Present:

Mike Simpson

Chairman

Carole Bannister

Secretary

Gina Chambers

Brian Forcey

Trading Officer

Janet Howarth

Andrew Leonard

Alan and Sheila Moorhouse

Lindsay Murday

Peter Spreadbury

Treasurer

Trevor Stark

Vice Chairman

John Wade

Apologies: All the Committee members were at the meeting!

Introduction

An introduction was made by the Chairman welcoming everybody to the Annual General Meeting.

Matters Arising

Any matters arising would be discussed under any other business.

Secretary’s Report

The plant sale in May was a great success with plenty of helpers available and lots of plants and cakes donated to help swell the coffers! Thanks to everyone who baked cakes and donated plants. A lot of people were happy to stroll down and have a nice cup of tea and a home made cake and it was nice to see new allotment holders coming along for a chat! It is an excellent venue for buying those extra plants.

One of the highlights of last year was the trip to West Dean Gardens at the end of June which was organized by Val Peach. After walking round the allotments trying to drum up custom Val managed to nearly fill the coach. The weather was good and everyone had a great day – so thanks to Val for some hard work on her part!

Gina reported that unfortunately the Southsea Show stall was a disaster. The produce let us down because there was not enough! She thought it was too much work for too few people and that we could not do it without more support. Having said that a good profit was made on selling cookery books and the produce at the end of the show. We were awarded a medal too and £20.

The Autumn Show, being the main event of the year had a tricky start because of the bad weather and I was really surprised at the turnout on the Saturday after the bad weather forecast! The wind threatened to blow all the tents down during the night but it was reported by the other members of the Security team that Brian’s snores could be heard above the gales. Thanks to all the ladies who made cakes, Jean for her lovely cake for the raffle, and all the other ladies who made the cake stall such a success. And thanks to everyone who donated produce. The show was nearly cancelled but it all turned out well in the end.

The Harvest Supper took place at the Radical Club in Fratton Road thanks to our Treasurer who is the Secretary there. And thanks to Steve Bannister who organized the catering and to everyone who helped with the food. It was a nice evening and nice to receive trophies and rosettes and lovely to see some newcomers win prizes, which makes it all worthwhile. Andrew showed a video of allotments which was very interesting.

Our last function of the year was the Christmas Raffle held in the shop on the last Sunday of Trading when hot mulled wine and home made mince pies were enjoyed. There was a good turnout and the raffle was a great success thanks again to Shirley Gunn for the lovely Christmas cakes and shortbread and also Gina for her very tasty mince pies and all the other ladies who made them! All the raffles this year have done very well and there is still a bottle of red wine in the shop to be collected if you have the appropriate ticket.

The web site which was set up by Andrew is excellent and we have had some very positive feedback from allotment holders. Do have a look if you have access to a computer. All the newsletters are on there plus photos and lots of other information.

Just a quick word about Brian Forcey who runs the shop. He puts in a lot of work, as does everyone on the Committee, but Brian works over and above the call of duty and the shop is looking really good with its lovely new floor and trade is on the up!

If anyone would like to join the Committee they would be most welcome. We only have 6 or 7 meetings a year and it is nice to have a different outlook. A copy of the minutes of the meetings are put up in the shop for anyone to read.

And finally don’t forget if anyone has any items for the newsletters it is there for you to air your views or give any tips – and recipes, so if you have any contributions please take them into the shop!

Treasurer’s Report

Please see attached balance sheet.

Trading Officer’s Report

Brian reported that the shop was now open and had the seed potatoes, onion sets, shallots peas etc. in and a new stock of seeds. He said that he was open to any new ideas or suggestions. Seed trays were requested by one of the members and Brian said he would see what he could do!

