Minutes of the Tenth Annual General Meeting held
on 26th
September 2009
Present: 31people signed in (25 main site plot-holders, 2 from
Chapel Hill, 3 on the waiting list and 1 representative from the Charity) Colin
Richardson, Ross Drean and Colin Cairns
sent their apologies.
1. Welcome: John Butt (chair) welcomed plot
holders, people on the waiting list, and Oliver Jenks who was representing
the Charity, to the meeting and
started the proceedings
2. Minutes of the ninth Annual General
Meeting (2.10.08) were agreed (prop Karen Fidler sec Joan Macphee). There were no matters
arising that would not come up later in
the meeting.
3. Report from Chair: John Butt said that while
his report was adequately covered in the recent Dig It, and he would say a few
words at the end of the meeting there were a couple of points he wished to
emphasise. He congratulated new
plot-holders and other who have done
such good work with cultivating the land. It is really important to keep the
land in good use, to show we value it and use it well. It is concerning that we
have suffered recent incidents of vandalism and arson- we will talk about this
later. John urged plot-holders to co-operate with the Trustees in their
requests to improve Health and Safety on the site. He asked jenny to explain two papers
distributed on the seats.
Jenny explained they were both surveys for completion and
return. One was an annual survey from Reading Parks Department asking for
people’s comments on Parks and Open Spaces on
4. Treasurer’s Report: Ken Phillips presented the audited accounts in the agenda
papers, reporting a successful year in
spite of difficulties caused by low bank interest rates. He pointed out we
expect to receive even less interest next year even though we anticipate
leaving the investment bond untouched. Our fundraising had been successful due
to the efforts of members of the committee and others who had raised plants
etc. The two shows this calendar year had both been financially successful, as
had the several raffles and the second BBQ .The nett effect was that we had
made a small trading surplus over the year. The accounts were accepted by the
meeting (prop Bill Fryer, sec Bob Embling).
5. Report from the Charity: Oliver Jenks (Clerk to the Trustees of the
Charity) spoke on behalf of the Trustees. He passed on their thanks and congratulations on the state of
the site. The Trustees go round the site regularly.Whilst doing so they always
comment favourably about the state of
cultivation and tidiness as well as
their main, concern, Health and Safety. They have noted the significant improvements
and will doubtless do so again when they go round the site on Saturday. Whilst
there is always room for improvement Oliver passed on their congratulations and
thanks to all plot-holders. The Trustees had received one question, from Lesley
Barrow.
Q: What proposals does the Charity have in progress to
deter/counteract ongoing site vandalism?
A: ‘The Trustees are concerned to hear about acts of
vandalism theft and arson on the allotment sites. Whilst it is encouraging that
the Police have been involved, there seems to have been little effect or
deterrent.
The Trustees have considered your question and were unable
to suggest anything reasonable and at reasonable cost that might help. They
felt that even very expensive fencing etc would not necessarily solve the
problem.
However they would appreciate any suggestions that people
may make, and will consider all such suggestions seriously.’
Oliver emphasised that the Trustees will listen carefully
and consider all suggestions made about tackling this difficult issue. Whilst
wholesale replacement of fencing by a 2m fence is not practicable other
measures might be.
There being no more questions we moved to discussion of site
issues.
6. a) Discussion of
Site Issues
Site security Lesley
thanked Mr Jenks for the answer to his question, but said he felt it was very
similar to a politicians reply. He felt that landlords like employers have
duties regarding health ,safety,
and property. We had become too accustomed to vandalism- as well as
damage to sheds and crops livestock had
been stolen, killed, there has been arson. Rents have gone up considerably.
Alternatives like raising the height of the gates , locking pedestrian gates
should be considered.
In the discussion that followed the following points
were made:
·
The committee had met with the local PCSO (Police
community support officers) last week.
They were unable to attend this meeting (although on duty) due to another
appointment, but attended the committee meeting. They outlined how they work their
shift patterns, and the area they cover, and how they walk through the site
regularly en route for other assignments and as part of routine patrolling and
in an effort to meet plot-holders, but could not offer much advice beyond keep
on reporting all incidents.
·
The major deterrent to potential vandals is the fear
of being caught and subsequent repercussions. The task is to increase the
probability of people being caught. On reflection the only cases we know when
perpetrators were caught happened through the actions of neighbours. One was an
informer who gave the police a name, after cross questioning a young relative,
the second was a neighbour who a) saw and chased away some youths attacking a
shed, b) saw the same youths a few days later, called 999 and they were
arrested. Neither of these successes would have happened without the intervention of local people. We must do
everything to work with local people and must not jeopardise relationships.
John summarised the situation explaining that the new committee will take the feelings of the meeting and consider carefully what to do .The discussion had been very helpful and emphasised the concern of members about site security. The committee will work hard on the issue.
6.b) Discussion about what the Society should do.
7. RBC Consultation on Site Allocations-building houses etc. As explained in Dig it there will be some more consultation in spring about land issues-including the ‘reserved land’ off Kentwood Hill. More processes will follow-watch this space.
8.Elections for TAS committee 2009-10 and auditor John thanked the members of the committee
outgoing for their work during the year,they do lots of jobs on behalf of the
plot-holders .All are elected annually .
The elections were
completed as follows:
Chairperson. John
Butt, Treasurer Ken Phillips, Secretary Jenny Cottee, (prop Bob Embling, sec John Kirton)
Other members of the committee: Richard Buckingham, Jennie
Drean, Karen Fidler, Mick Geater, David Giffiths, Kate Jones, William Macphee,
Colin Robinson
Trustees Rep: Oliver Jenks,
Honorary Auditor:
Julia Cottee
John invited any other
members of the Society to come forward if they were interested in joining the
committee there was space to co-opt, many hands make light work. He asked the secretary to thank
the auditor for her work.
9. Raffle The raffle (organised by Margaret
Ryan and Dave Griffiths) was held. The
takings were £43.00 with all prizes donated. John thanked everyone for their
generosity and the organisers of the raffle.
John Butt asked Oliver to pass on his
thanks to the Trustees for their donation which paid for this meeting He
thanked Wendy Levey and Lucie
Twivey for running the sale of books (
the takings were £7.50), and William and Joan Macphee for organising the tea and
coffee for the meeting. He then thanked all for coming and for their support
throughout the year and reaffirmed the determination of the committee to tackle
the issues raised at the meeting.
John Kirton from the floor thanked the committee for all
they had done during the year- sec. Bob Embling
John closed the
meeting at 8.40pm.
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Triumphs |
Disasters |
Handy
Tips |
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Dithane works after blight attack tomatoes recovered – to
give super crop in tunnel |
Sprouts- caterpillars |
Alan Roman’s website-it has a good choice of spud and
cheap seeds at 50p and 80p |
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Beans |
Tomatoes –blight |
White Tower-spuds,
veg plants (discount too) |
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Runner beans |
Tomatoes –blight |
HYDRA –Ryton for veg – well worth a visit |
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French/green beans |
Broad beans- blackfly |
Use ground cover mesh-conserves water and control weeds |
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onions |
Carrots and peas- dry weather |
Toms are very sweet if grown very dry- only sparse
watering when fruiting in tunnel improves flavour& reduces blight |
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Butternut squash |
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spuds |
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Spuds- Foremost, Marfona |
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Autumn Raspberries- Joan J |
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Runner Bean- Red Rum |
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Spuds- but slugs liked them |
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Carrots in polytunnel- no fly |
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Carrots in boxes-used seed tape to sow thinly |
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Seed tape to sow lettuce thinly in plastic boxes |
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Next year the committee should…..Update the
website more with new photos through the season