Present:
Mrs H Klaassen (Chairman), Mr F Alexander and Mr M Böckle
In Attendance:
Mrs M Weston (Clerk to the Council).
(1) Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Mr G Bisson and Mr M Rollé.
(2) Declarations of Interest
None.
(3) Minutes of Previous Committee Meeting
The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 21 May 2010 were signed as a true and accurate record.
(4) Matters Arising
None.
(5) Work/Activities Completed in Current Financial Year
The Chairman reported that regular plot inspections had taken place at monthly intervals. Allotment holders had been informed when inspections would take place so they could be on site if they so wished.
Inspections had proved successful and would be continued at more infrequent intervals until the commencement of the growing season when they would revert to monthly inspections.
A request for a new tap at the Westwood Road end had been met and it was hoped a tap could be installed at the top end of the allotments in the next financial year.
An allotment holder had assisted with drainage near Romsey Road, both inside and outside the allotments and permission had been obtained from the Forestry Commission for this work.
With the assistance of allotment holders Adrian Wiltshire, Peter Timmis and David Webb materials had been purchased and a gravel track and been laid, in the tyre tracks, through the allotments from the Westwood Road gate to the Fenwick gate. Over £2,000 had been saved.
Due to the problems of rat infestation, a company had been employed to visit the allotments on a regular basis to undertake a programme of vermin control and this was proving successful.
At their request, regular meetings had been held with tenants and a prizegiving had been organised for rent collection evening. J & L Sturney, Funeral Directors, had donated a prize plaque to the best allotment holder, Adrian Wiltshire.
The perimeter hedge had been cut by Weed It and Reap, cuttings had been removed and the ditch cleared. They had also cleared the path inside the hedge. A new gate had been installed at the Fenwick end and new signage had been attached to both gates.
(6) Items Requiring Discussion
Some costs could not be altered as they were out of the Parish Council’s control. These included rent, water, fencing, room hire, grasscutting of tracks, hedging and ditching and pest control.
Other items were becoming more necessary because of the need to keep the allotments up to a good standard.
These included increasing the number of taps, plot clearance and regeneration, security and standard of tracks.
It was difficult to reclaim plots if the finance was not available to bring the them up to a standard whereby they could be worked satisfactorily.
Allotment inspections were indicating that there were still a number of plots that needed to be taken back or reduced in size and clearance would be necessary.
The track had received remedial action but more work would be necessary to keep it up to a satisfactory standard.
There was also a good deal of rubbish on site. It might be possible to burn some of it and organise a collection of metal goods.
(7) Budget Request for 2011/2112
RESOLVED: That the following budget request be made for the financial year 2011/2012
|
INCOME |
ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE |
Possible Rent |
3,000.00 |
|
Room Hire |
|
100.00 |
Water - Colin Payne |
|
100.00 |
Southern Water |
|
400.00 |
Grasscutting – Paths |
|
400.00 |
Forestry Commission - Rent |
|
475.00 |
Hedging and Ditching |
|
1,200.00 |
Pest Control |
|
700.00 |
Plot numbering |
|
500.00 |
Plot clearance/regeneration |
|
1500.00 |
Fencing |
|
500.00 |
Gate(s)/Security |
|
250.00 |
Meeting place/noticeboard |
|
325.00 |
Sundries |
|
250.00 |
Tracks |
|
500.00 |
Additional water supply |
|
300.00 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
3000.00 |
7,500.00 |
Budget Request |
|
£4,500.00 |
(8) Any Other Business
In the absence of any other business the Chairman thanked those present for attending and closed the meeting. |
