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Latest News.
Minutes of the Committee meeting held on
Tuesday 28th March 2023
at the Bank House
Present: Simon Ellin, Jane Garner, Karen Appleton, Alan Hartley,
Chris Hilton, Mark Connell.
4.23.1 Apologies:
Nick Brookes.
Suzanne O'Farrell has stepped down from the committee for the time being
due to ill health. Steph and Greg Willson have both expressed an
interest in joining the committee and will be invited to the next
meeting.
4.23.2 Previous minutes and matters arising.
The minutes from 1st November were agreed and signed by the chairman.
Presentation to PC – Simon presented his annual report to the PC
in January. He has arranged to meet Dan at some point to show him around
the site and to explain the improvement plans.
Plot inspection – There will be another inspection at the
beginning of May to ensure that all plots are being worked.
Compost bays – John is looking for more boarding for walls of the
second bay.
Manure – Another load of manure will be collected from Bishton in
April. SE, SE, AH.
4.23.3 Financial report.
Account balance (13th March): £6,745.43 (which includes £1,360.44 for
the Memorial Fund having received a donation of £1,000.00 from Cross
Country Trains)
Only one plot holder has not paid their rent, even though several emails
and texts have been sent. Karen will write a letter and post it through
the tenant's door. KA.
4.23.4 Vacant plots, waiting list and advertising.
There is one person on the waiting list, and possibly one or two plots
becoming vacant, although nothing definite has been heard as yet.
Kid's Planet nursery expressed an interest in a small growing space and
the person on the waiting list, who already has an allotment, has
offered to share a small section of a new plot with the nursery. The
committee agreed that this could work well.
The advertising posters will be put on the website and on Face Book. CH,
AH.
4.23.5 Plant sale.
This will be held together with a cake stall, on Sunday 14th May outside
the Memorial Hall, from 10am until 1pm.
Jane will email a reminder to plot holders nearer the time and Chris
will advertise it on Face Book.
Any left-over plants will be offered to Hixon Green and Clean for their
fundraising or taken to the allotment site with an honesty box. JG, CH.
4.23.6 Memorial Garden.
John Robson has arranged a donation of £1000.00 from Cross Country
Trains to ensure the continued maintenance of the memorials. The money
will continue to be held as a ring-fenced amount in the allotments'
accounts. It will be used to provide new plants as necessary, a wicket
fence to enclose the back of the Memorial Garden and a simple watering
system.
A letter of thanks has been sent.
4.23.7 Fundraising.
It was decided to hold a quiz in May. Chris will talk to the Bank House
to confirm the date and it will then be advertised on Face Book and in
the Compass.
We will invite members of the Parish Council. CH, JG.
4.23.8 Site improvement project.
The area has now been cleared and dug out and plans have been drawn up
(with many thanks to Alan and Pete Appleton).
Hardcore and wooden shuttering is now needed before the concrete for the
bases is delivered.
Chris will check prices and delivery times for the toilet and shed and a
weekend working party will be arranged as soon as possible to move the
project on.
Chris will reply to the plot holder who wrote with enquiries and
suggestions about the project. CH.
4.23.9 AOB.
Handbook – The handbook is still very useful and is sent to all new
tenants. Chris will remove the dates so it remains relevant and current.
Newsletter – Chris will compile another newsletter. CH, Ch.
Next Meeting 5th July 2023.
Minutes of the Committee meeting held on
Tuesday 1st November 2022
at the Bank House .
Present: Simon Ellin, Jane Garner, Karen Appleton, Alan Hartley,
Suzanne O'Farrell, Chris Hilton.
11.22.1 Apologies: Nick Brookes, Mark Connell .
11.22.2 Previous minutes and matters arising.
The minutes from 4th October were agreed and signed by the chairman.
There were no matters arising.
11.22.3 Financial report.
Account balance (13th October): £3,056.55 (which includes £364.39 for
the Memorial Fund)
Sales of seeds have brought in about £50.00.
Karen has bought some plants and bulbs at a cost of £34.86 for the
Memorial Garden.
11.22.4 Site improvement project.
Three quarters of the area to be developed has now been cleared.
Simon will contact Dan and arrange to meet him, as PC representative, to
show him the plans.
We will need the tarpaulin back from Steph to cover the area which has
been cleared.
Chris will find out about possible delivery dates for the toilet and we
might have to ask John Martin to store it for a short while.
A mini-digger will be needed and then a working party to lay the
hardcore and then concrete. Once we have a date, we will email specific
plot holders, who might be able to help.
Reggie has given up his plot and we will make use of some of the slabs
for the hard-standing. Alan will move them to the bottom of the site.
SE, JG, CH, AH.
11.22.5 Vacant plots.
There is one vacant plot and three people on the waiting list. Jane will
contact the next person on the list.
JG.
11.22.6 Neglected/untidy plots.
There have been two recent plot inspections and a few plots are still
causing concern.
It was agreed that we will have to establish a formal process of three
letters before termination of a tenancy. This will explained to plot
holders and added to the rules at the beginning of next season.
