachment from neighbouring properties: The gap to be filled on the
allotment weekend.
iv. Montessori Nursery Insurance: Ian was to talk to Seb.
v. Landshare Scheme: Dealt with.
vi. Committees contact list: Dealt with.
vii. Deer Fence: Site meeting to be arranged possible on the work weekend.
viii. Seed order scheme: Ian to see Jenny re catalogues.
ix. Waiting list notice: To be put on second gate.

4. Finance and the collection of rents.
At the time of the meeting £878 in rent had been received and £136 of subscriptions.
A discussion was had about lottery funding for the boundary fence.

5. Inspection of plots and responses.
Following the September allotment inspections Fay Charters resigned her position
on the committee and other allotment holders have also expressed opinions as to
the manner in which the inspections and communications were carried out.
Following an earnest discussion, during which the many ways of cultivation were
discussed, it was agreed that in this instance the method of inspection and
communication was not perfect and needed to be changed as unnecessary upset
had been caused. Rosina offered to liaise with plot holders verbally in future before
letters were sent.

6. Allocations.
5a has been allocated to Nicky Curtis.
6a has been allocated to Doug Rowe.

7. Offer to measure plots.
David John has offered to carry out, the meeting agreed not to pursue at this time.
Graham is to liaise with David.

8. Requests for sheds/greenhouses.
Nicky baker and Tim Smith both requested greenhouses which were agreed.

9. Any other business.
a) Chagford Primary School CSV day: Matt to take small group from school to
allotments to pick apples and clear part of the leat.
b) Blog and email address: matt to initiate allotment email address and blog to
enhance communication with the plot holders.
c) Work weekend to be 19th and 20th November, weather permitting.

10.Date and place of next meeting.
7pm on19th December at Haddon House, New street.

Chagford Leat system - open meeting at Endecott House

There will be an open meeting at Endecott House on Monday 28th November at 8pm to discuss the Chagford leat system and how to care for it over the coming years.

If you have any views as to how this can be done then please do come along.

Leat clearing weekend

We had a great weekend up on the allotments clearing the leat.

Many thanks to all those who spared a little, or a lot, of time raking, strimming, cutting and burning. The leat looks much better and the gentle sound of it flowing is a real pleasure.

Once again, many thanks to all those who chipped in.

Leat clearing and work weekend

The annual leat clearance and work weekend will take place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th of November, weather permitting! We will start at 10am on the Saturday and hopefully will have most of the jobs finished that day. If we need to work on the Sunday then we will again start from 10am.

We will be having a bonfire to get rid of us much of the large cutting as possible so if you have any large cuttings please keep them for then.

The more workers we have the faster the work will be completed so even if you cannot come for the whole day please do try and spare a couple of hours. Coffee, cake and soup made on the allotment will be available as a bribe/reward to all those who can make it.

 

Allotment blog and email address

To increase methods of communication, and possibly save a few envelopes, the blog and an email address have been started. Updates from committee meetings, dates for the agm, coffee morning, leat clearing etc. will all be posted here.

If you want to contact the committee via email the address is chagfordallotments@gmail.com