Hart Allotments

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

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.

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.

Issue 2 of our newsletter is now available. This issue includes:

Latest allotment news for:

• Fleet (Edenbrook)
• Fleet (Elvetham Heath), Church Crookham & Yateley
• Finance Matters!
• HAA votes to become a ‘Co-op’
• Get your name on your parish list!
• New HAA website

Have a read here: HAANewsletterPDF Dec12

Minutes of the HAA AGM 17th November 2012-Final

Thanks to everyone who came along to the AGM this afternoon. The information that was shared today, as well as the minutes will be published on the website soon.

The AGM of the Hart Allotments Association is to be held on Saturday 17th November at the Harlington Centre, Fleet at 3pm.

Please come along if you would like to hear about the developments for allotment provision in the Hart area.

In order that we can have sufficient chairs etc. please would you let me know if you intent to come.

The agenda will be:

• Welcome, introductions and apologies (SM)
• Previous minutes and action points (SC)
• Chairman’s report (SM)
  • update on progress on the provision of allotments
  • committee activities (questionnaire, meetings, research)
  • membership of National Allotment Society

• Treasurer’s report  (DB)
•  Forming an Industrial & Provident Society (Co-operative) (SC)
  • Meeting with Caroline Winchurch – Hart Voluntary Action Group
  • Model rules for us to be registered with the Financial Services   Association
  • Election of Management Committee
    • President⁺
    • Chairman⁺
    •  Treasurer⁺
    • Secretary⁺
    • Committee members*
    • Appointment of Auditor*

            ⁺  we have nominations for people willing to stand for these posts on the IPS.

            * we have vacancies for these posts – please let us know if you would like to be put forward for election at the meeting.

• Waiting list (SC)
• Website (hart-allotments.org.uk) (SC & SJ)
• AOB
• Date of next meeting

 (SM)    Sally Martin – Chairperson

(DB)    Dave Bell – Treasurer

(SC)    Sylvia Cresswell – Secretary

(SJ)     Stephen Janaway – website

The Hart Allotments Association are still meeting regularly with the Council regarding allotments – particularly for the Fleet area. Discussions are progressing well.

We have been informed that the application from the developers to build 157 more houses on the Edenbrook estate (on Hitches Lane) has been postponed for a few months. This application we believe will include provision for allotments to be accessed from Pale Lane (rather than Hitches Lane). This means that it will now be November at the earliest before we hear if these allotments will go ahead.

In the meantime the Council have advised us that in order for Hart Allotments Association to have an agreement with the Council (so that we can lease the land) we need to become a Community Interest Company (CIC). A CIC is a company registered with Companies House that ensures that any monies the Association has is for the benefit of its members and is non-profit making. This requires us to have Directors, produce accounts and statements of activity etc. There are a number of options available, but a “Company Limited by guarantee with a large membership” is thought to match our circumstances best. If the CIC is wound up in the future then the Directors would only be liable for a nominated amount which is normally £1.

Here’s where you can help!

Currently there are three of us Sally (Chairperson), Dave (Treasurer) and Sylvia – (Secretary) who are prepared to become Directors. However, it would be preferable if we had more Directors of the CIC to take an active role.

If anyone is interested in becoming a Director and would like further details of what’s involved, please send us an e-mail. Indeed if there is anyone who has any experience in this area, then we’d appreciate you getting in touch.

The March edition of the newsletter is now available here. You should also have received this via email, if you did not then please contact us and let us know.

March Newsletter

Can’t wait for an allotment? If you want to get digging, why not consider the ‘Grow with Hart’ scheme where you can either be paired to a person who isn’t using their garden or volunteer to work as part of a team to help sort out a ‘person-in-need’s garden.

Contact Guy Clayton, Garden Share Devel. Officer:

• Tel: 07920 820009
• E-mail: guy@hartvolaction.org.uk.

We have a new website and we would really like to know what you think about the new design.

Please let us know.