Archive for October, 2013

Hart Allotments AGM at Hart Leisure Centre, Hitches Lane, on Saturday 9th November at 2pm

Hart Allotments have been working on your behalf to secure allotments in the Fleet area.  The good news is that we have been in discussions with a local farmer to lease land on Hitches Lane for allotments.  These allotments will be open to anyone (as long as you are on the waiting list).  If you’d like to hear about the proposals, and put your name down an allotment for next year please come along to the AGM.

Since the proposed allotments are in walking distance from the Leisure Centre individuals can visit the proposed site after the AGM where an example of the size of plots available will be laid out for you to see – so you can decide which size would suit you best.   Application forms to apply for a plot are here and will be available at the AGM.   Only applications from those on the Hart Allotments waiting list will be considered for allotments.  (Waiting list application forms are available here).

Here is the agenda for the AGM: HartAllotments AGM Agenda-9-11-13-V4

If you would like any other matters raised at the AGM please contact the Secretary at least 14 days before the AGM.

Before putting your name down for one of these allotments we thought it best to advise you on the progress of the other allotments being created around the area so you can decide which allotments are open to you.   Briefly:

Church Crookham – 120 allotments on the old QEII site – due to be ready early 2014  for Church Crookham residents on the electoral roll.  If they don’t get take up then they will extend it out to CrookhamVillage and Ewshot and some GU52 areas.

Swan Lake allotments Yateley – 44 plots in a range of sizes. Site is under construction and is very nearly complete.  The council are currently allocating these plots to the residents on the waiting list.

Elvetham Heath Allotments – 20 small size plots

It is virtually complete they are waiting for the water to be connected.

Allocation for plots is to commence shortly.

Edenbrook allotments

Discussions are continuing with Hart District Council for the provision of allotments on the Edenbrook estate.  Timing of these allotments is unknown as it is down to the builder to submit plans.

 

Hart Allotments becomes an Industrial and Provident Society (a co-operative)

The Hart Allotments management team have been advised to make the association more formal.  We therefore consulted with Hart Council and the Hart Voluntary Action Group to find out the best way to take this forward.  At the AGM in 2012 the green light was given by those present that the Association could become an Industrial and Provident Society (IPS) when the time was appropriate.  An IPS is what used to be known as a Co-operative.  This status was considered appropriate as Cooperatives work on the basis that they really only benefit their own members (which in our case will be plot holders) rather than the community as a whole.

The management team considered that the timing was now right and applied to become an IPS.  In order to become an IPS the easiest way is to be sponsored.   As we are already members of the National Allotment Society (and pay a subscription to them based on the number of members that we have) we approached this organisation for sponsorship.  In doing so we signed up to adopt the National Allotment Society’s model rules and constitution.  (These can be amended later if the amendments are proposed and voted on at subsequent AGMs.)  As an IPS we also need to pay an annual fee to the Financial Conduct Authority (the amount that we pay depends upon our turnover) and produce audited accounts.

We needed to become more formal as we need to sign leases with farmers/council and contracts with plot holders.  Money will therefore be changing hands and we need to ensure that procedures are in place to protect plot holders and the management team.

Apart from the managing team (consisting of a President, Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and management committee members), an IPS needs members.  These will normally be plot holders.   Only members of Hart Allotments will be entitled to take out tenancy agreements.

The fee for Membership of Hart Allotments Ltd includes:

  • A share certificate for each new member.  This entitles the member to a nominal share in the society for the duration of their membership; and the right to vote at the AGM.
  • The obligatory membership fee for the National Society of Allotments & Leisure Gardeners Ltd.
  • Administration, insurance & legal costs for Hart Allotments Ltd (see financial reports prepared for AGM for expenditure & activity)

Membership fees are subject to review at future AGMs.  See Useful Info for details of annual membership costs.