AGM 2020

LEWISHAM SELF MANAGED ALLOTMENT ASSOCIATION AGM

09.01.20 7pm Lewisham Civic Suite

Present: John Denton-Chair; Julie Fitton-Treasurer; Denny Senner-Secretary; Peter Maynard-Lewisham allotment officer; Paulette Walker-Broadmead; Trevor Williams- Romborough; Mark Kyriakides-Meadow Close; Rob Tomlinson-Chinbrook Meadows; Stephen Senner-Knapmill; Jill Jordon-Firhill South; Glynda Nolan-Blackhorse; Bernadette Thompson-Blackhorse; D Gibbins-Jim Hurren; Dorian Watkins Ron Melluish- Taylors Lane; Steve Belk- Trewsbury; Harry-Knapmill; Geoff Richardson-Goldsmiths Gardens; Amelia Lind-Barmeston

Apologies: Stephanie Brooks and Wanda Teichmaster – Hurstbourne Road, Rita Hooks – Hazelbank, Dusty Rhodes – Slaithwaite Road, Paul + Jane Hedge – Longton Nursery, Guy Gibson – Trewsbury Road

Previous Minutes: Agreed

No matters arising- covered in meeting to follow

Secretarys Report : 

1. Allotment training workshop: took place last spring to ensure good practice amongst committees, and to answer tricky queries, run by Peter Maynard, was well attended and much appreciated.

Also attended by a representative from the National Allotment Association, who shared many suggestions and words of wisdom to help committees run successfully and smoothly.

This year- Peter to update.

2. Grow to Give : Since we recommended the FoodCycle scheme at last year’s AGM, (which is a project set up to provide a hot meal once a week to anyone who needs it -based in Catford) we have had really positive feedback from them on the excellent support they have received from many sites.

Simone Riddle from FoodCycle kindly presented at our awards event last October, and encouraged all plotholders to get involved if they can, as food poverty in our community is on the increase, and our support of fresh food is much appreciated by the people whom it helps.

Scheme: Donations can be taken to the Irish Centre, Davenport Road, Catford every Saturday at 10.30 am for cooking that day.

Extra info from Denny if required.

3. Awards Event: Most sites are now fully involved in our annual awards/social event to celebrate the hard work and good practices of our committed plotholders and committee officers.

This year we were in a new venue in Sydenham, which was attended by over 100 people, and enjoyed by all!

Thanks is expressed to all who were involved, from our volunteer judges to those who kindly brought food and drink on the night.

Also thanks to Peter for his ongoing support and councillor Sophie McGeevor for attending and presenting prizes.

CONGRATULATIONS to

Longton Nursery: well deserved BEST SITE

Gavin- Meadow Close-BEST PLOT

James and Amy- Hazelbank- BEST NEW PLOTHOLDERS

The standard gets higher each year, and is evidence that this event is having a positive impact at site level, as well as helping form links and support between sites and our LSMAA committee.

Please get in touch if you would like to help this year (someone to film needed!) / have suggestions. It was agreed to form an events sub-committee to organise event. .to meet by end March.

Chairs Report:

1. Induction for new plotholders discussed.

Buddy system; induction for using allotment equipment; full discussion to explain responsibilities of tenancy; monitoring new plotholders progress and offering assistance; clear explanation of expected code of conduct and consequences of breaking this

2. Facebook page - up and running(under LSMAA name) all can post- monitored by chair for appropriate content

3. Website-still running, but Facebook is more user friendly

4. Site visits- John, Julie and Denny happy to visit any sites that feel this would be of help to them.

5. Waste removal-Scrap metal will be collected by dealer based next to Mottingham Station

6. Fencing- Council (Peter) will consider each fencing issue on a site by site basis. Smaller jobs, within the funds available to sites, will be left for the site to sort out. Larger jobs will need to be discussed with Peter, and the council will negotiate with site and neighbours and then help as funds allow. No site will be expected to struggle on when unable to sort any fencing issue alone, the management agreement with the council is there to support site committees - it will be a joint effort where sites cannot manage the problem alone.

Treasurers Report:

All levies collected (plus 1 double payment) - £745 income.

Thanks to treasurers from sites for hard work and support in this.

£825.20-awards costs (Lewisham paid for hall hire- thanks expressed)

Forecast -£890 spendin. Leaving £446 balance in the bank. So recommend awards go ahead as previously.

Election of officers: (officers stood down. Invitation for nominations)

Chair- John Denton-Proposed Bernadette/seconded Glynda

Treasurer - Julie Fitton- proposed Steve Belk/seconded Glynda

Secretary - Denny Senner- proposed Bernadette / seconded Glynda

Peter Maynard; Lewisham perspectives Green Scene

1. Thanks to all for awards event- good for the profile of Allotments, councillor McGeevor was very impressed and expressed support if needed in future.

2. Management Agreement- this defines each sites existence as tenants of the council. This needs to be progressed. Action with committee.

Questions were taken-

*legal responsibility of sites to sign once agreement decided

*Aim is to have all sites with same management agreement; same tenancy agreement, same constitutions and then each site can have essential site rules which are unique to their situation, which can be agreed at their AGM annually to ensure they are still current.

*Tenancy agreement is non-flexible, but the sites can decide on their own individual rules (agreed at a quorum AGM) which can reflect site situations and site ethos.

*Constitutions are obligatory. This enables sites to act democratically- enforce their tenancy agreement and to hold election of officers.

*the council recognises their responsibility to support self managed sites and ensure sites are running correctly.

Site committees are ‘deputies of the council’…roles are defined in the management agreement

*The management agreement offers no extra protection from developments. Allotments do have protection under law- but this can vary.

*Council is undergoing a reshuffle, and allotments tend to be low priority. The management agreement is for our security.

3. Annual Documentation- can all sites send details by 1^st April, even if AGMs are after this date.

4. Training workshop-date to be confirmed (suggested April 18)

Ideas for discussion to Peter

5. The council is promoting bowel cancer awareness. John will circulate.

6. Mayors funding- £350,000 received. Schemes who receive funding will roll out over next 2 years.

Details of future grants will be circulated as they become available- please apply if applicable.

Thanks to Peter for his ongoing support and hard work.

ANY O.B.

*site set levies/ extra charges added to plotholders rents?? - these should be agreed in advance at each AGM to ensure they are still appropriate bearing in mind the financial situation of site/individuals

(These are separate from LSMAA levy of £1 per plot)

*OAP discounts?? Discount for single parents/OAPs was discussed, for information only

Date next meeting early Jan 2021

Closed 8.30pm