Vacancies

We now have 2 half plots available and if you know anyone who may be interested direct them to the Trafford website for contact details. Here's looking forward to a fruitful season. 

Special Meeting

Attended a Special General Meeting last night where we discussed the financial report for the last financial year. Lanehead had questionned some of the entries on the report and submitted questions to the committee. These were answered in full and Laneshead seemed to be satisfied with the outcome. 

We then continue on with out usual Management Meeting where we discussed the election of a chair person. 2 people had put their name forward and after a vote the current chair has been re-elected to continue in her role. Feedback from the AGM was given to the committee also where letters had been written in commenting on the nature of the AGM. I also passed on the comments that I had heard whiist sat at the back of the hall when at least 3 different groups of people left stating their disappoinitment in the proceedings. Myself along with 1other member of the meeting also commented on the height of the table where the chair, treasurer, secretary and president were sat as we felt it was too low and they should be seated on the stage. 

The rule book is still being worked on by a sub-committee and they had brought up 2 bylaws that they felt needed more clarification. They were on siting and amount of trees that could be planted on a plot and a bylaw on nuisances which included infomation about bees, dogs, poultry and fires. 

As we all know councils are running short of mone due to government cutbacks and rent increases have been a hot topic for a while now. It seems like the rents will not be going up this year but may jump in amount next year. However there is a federation of allotment holders who are taking the council and those involved in the rent increases to task. Here's hoping they see sense and recognise that they cannot do this to us!

It has been lovely to see everyone out and about on the plot recently. Planting time is definitely upon us. For those who we have still not seen yet may we remind you that plots need to be being worked and 75% cultivated during the growing season. Polite notices will be being sent to anyone who is deemed not to be tending their plot. 

BBC2 Program

It's only just started but there is a program on BBC2 tonight all about allotments. Might be worth a watch, as I am hitting the town I'll 'tape' it and watch it later. Tuesday 15th April. 

Waiting list

At present we have one half plot available only so if you know of anyone who may be interested in it you can forward them to Trafford website for contact details. 

There are 2 waiting lists we have on the site, one is for current plot holders who wish to extend their plots. Then there is a  secondary one for the public who wish to have a plot. At present we have one person on the first list and nobody on the second list. 

Well that was interesting...

Attended the AGM last night at the John Alker Club. Our treasurer and 2 other plot holders attended also. Lots of discussion about last years minutes not being sent to people before the meeting and them having to request them from the society via email, a motion was passed not to read them out at the meeting. Questions were also raised about the finance report written by the treasurer and passed by the accountants about various entries in the account as in what they were and who they were paid to. Answers to all questions submitted will be emailed to all secretaries. 2 extra members to the general committee were accepted as only 2 members applied for the positions. It was commented however that members should be in attendance to accept their role plus do we still need these extra positions as we no longer had the trading post. Questions were also raised over members who preside on the management committee who no longer have a plot and is this following the rules. The new rule book is yet to be finalised and will continue to be modified at committee meetings. 

Other issues were raised personal to other sites which were heated at points. 

And so to the best part of the evening which was the presentation of the awards. Being the only prize winner on our site I graciously accepted my award. I dedicate the award to Jim Regan, whose raking was always a wondrous sight, especially when he was doing my plot! 

Letter through the post!

Received letter today regarding the AGM next week. So as long as all the addresses are correct all plot holders should have received theirs also. Will be an informative night, hopefully it will be a good turn out! 

Signs of better days to come?

Wow what a day! What a lovely day today was, the sun was shining, the wind was nearly non-existent and it wasn't raining. Perfect day for being on the allotment after the winter months. Nice to see some of the site holders down there toiling away preparing their plots ready for the new season. What a shame we didn't see more! This is perfect time and weather to start preparing things ready for the year ahead, and as we all know its all about preparation. Hopefully we'll get to see more of you over the coming weeks.

p.s. don't forget the A.G.M. on 26th March at the John Alker Club. Last year only me and Bill turned up, hopefully we'll get some more of you there.

Wow it's been a long time!

