Present:

Mike Simpson

Chairman

Carole Bannister

Secretary

Gina Chambers

Brian Forcey

Trading Officer

Janet Howarth

Andrew Leonard

Alan and Sheila Moorhouse

Trevor Stark

Vice Chairman

Apologies: John Caws, Hilary Day, Lindsay Murday, John Wade

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

A new member was welcomed to the Committee in May, Hilary Day, who has an allotment on Hope Cottage, she was very welcome and also we were informed that Roger Young was taking over again from the Corporation, which was very good news.

John Caws agreed to take on the shop plot and has worked hard on it and improved it substantially! Garden Angels were given permission by the Council to tip garden rubbish at the end of the main road and over the year have brought some useful composting materials and chippings for plot holders to use.

The plant sale was held at the end of April and as usual was a great success (in spite of the heavy rain) with plenty of plants and cakes donated to help swell the coffers! Thanks to everyone who baked cakes and donated plants.

The Committee had a space booked in the Southsea Show Tent on Castle Field but unfortunately it had to be cancelled this year! The 10th Cookery Book was published!

The Autumn Show came round again and this year the weather was perfect! It was a lot of hard work but an even larger group of punters came and it was a great success. Thanks to everyone who helped put the tents up and made cakes etc!

The Harvest Supper took place at the British Legion Club in Fratton Road, which was turned out to be a good venue. It was a nice evening when winners received trophies and rosettes and lovely to see some newcomers win prizes, which makes it all worthwhile.

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, blackberry liquer and shortbread and also the ladies who made the mince pies!

All the raffles this year have done very well and there is still a bottle of whisky in the shop to be collected if you have the appropriate ticket. (Brian commented that he thought it had been claimed1)

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.

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.

The newsletters still seem to be popular and there are still a few copies left of the Christmas one which was number 20. 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

In the absence of John Caws, the treasurer, Mike Simpson explained that Peter Spreadbury's wife had been very ill and Peter had had to resign during the past year. John Caws had been happy to take up the reigns again after having done it prior to Peter for 12 years. Unfortunately John was in America and not able to be at the meeting.

Mike explained that the maintenance item under expenditure for 2007 of £1,136.38 was partly incurred by the new floor in the shop. After a consultation with the Council they agreed to dig up and lay a new concrete floor as it was quite dangerous in that someone could trip or fall and then the Council might be sued. After this was done, it was agreed by the Committee to have a new floor laid! On the advice from a flooring company the floor was screeded and lino fitted. Brian and Mike painted the shop and dryers had to be hired to dry the floor, to enable it to reopen on time. Also a new felt roof was put on the new container which still has to be painted. The paint has already been bought and paid for. There was also some scalpings purchased to enable the main road used by the heavy lorries to be repaired. Mike made the comment, "that you can see where the funds go!" For further information see the treasurer's balance sheet at the end of the minutes.

Trevor stark asked why the stall at the Southsea Show was not taken up? Mike replied that he was unable to tow the trailer down to the show as he was away. He offered to lend it to someone if they could do it but people did want to carry on with it, it was abandoned. He commented that we should have been there!

Trading Officer's Report

Brian reported that everything in the shop was OK. All the seeds were in and most of the potatoes. The other potatoes and onions and shallots would be in on Friday. He thanked everyone who helped unload the lorry and said it was a great help.

It was agreed that the subs would remain at £2.50 and it was thought that there were 188 paid up members last year. It was commented that as there are 400 plots this was not a great number!

Mike Simpson thanked Brian for all his good work in the shop and commented that without him we would be lost.

Chairman's Report

Mike said that he had already spoken on the shop floor and the resignation of Peter Spreadbury but would like to add that Irene, Peter's wife had since died and would be sadly missed, both at the allotments and at the fund raising events, in which she participated.

