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Archive
 

ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL, NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES (NORTH)

MEETING TITLE:

Allotments Meeting

MEETING DATE: 

15th December 2008

PARTICIPANTS:

Ray Beard (RB) (Chair), Alan Anderson (AA), George Davidson (GD), Sinclair Laing (SL), Norrie Steed (NS),(Aberdeen City Council), & Frank Taylor (Bucksburn Allotments Association)

APOLOGIES:

 

 

NO.

AGENDA ITEM

NOTES OF DISCUSSION

ACTION/DECISIONS

BY WHOM

WHEN

1.

Background

 

 

RB introduced everyone and opened the meeting.

 

 

 

2.

Policy Overview

 

 

SL gave brief overview on the Allotments Management Policy. He explained that at this stage the Policy was high level and finer details of Council Policy would be distilled through ongoing consultation with the allotments associations, once established. He also pointed out that the Policy and the rents were not directly linked.

 

 

 

3.

Citywide View

 

 

a) AA provided a report on works he has recently carried out to date regarding the conditional survey of allotments citywide.

 

b) FT questioned the accuracy of the waiting list(s). He stated that it would be more useful to have exact details of the numbers of people on the waiting lists as opposed to the numbers of plots (up to 3 plots per person).

 

c) FT indicated that the longer-term ideal, and one that he was contributing to, would be to have a series of individual allotments associations across the City, and that the key people from these associations would then form an 'Aberdeen Allotments Federation'. This Federation would be the key point for contact between the Council and allotments holders. All attendees agreed this was the ideal that we all wished to work to.

 

d) FT raised the issue of the lack of information on the Council’s website regarding allotments.

 

 

e) FT raised the possibility for a standard release declaration of tenant’s details to local allotments associations and the ‘Aberdeen Allotment’s Federation’ (tbe).

 

f) RB highlighted the need to review and communicate the specifics of the leasing conditions – e.g. to include expectations of good neighbour conduct.

 

 

 

 

g) SL raised the issue of publicity and requested increased joint working to show renewed collaboration between Council and allotment holders.

 

i) FT raised issue of subsidies – should these be met by social work services instead of allotment services?

 

 

 

 

 

 

b) AA to inquire if the current database can be amended to record and extract this information.

 

c) RB, on behalf of NS, to send letter to all allotments holders requesting support to make this ideal a reality.

c) SL to amend existing letter to include mention of 'Aberdeen Allotments Federation' set up.

 

d) SL to update the allotment’s webpage with the relevant information.

 

e) RB to clarify the logistics surrounding a standard release with the City Solicitor’s team.

 

f) RB to review the current lease, in conjunction with City Solicitor’s team & Allotments Federation (tbe), to ensure relevant conditions are in the lease.

 

g) Review this position at the next meeting

 

 

i) RB to investigate what models are applied to other services, e.g leisure services, and see what is feasible and appropriate for allotments.

 

 

 

 

 

 AA

 

 

 

 

RB

 

 

 

SL

 

 

 

 

SL

 

 

 

RB

 

 

 

 

RB

 

 

 

 

 

 

RB

 

 

 

RB

 

 

 

 

 Next Meeting

 

 

 

24/12/2008

 

 

 

19/12/2008

 

 

 

 

24/12/2008

 

 

 

31/01/2009

 

 

 

 

31/08/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next meeting

 

 

31/03/2009

4.

North Allotments

 

 

a) FT stated that a 'Bucksburn Allotment's Association' had been established on an informal basis (www.bucksburnallotments.co.uk). It would be formalised once all the tenants had been contacted. He requested support of the Council to do this. All attendees agreed to there was a need to clarify Data Protection Act (DPA) issues before moving forward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FT also asked about free access to community centre/education facilities to hold association meetings. RB said this would not be a problem.

 

 

b) FT raised issue regarding two currently unsuitable plots and asked about the feasibility of using offers of community input to bring these up to a manageable condition, as well as for other works.

 

 

c) Access Road – Concern about anti-social behaviour from people throwing loose stones from road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

d) FT raised the issue of a nearby tree canopy and its relationship to several unsuitable plots. He had discussions with Craibstone College regarding improving this site while at the same time training chainsaw operatives.  

Richard Nicholson (RN) consulted immediately after the meeting - good idea for community involvement, conditional on works being complementary to any woodland management plan being produced under the Woodlands In and Around Towns (WIAT) programme (Phase 2).

 

e) FT also raised issue regarding a post and wire fence that in his view he thought was perhaps a danger.

 

f) Security on Site – Request for a fence.

 

 

 

 

g) FT raised issue of rats present at a site in daytime, and suggested some possibilities for this – Lidl, McDonald’s & pigeon plots.

 

 

a) RB to discuss implications of the DPA with City Solicitor’s Team – specifically, does the DPA supersede the requirements of the Allotments Act 1892 to make available for inspection a public register of allotments (in conjunction with 3e above). 

a) RB to contact relevant allotments holders on behalf of ‘Bucksburn Allotment’s Association’ to inform them of its existence and methods to contact them.

a) FT to contact GD as and when required. GD to then liaise with Simon Williams (Facilities Manager).

 

b) GD to speak with Ian Talboys regarding the logistics of facilitating community input at sites, e.g. addressing H&S issues.

 

c) Instruction will be raised to blind surface of track with grey granite dust. Works will be carried out early in the new year when weather conditions permit.

c) RB to speak to Community Safety colleagues to see if Neighbourhood Warden patrols can be targeted here to help.

 

d) FT & Craibstone College to liaise with RN to develop plans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

e) GD to investigate issue with the fence.

 

f) Subject to budget provision. RB also stated that from mid January there will be new city wardens patrolling the area.

 

g) GD to contact Grace Noble (Environmental Health) with a request to carry out an environmental inspection of possible sites, and suggestions for remedial action.

RB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RB

 

 

 

 

 

 

FT & GD

 

 

 

 

GD

 

 

 

 

 

GD

 

 

 

 

 

RB

 

 

 

 

 

FT & RN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GD

 

 

RB

 

 

 

 

GD

 

 

 

 

31/01/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/01/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ongoing

 

 

 

 

31/01/2009

 

 

 

 

 

31/03/2009

 

 

 

 

 

31/01/2009

 

 

 

 

 

Ongoing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31/01/2009

 

 

31/06/2009

 

 

 

 

31/01/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINUTE TAKER:

George Davidson

DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

TBA (march 2009)

VENUE:

TBA

 

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