Allotments Minutes 12th November 2009
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ALLOTMENTS COMMITTEE
HELD ON
12TH NOVEMBER 2009 at 6.30pm
HELD AT THE PARK PAVILION BOARD ROOM, BARRACK LANE, HARWICH, ESSEX
Present: Councillor A Colbourne in the Chair
Councillors: B Brown, J Brown, M Gardner, D Rutson, D McLeod and G Calver
Co-opted Members: Mr Inglis, Mr Steward and Mr McCoy
Clerk: Mrs S Anderson
Also present: Three members of the public
A23/09 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from The Mayor Councillor J Wares, Deputy Mayor Councillor S Tyrer and Mr Mesher
A24/09 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Councillor Rutson declared an interest in Item 4 on the agenda.
A25/09 MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the Allotments Committee meeting held on 24th September 2009, (previously circulated), be accepted as a true record.
A26/09 BOATSWAINS CALL ALLOTMENT SITE
Further to Minute A20/09, the tenancy of Plot 15 was discussed. The Committee
RESOLVED: that Plot 15 be split into two 5 rod plots and allocated to the next two people on the waiting list for Boatswains Call.
A27/09 KING GEORGES AVENUE ALLOTMENT SITE
Further to Minute A107/08, the Committee noted an email received from Mr David Hall at Tendring District Council, regarding the unused area of land, adjacent to the King Georges Avenue allotment site. Mr Hall confirmed that Mr A White, the Corporate Property Officer, was dealing with the possibility of the land being released to Harwich Town Council as additional allotments. A member proposed that the Secretary of State be approached to seek guidance regarding giving up a small strip of allotment land to obtain approximately another seven plots. RESOLVED: for the Clerk to liaise with Councillor Calver and the matter be discussed at the next meeting.
A28/09 VACANT PLOTS/WAITING LIST/NOTICES TO QUIT
The Clerk informed the Committee that six people have been allocated allotments and the waiting list currently stands at 34. The Committee were informed that twenty-one tenants out of two hundred have not paid the annual rent.
A29/09 CO-OPTED MEMBERS REPORT
The Redoubt
The Clerk reported receipt of a letter from the tenant of Plot 7 requesting the Committee to reconsider their decision and allow the two willows to remain on the allotment. The Committee RESOLVED: that the request be denied.
King Georges Avenue
The Committee heard that a new block of flats at the George Wimpey Capital House development site had the overshadowed Plot 5. Mr Mesher requested if the committee could visit the site regarding this matter.
A30/09 BUDGET FOR MUNICIPAL YEAR 2010/2011
Expenditure
Maintenance £2500
Water Rates £1200
Reserve £1500
Income
Allotment Rent & Water Rates £2100
3.5% War Stock £96
A31/09 WATER BUTTS
Councillor B Brown will issue a report regarding provision of water butts, as soon as a response has been received.
A32/09 ALLOTMENT INVOICE SOFTWARE
A member requested that the Committee looked into software to computerise allotment invoices and for this item to be included on the next agenda.
A33/09 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Allotments Committee will be held on Thursday, 21st January 2009 at the Park Pavilion Board Room, Barrack Lane at 6.30pm
Meeting closed at 7.17pm