Well hello all and hopefully it will be soon be the end of the bad weather (I am crossing my fingers as I speak!) and the allotment site will start getting busy again ready for the new season.
I nipped on today just to check the state of things. I have put the seating in the shed in case anyone is worried only because I think we have lost 2 chairs already and I have lost at least one from in front of my shed. Mick's shed has blown over and I will try and contact him by phone but if anyone does see him please let him know. Plus there are a few tarps on people's plots that have blown up and away, I would advise with this weather to nip down when you can especially when it has been particularly windy.

Hope you all got the email about the upcoming AGM at the Alker club. There is a notice on the noticeboard also just to remind you. Last year only me and Bill turned up so it would be nice if a few more from our site went. Plus you might get to see an insight into the goings on of the committee, all very exciting I can tell you.

98th AGM 2014

Wednesday 26th March 2014

7.30 p.m.

@

John Alker Memorial Hall

Flixton Road

Flixton

Manchester

M41 6QY

Tea and Coffee provided during meeting.

Bar from 9.00 p.m.

Rent Payments

Rent payments were taken at the AGM which was held on Sunday 13th. For those people who have not yet paid their rents they are payable within 40 days of the request being made otherwise the tenancy of your plot can be terminated. This is set out in the rules and bylaws of the UAGS. Please make contact with myself or the treasurer to ensure your payment is made in time.(Phone number for myself was included on the last correspondence made.)

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting has been called for13th October at 1o'clock on the site. By now all members should have received an agenda concerning all points that are being discussed. As our treasurer is away on business at the moment it will be the rest of the committee members who will be taking the monies and handing out receipts. The accounts for 2012/13 have been completed by the treasurer and everyone will receive a copy of them at the meeting. If you have anything that you wish to discuss at the meeting the there is time allocated at the end of the meeting to allow this to happen. As the weather is not a sure thing we have hopefully organised to borrow 2 Gazebos (waterproof) for the meeting" so no excuses if it's raining! If unfortunately you cannot attend the meeting you will need to organise with the secretary another meeting time to enable your payment to be taken. 

NEW MEMBERS!!

Seems like having an allotment is taking off again! Much thanks to an advert placed in the local messenger paper and we have now got 2 more plot holders. One is a lady who will be taking over the back the plot nearest the fence, the other person is a young family with 2 small boys who will be taking over the half plot next to the sheds. We welcome them all and hope they enjoy their time with us. They were both super keen to start their plots ready for next year and had some great ideas on what they were going to grow already. 

ANNUAL JUDGING OF PLOTS

With the ground committee the annual judging of the plots has taken place, results to be announced shortly, and these results will be taken to the next monthly meeting of UAGS to put names forward for the overall competition. Well done to everyone who is making an effort to ensure their plots are of a good standard, luckily this year we have had better weather and so this is not as big a problem as it was next year. Some plots are still unfortunately looking unkempt and advice is being taken as to steps that can be taken to remedy this issue with the plot holders. 

RENT PRICE

The rent, at the current moment - but could change, is set for £50.50 due in September/October plus ground and committee fees with a concession still possible for over 60's. 

General Meeting

Thanks to everyone who managed to attend the meeting and to those who sent their apologies.

For those who could not attend I have included a few point that we discussed, if you have any comments you can email me them or catch me on the allotment most weekends.

As you will know the Annual competition judging will be taking place in July and August ( dates already supplied) the question raised was about the onions. As a lot of people felt their onions would be ready for pulling up but the rules of the competition state they must still be in the ground. I will clarify this with the committee next time we meet.

It was felt that even though people are aware of the rules of non-cultivation on plots and the procedure that needs to be followed as set by U.A.G.S. we would try to make direct contact with anyone we felt was not cultivating a site to the required standard before U.A.G.S. became involved. This would be way of an informal letter and would hopefully bring a remedy to the situation.

The details of the public liability insurance ( as paid for through our membership of U.A.G.S. ) for each plot holder needs more clarification and once a copy of the insurance policy has been seen then members will be given this at a later date.