Regarding the fires and break-ins, Mike and Brian went to the police where they spoke to Sergeant Terratt who set up a system. She went to town on the matter and the problem was solved. Mike told the audience that she is an allotment holder herself and that if anyone did get any damage or break-ins to please report it.

The skip. Mike came to an agreement with the Council that it would arrive on the second Tuesday of the month and be taken away within 3 days. This had not been adhered to and Mike had to ring the Council 3 times for them to take it away. The Council has given permission to stack scrap wood in the bottom car park and this had been a great success and we had so far had 3 huge fires. Also the scrap metal in the old sheds had produced a tremendous amount of scrap which had been taken to the scrap yard and £115.00 had been given for it. Mike commented that if it is metal they will buy it nowadays.

Mike suggested that some thought should be given to this year's Autumn Show. As the tents were khaki, should we attempt to light them or try and sell them? He commented that he thought we would get very little for them second hand.

Regarding the unworked plots Mike thought the Council should be told which ones were not being used. A member of the audience commented that sometimes if someone was ill, they could very quickly overgrow but Mike agreed that this should be taken into consideration. Mike thought it would be a good idea to have a produce sale when there is a glut but thought the Council would not allow this.

Mike thanked all the Committee for doing a great job.

Trevor touched briefly on the marquees and asked if while the meeting was on if we could ask for an opinion from the people who had attended as to whether or not the show should go on and if the tents should be sold!

It was commented that the tents were very dark and not fit for the purpose for which they had been intended. It was suggested that a hall might be suitable but it was thought that this would be a loss to the local community as it would mean the other activities would not be possible.

It was reiterated that the tents were too heavy and dark and everyone who helps is getting older. It was thought that big frame tents would be easier to put up and make it more fun for everyone. Mike commented that thanks to the team of ladies it made it all possible last September. The white marquee borrowed from the Church for £50 was generally thought to be a great success but Trevor thought the fee would triple this year!

Trevor thought that the best place for the show was the show ground and everyone agreed. They also agreed that the tents were not the best and by a show of hands it was agreed to try and sell them. Mike said that some tentage was needed in case of rain and said that there was £6,000 in the kitty and asked what that should be spent on?

Janet as the Show Secretary asked that some new tables be provided and Mike commented that she had made a really superb job of the Show last year!

As everyone had agreed that the tents should be sold, Mike said he would phone the company they were purchased from as a starting point!

It was suggested that new tents could be purchased and let out when not in use but it was thought this needed further investigation.

Alan commented that over 500 people enjoyed the day but Trevor said that he was shattered and the other helpers agreed that they were too. A younger member of the meeting commented that he had intended to help, but it was thought that as he had a wife and young family they should have first priority.

It was generally thought that others were needed to help, and the Committee was open to suggestions. Less tentage was required to make it less work for the usual people. A member of the audience suggested that someone could go round and physically ask for help, they thought a more personal approach might be the answer!

Subscriptions & Honorariums

It was agreed that subscriptions of £2.50 for membership of the Association would remain the same for 2008. 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 taken up by the Chairman, Mike Simpson, the Secretary, Carole Bannister and the Trading Officer, Brian Forcey.

Election of Officers

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

All the officers now serving on the Committee were re-elected.

Any Other Business

It was reported by a member of the meeting that the lock at Hope Cottage was jammed and Mike said he would report this to the Council.

A new allotment holder had asked the Council to clear her new plot of brambles which was duly attended to.

It was stated that the Chinese lady at 92 Milton Piece had been using her plot as a dumping ground and that she should be removed by the Council.

Andrew asked that the Council be made aware that the ditch near the car park needs clearing.

Three new people agreed to come to the next meeting in February with a view to joining the Committee. Their names are:- Alice Bird, Deb Pyrtherch and Robin Wilson.

Next Meeting

The next Annual General Meeting will be held at 7.30 pm on Wednesday January 28th 2009.

The next Committee Meeting will be held at 7.30 pm on Thursday 21st February 2008 at 8 Lorne Road, Southsea.