Greencroft and Waterman's Allotments in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Minutes of AGM held at 7.30pm on 18th October 2007 at the Town Hall
None, 52 members attended.
Passed as correct and adopted.
Mike Hales from Greencroft again raised the situation with the grass cutting, saying it was still infrequent and the edges were not cut. Members were not happy with the standard at all, it was pointed out that path between plots is the responsibility of the plot holder. Members of the committee were meeting with the Town Clerk next week and would bring this to her attention.
Waterman's access - as it stands at the moment the Town Council is still trying to buy the strip of land adjacent to the Waterman's site and so the row of dead trees that obscure the view from the entrance could be removed.
Circulated with agenda. Thanks to the Committee and he also thanked Liz Cope and Alison Engleby for all their hard work over the last year managing the sites, Dave McEwen and Peter Herbert for their work, reiterated by the floor.
Circulated with agenda. It has now been audited (although auditor has not yet been formally adopted due to the sad death of long time plot holder and association auditor Ted Allwright - the association expressed their gratitude for all he had done and a donation to a charity of his family's choice is being made). We are in a healthy position mainly due to three things; 1) Boat Trip, thanks to Alison Engleby. 2) Cricket club/regatta parking. 3) Council grant. It was agreed that keeping the sites tidy should be our main priority for this money. Honorariums are to be kept as last year- proposed by John Street and seconded by Caroline Bleakly. Thanks again to John Brits for managing and maintaining our website, John was invited on the boat trip and maybe this year we ought to look at a donation for him, we will also invite him on boat trip again as thanks for all his hard work.
Circulated with agenda. Rent notices are now out, Members are asked to pay promptly and reiterated the need to keep us informed of and change of address etc. Cheques for rent to be made out to Henley Town Council and could be sent to Liz Cope or paid into the Council one stop shop.
All committee members and officers were willing to stand again. No other nominations having been received. The Committee re-elected unanimously. Proposed Steve Cook, seconded by Caroline Bleakly and passed with a unanimous show of hands. Waterman's still needs another Committee Member, anybody interested please let us know. (Since AGM Marissa Francini has been elected)
David Burnside an ex bank manager was proposed by Dave McEwen and seconded by Liz Cope and Alison Engleby, passed with a show of hands.
Spare copies of the latest newsletter were available to those needing a copy.
Boat trip was great success once again with 70 Members attending, thanks to Hobbs for the boat, Alison and helpers for the superb food and Dave and Sally for organizing the quiz and raffle.
Doug Richard's cookery evening at Christ Church was again well received with 34 members attending.
Gardeners Question time will be on November 1st in the Barn 7.00pm for 7.30.
Seed orders to be in by 2nd November please - Sue Rippon said that according to Gardening Which magazine Kings had a poor germination rating. There where mixed feeling and opinions from the floor with Harold Fitch saying that the only company he had ever had germination problems with was T&M. Is there a way of sharing left over seeds? Maybe we should reintroduce a plant/seed swap in May or maybe do a section on the website.
RHS membership benefit is garden cards - 30% off adult and guest entrance (except Wisley on a Sunday) so do ask Dave McEwen if you would like to use the cards.
Sue Rippon said everyone enjoyed the Ryton trip, any chance we could maybe arrange another visit?
Japanese Knotweed problem on Greencroft. The clearing procedure has been started - we found a company that charges £250.00 p.a. for 3 treatments.
Carl Lambourne brought up the state of some plots; this is the main reason that we have introduced the new rent payment system, so that we will know a lot sooner which plots are free. (Next year we hope to include an addressed envelope to make system even easier) If by mid November the rent is still unpaid the plot will be classed as vacant and put up for re-letting, or covered with membrane to keep it weed free. David Cook said that when lifting some membrane he had found 7 newts, 19 toads and frogs and some slow worms - so please look out for wildlife and move them to safety.
Maintaining a weed free plot means working on it and keeping it relatively weed free and cultivated. Chris Baulch suggested that maybe regular working parties on the site and maybe use roundup - Steve Cook said that 2 applications 1 in spring and 1 autumn or dig out bindweed. Jinty Baulch said that on their last site they flayled then cut, and unused plots reverted to coarse grass. Maybe unused plots could be made into smaller starter plots.
Bonfires- on three occasions bonfires have been left unattended over the last year and several times fuel has been used to start them, it was felt that some of the good bonfire guide should be incorporated into the member's rules; this was seconded by Dave Cook, we will look at this and propose amended rules to next AGM.
Notice boards: a second notice board should be put up near gate on Waterman's; also all minutes should be displayed on the notice boards.
Andrew Hawkins has resurrected the Allotments Shield and two Cups; these were awarded as follows:
A sad farewell was said to Des Hopkins who at age of 82 and having tended his plot for 26 years is retiring as is to Mr. Coffee who at 85 is giving up the plot he has had for 22 years.
Sally McEwen asked about skips - Town Clerk has again asked that the skips should not be used for household rubbish. There will be a skip on each site for the clear-up weekend of Nov 1st
The Committee thanked Members for attending and invited all to join them in glass of wine after the meeting which ended at 9pm.
Next AGM Thursday 9th October 2008
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