David Hayes – Eviction procedure
Sue Chedzoy – Compost/Wood chip deliveries
Graham Yarwood – ECC support for larger projects
Site security regarding former tenants
Minutes:
Vice Chair David Hayes shared the Topsham guide on how they go about inspecting and potentially evicting tenants that are not cultivating their plots. Representative from Prince Charles Road said they followed a similar structure and that they had struggled with not knowing the exact dates that plot holders had been given warning and eviction notices for. Dan said that this would be improving with the latest set of inspection that will happen in the coming weeks.
The problem of new tenants not getting on top of their new plots quickly was raised. There was a discussion about implementing a three month probationary period for new tenants with site reps contacting the plot holder if they think they might be struggling and if nothing improves a warning letter from the Council to be sent at the end of the three months. A proposal to have this added to the allotment rules was put forward by Nick from Prince Charles Road and seconded. A vote was taken with 13 members voting for the motion, one against and no abstentions. Dan will get back to the forum at the next meeting about adding this to the rules for 2017/18.
The member form Rackfileds mentioned the 60% cultivation level and said there were plots on the site that due to trees etc. nothing was being grown but were being maintained. Common sense was deemed to be the best way to judge these cases as long as the plot is being maintained then that was the main thing
Action – Dan
Sue Chedzoy of Hamlin Lane enquired if the Council still organised compost deliveries? Dan replied that this was no longer available for both cost and legal changes. However individuals or groups were still welcome to organise for deliveries to the sites of things like compost and manure.
Action – N/A
Reps from Prince Charles Road asked about Council support for larger project on sites such as the drainage issue at the entrance of their site since it was altered. Dan suggested that their first option would be to contact their Councillor who could look into the matter. Failing that contact the allotment office and Dan would look at each project individually and see what would be involved and find out about costs. He could then ask if additional funding could be found for that specific project.
Site security was also raised with former tenants still having access to sites if they have not returned their old key. Dan replied that new combination padlocks have been purchased and he is looking to roll out their implementation on a site by site basis over the coming 2/3 years. Help would be needed from associations and site reps in organising refunds for people’s key deposits when this occurred. Pinces 1 did a similar thing a few years ago and managed it well with set times tenants could come to the site and sort out their refund.
Covered in item re contact between council and site reps/ managers above.