Welcome to the Pocklington Allotment Association
Message from the Chairman.
In the past year we have moved forward in spite of the difficulties that we have faced and I believe that we have made a great deal of progress. I would like to thank my colleagues on the committee for their work and commitment throughout the year.
As you are aware the Town Council has conducted a ballot to ascertain if the tenants wish for the association to continue to be run by the committee. We know that the Town Council have been pleased with the first 3 years of this arrangement and the committee have had an excellent relationship with the Town Council and have been very happy with their support. If the members have voted in favour of this arrangement continuing the Town Council will renew the arrangement for a further 5 years from May of this year.
The committee believes that it has enjoyed a successful year and the fact that we have had a settled committee has been the main reason for this success. The backbone of any successful committee is its administrative officials and this year we have kept the same secretary and treasurer through the year. In order that we keep this continuity I proposed to the AGM that the secretary, assistant secretary and treasurer should be appointed for a minimum period of 3 years to maintain the continuity of the administrative affairs of the Allotment Association. I am pleased to report that the proposal was accepted unanimously by the meeting.
There has been considerable interest shown in the Allotment Association during the year and the waiting list is still long, as at today it stands at 42. In 2011 18 half plots were allocated to new tenants and since 1st. January 14 half plots have been allocated to new tenants. There has been a considerable improvement in the standard of the plots overall so it was very pleasing when the judge invited for the ‘Best Plot’ competition remarked that the whole site had improved in the quality of the crops grown and in its overall tidiness since his visit in 2010. Credit for this must be given to members of the committee who have given their time in clearing plots that have been vacated. In one case it needed a several committee members and tenants to clear a plot and put the rubbish into a skip that had to be hired for the removal of all that had been left on the plot. The committee does not intend to allow any plot to get into such a state of neglect again. Further credit is due to you the tenants for the overall general improvement of the site.
The annual show had more entries this year and it was a great success. It would be good if more plot holders had the confidence to exhibit some of the fine crops they produce in the show. I would like to pay tribute to Keith Houseman for his excellent organisation of the show and thank him for all his efforts and hard work in making the show a success. The newsletter continued this year and my thanks go to Pearl Harris for the production of the newsletter. It is intended that the newsletter will be made more readily available to tenants this year by the provision of boxes attached to the new notice boards at each of the two entrances. The new notice boards have been provided by John Marley and I thank him for them.
I would like to stress that this is an association of tenants and whilst it is administered by a committee that committee needs to know what the tenants thoughts and ideas are. It would be a great help if individual tenants put their suggestions to the committee either by attending a committee meeting or by simply putting their suggestion on paper and placing it in either the box on plot 42 or the box on plot 96. At the AGM last year the committee was asked to look at the provision of a joint tenancy agreement. A new rule was at the AGM and this will be incorporated into a new joint tenancy agreement for those tenants who wish to have a formal joint tenancy. Any tenat wishing to take advantage of this rule should contact the Secretary.
The committee believes that the Allotment Association can continue to go forward with the support of the tenants and I conclude by wishing you all a happy and productive year.
Joe Goddard.