In the meantime Jane will write to three tenants, explaining our
concerns and asking if they might like to give up their tenancy. JG.
11.22.7 Quiz. (13th November)
The date has been booked with the Bank House and Simon will prepare the
questions.
We will have a raffle with prizes from the committee and plot holders.
Teams will be of a maximum of 6, with an entry fee of £2.00 per person.
The Quiz will be advertised on Face Book and on posters around the
village.
Jane will email plot holders with reminders.
SE, JG.
11.22.8 Other fundraising ideas.
A talk on composting was suggested, perhaps combined with some cheese
and wine, or other social event. Chris will explore speakers, possibly
for the new year.
Alan is planning another tree/plants sale for the spring next year. CH,
AH.
11.22.9 Compost bay walls.
When Simon met John to discuss the storage shed and toilet, they also
discussed the compost bays. John has now emptied one of the bays and
installed some boarding at the same time. The other one will be done at
a later date.
11.22.10 AOB.
Horse manure – Simon, Chris and Alan offered to go to Bishton to
collect some more manure. They will find a day when all are free and
will borrow the trailer.
Bees – The committee discussed the possibility of siting hives on
the allotment site, but it was felt that the site isn't big enough and
there is no-one who is qualified or experienced to manage a hive.
Memorial Garden meetings – It was agreed that representatives
from WFA should attend these meetings. The next one will be on 15th
November and Karen and Alan offered to go.
Waiting list – There are only a few people on the waiting list
now, so we will re-advertise in the spring.
SE, CH, AH, KA.
Next Meeting 28th March 2023.
Minutes of the Committee meeting held on
Tuesday 10th October 2022
at the Bank House
Present: Simon Ellin, Jane Garner, Karen Appleton, Alan Hartley,
Nick Brookes, Chris Hilton,
10.22.1 Apologies: Suzanne O'Farrell
10.22.2 Previous minutes (10th July) and matters arising.
The minutes from 10th July were agreed and signed by the chairman.
We need to add the issue of the disintegrating compost bin walls to the
next agenda.
10.22.3 Financial report.
Account balance (3rd Oct 22): £3,445.97 (which includes £399.25
for the Memorial Fund) Total funds £3,046.72
Expenses: Accountant £30.00, NSALG £114.00, HPC rent £1,524.99,
Water £131.04, Hall Hire £11.00- Total £1,811.03
We have been unsuccessful with our grant funding bid for our improvement
project.
The Chair thanked Karen for her report.
10.22.4 Tree Sale.
The Chair thanked Alan Hartley for growing the plants and trees and all
the people involved in organising it. Thanks also to Pete Appleton for
moving the trees and plants down to the Memorial Hall. The sale made
£228.83. We felt that the Memorial Hall is the best place to run these
sales from and we will be organising further sales in the spring.
Action- To put this on the agenda after Christmas.
10.22.5 Vacant Plots.
We were aware that at least one plot is to be vacated and that others
may be coming available and therefore we may need to contact people
waiting for plots. Possibly advertising in the village forums may be
needed in the spring to ensure that there are no vacant plots. JG
10.22.6 Neglected/untidy plots.
A plot inspection took place on the 10th October by Simon and Chris. It
was found that three plots need letters. Two plot holders will be spoken
to re work on their plot.
CH to talk to JG re the plots concerned to establish the types of
letters.
It was suggested that we have a system of three letters.
1. Advice
2. required to comply re working and tidying the plot
3. Termination if they fail to comply
Action
Simon will strim the site over the weekend or the week beginning 10th
October. CH/JG
10.22.7 Quiz.
It was agreed that we should ask the Bank House is free on Sunday 13th
November for a quiz evening. It will be necessary to organise a meeting
before this date to sort out the details. Link To
Advert.
Action – CH to check availability and then inform the committee CH
10.22.8 RAF Hixon Memorial Stone and Garden.
We discussed the proposal from Joe Craen that some of the Rail
disaster money is used for the Memorial Plaque to the people who died
whist serving at the base. It was felt that we needed to keep the funds
for the further upkeep of the two memorial gardens. We were also about
to purchase a range of new plants for the gardens that are more tolerant
to the dry conditions
Action: Karen to put together some words explaining this to Joe. Karen
will forward this to Simon.
Action
Plants for the Memorial Garden- Karen and Alan will look into some
appropriate plants. AH. KA.
10.22.10 Improvement Project- Toilet and shed.
Pete presented a detailed plan and costings for the overall project. The
cost is £2,900 (Approx). Pete Outlined the plan and grounds work. It was
agreed that we had enough budget to begin the project.
Actions
Pete will check on the availability of the mini digger and costs.
CH to double check the costs of the shed and toilet/ delivery dates. CH
to ask Jane to email plot holders to create a working party at weekends.
Committee members said Sunday/Saturdays were possibilities.
Thank you to Pete Appleton for his thorough work on the plan and costs.
10.22.11 AOB.
Hixon Community Association Scarecrow Competition
It was agreed that we would sponsor this.
10.22.12
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