Chairman’s Report

Mike said that it had been an up and down year! There had been a good plant sale in May. A lot of recipe books had been sold at the Southsea Show in August, and also it had been good for handing out flyers advertising the Autumn Show. He reported that it was good that we had any show at all with the bad weather and that there were about 30 people helping put up the marquee with about 20 hanging on the guy ropes. It was the only bad weekend of the summer! He was all for canceling the show on the Sunday morning but come lunch time the sun came out and droves of people arrived who really enjoyed it. Hopefully we will get fine weather again this year! The Harvest Supper went well and the Christmas raffle and mince pies.

The shop floor has been renewed at a cost to the Council of £1,000. Mike reported that the Committee had spend £500 drying out the floor and on vinyl flooring and the shop was open on the 23^rd as promised.

Now Roger Young is in charge it has made a big difference. With the previous two people nothing ever happened. The Council only has x number of pounds to spend. They had got a big machine in and produced a big mound of compost. There is still a bit left and Mike hoped it would become an annual thing. The fire went out only a couple of weeks ago and left a big heap of rubbish which hopefully the Council will clear. Any wood thrown away could be left in the big car park ready for November 5^th and now everyone was putting the scrap in the bins and not in the skip there is a lot more room.

Regarding the car park Mike has asked Roger about it but whether anything gets done remains to be seen. He will keep asking. Roger is also going to get the ruts filled in down the paths. Mike thought the Council had no more money available but there would be a new budget in April. He stated that he made a note of everyone’s complaints and would keep plugging away to try and get things done.

Subscriptions & Honorariums

It was agreed that subscriptions of £2.50 for membership of the Association would remain the same for 2007. A good part of this goes towards membership of the NASLG and insurance and the remainder is used to offset the Association’s running costs. As subscriptions were down on the previous year it was stated that customers in the shop must be asked for membership cards. New cards have been purchased for this year.

Honorariums were not taken up by anyone!

Election of Officers

The following officers were re-elected to the Committee:-

Chairman - Mike Simpson, proposed John Langley, seconded Andrew Leonard

Vice Chairman – Trevor Stark, proposed Bill East, seconded Robin Wilson

Secretary - Carole Bannister, proposed Pat East, seconded Steve Cole

Treasurer – Peter Spreadbury, proposed Andrew Leonard, seconded Bill East

Trading Officer – Brian Forcey, proposed Bill East, seconded Peter Bannister

Show Secretary – Janet Howarth, proposed Andrew Leonard, seconded Hilary Thomas

Other Members of the Committee which were re-elected:- Gina Chambers, Andrew Leonard, Alan & Sheila Moorhouse, Lindsay Murday and John Wade. It was suggested that Andrew Leonard be designated as the Publicity Officer.

Any Other Business

Rob asked that a Vote of Thanks be minuted for all the work put in by the Committee and a round of applause was given.

An allotment holder, Mr Langley, stated that almost £4,000 had been spent on the new marquee. He thought it was a disaster, dark green and very dim. Mike Simpson replied that the situation had been looked at, it was all in hand and new lights would be purchased. He stated that the marquee would be well lit for this year’s show!

A member of the audience asked if the rat man could be asked to come to the allotments as there were loads of rats running about. Mike said he would ask him to come but also that the more people that ring up the more notice would be taken and everyone should ring and get an incident number. It was thought that the rat population was increasing.

As the Southsea Show was not taking place this year the Committee would be keeping an eye on the situation to see if there was still going to be a floral show.

The chairman said that the finances over the course of the year had been very good and that the Association was solvent even after the outlay for the tent. The Association would carry on along the same lines and was glad of the help from everyone. He stated that he had a number of things in mind.

Roger Young, on behalf of the Council, had created four new plots along near the shore. Mike thought that Roger would still be walking round and looking at unused plots but also suggested that it was not that easy to get rid of people as the Council had a legal agreement with them. He would mention it to Roger and keep pushing.

It was asked if the taps could be increased and Mike agreed to liaise with Roger Young about this.

Next Meeting

The next Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday January 30th 2008.

The next Committee Meeting will be held at 7.30 pm on Thursday 15th February 2007 at 8 Lorne Road, Southsea.