As the trading centre has now been sold (except for a signature ) we discussed how we think the profits should be shared. It was a common thought that the site should receive a lump sum and the profits not go to individuals. We could then use it to create a communal area or a toilet block. Further discussions would need to follow.

As is needed by U.A.G.S. there needs to be a ground committee at Mansfied and besides myself and Andy, Lec, Dave and Jim showed an interest. As no other members came forward they are duly now members of the ground committee. As for insurance purposes it was also noted that Jim, Bob, Carl and Lec are to be the members to be insured to use the communal mowers on the site.

As was raised in a monthly meeting of the U.A.G.S. we discussed the possible use of a trial period for when people take on a site with suggestions ranging from 3 months to 6 months. Some people felt a trial period was not necessary because of the 'non-cultivation' procedure as set by U.A.G.S. but others felt it was necessary as this would avoid the use of the 'non-cultivation' procedure. As this point was not finalised when another member joins us the ground committee will discuss this again. If you have any comments about this please email me or see me on the plot.

Once again thanks all for attending and if you weren't able to attend I hope this information is helpful.
If you have not competed your 'new tenant record sheet' please could you do so as soon as possible. This will help to make sure records are up to date and the best way to contact you.

General Meeting

As most of you should have received the letter (very kindly hand delivered by Bill) inviting you to the General Meeting next week, this is just another reminder about the date and time.

SUNDAY 26TH MAY AT 1 o'clock ON MANSFIELD ROAD ALLOTMENT

If it is nice try and bring some refreshments if you would like and we will get to know everyone, both new and old to the site and also find out what is happening at the U.A.G.S. 

Allotment fires

I have recently received communication from Janet Long to advise all sites that from April 1st to October 1st allotment sites should no longer have fires.This is to be inline with other allotment site rules across Trafford.

A.G.M.

Received invite to the Annual General Meeting today. Everyone on the plot should have received one also. If not let me know and I can give you a copy.

Is it winter, spring or summer?

Isn't summer great! Just a quick word to say with all this wintery blustery weather its always wise to nip down to your plot to check on any sheets that may have blown away or anything has blown over.

Annual General Meeting 

Flixton House

As of yet you will not have received letters regarding the A.G.M. but would like to give you some prior warning to the date of it. The A.G.M. to which all members are invited to attend is happening on 11th April at 7:00 p.m. at Flixton House, on Flixton Road. There will be an agenda of points to be raised by the committee but if you wish to raise any other points then there is time set aside for you to do this. 

Spring time!!

Its Spring...

Just as the bulbs are emerging its nice to see so many people going down to allotments and spending time getting their plots ready for the upcoming season. It's still a bit early for planting just yet, remember the frosts that hit the bean plants last year! but still nice to see people starting to prepare the ground. 

As most of you should know Bill has now handed over the reigns to me, as secretary and Andy as treasurer so any questions about plots, payments or otherwise can be directed to either of us whenever we are available. Shortly all allotment holders will receive a note from us advising you about the Annual General Meeting for UAGS to be held in April which you may attend if you so wish. Additionally it will provide details of the plot inspections which will be coming up soon. More details to follow. 

Enjoy the good weather!!

It's Spring!

Well the time is getting to the end of February now and the weather (should hopefully) start to get warmer soon. Some of the guys on the plot have organised the delivery of horse manure to the plots, if you haven't got any organised see Jim I'm sure he'll help you to get some. 

Most of you will know if you have been on the plot for a while that the trading centre shop in Urmston closed, probably about 2 years ago now, well looks like the committee has secured a buyer for it at quite a good price. So will keep you informed as to its sale plus how the monies will be used. 

In April (can't remember the precise date) will be the Annual General Meeting for the Urmston Allotments and Garden Society. All members are invited to attend and more details will be given to you closer to the time. 

Monthly Meeting

Wednesday 5th December sees the last monthly meeting for Urmston Allotments and Garden Society. If you have any concerns, issues or questions regarding anything allotment wise please see me on the allotment or if you have a gmail account you can respond to this post in the comments section below.