Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on Thursday 14th August 2025
PRESENT: J.Hodges, A. Redfern, M.Hubball,
C Jones. J. Carter-Bown, J Pile, J Mills, R. Harrison, G.Cross
Meeting opened at: 7.31pm
1.CHAIRMAN’S OPENING ADDRESS
Chairman welcomed everyone to the August meeting.
2. APOLOGIES
A Linnecor, P. Jones
G. Cross apologised for missing the last meeting.
3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Read and agreed.
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
Potholes issue- ongoing. Some repair has taken place but seems to be of a temporary nature.
Skip - this has now been collected.
Cars at the top of the site - ongoing issue
Bindweed on plot 8A - this plot has now been taken. Plot holder has experience of bindweed and will tackle it without resorting to weedkiller.
5. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Plot judging has taken place for the following:
Best newcomer, best mini plot, best half plot, best ¾ plot and most improved plot.
BDAC best site and best full plot judging took place on Sunday August 3rd. We’ve had no feedback so far. Thanks to Dr Bob who gave prompts on what to include under the following headings-
· Gardening Achievement
· Community Participation
· Environmental Responsibility
Site tidy up is cancelled 13th/14th September. Can all plot holders clear/tidy in the vicinity of their plot please.
6. SECRETARY’S REPORT
As we know, the show will take place on the 31st August. I am taking every opportunity to talk to anyone that I come into contact with, saying , I hope, enough to get one or two more people to attend. I thought that the Early Summer show was poorly attended and doesn’t reflect the effort that goes into the show by the committee and by the people who put their exhibits onto the show bench. The last show was so badly attended that the people collecting their prizes may well have done so in an empty room.
Also, I think that we should ask for the bar to be open during the presentation and just after. It was like we are pushing the guests and exhibitors out of the room as quickly as we could. They should feel welcomed then, maybe, they may start to use the club at other times.
Regarding, advertising the show. The notices on the main gates are only visible to visitors when the gates are locked. When the majority of visitors attend the club, the gates are open and the notices are lost from view. Could we advertise the show anywhere else, On the notice board on the green for instance or Sainsburys notice board.
Hedges and Edges have offered a service to pick up and empty our green bins (at a cost) . If, like me, you had started to fill the green bin before the council were forced to cancel the service for this year and were left wondering what to do with the bin now. I have asked the company to empty my bin and they have done so very simply and tidily.
When I was looking around the site in preparation for the visit of the site judges for the BDAC competitions I noticed the poor state of our notice boards. Should they be removed or should we start using them again?
I have opened a conversation with the Town Council about reducing the height of the hedge along the side of the road for the length of the site up to the car park. It does cause some shade to all of the plots and will increasing do so in the future if something is not done.
All plots are now occupied and I am getting a few enquiries about plot availability.
7. TREASURERS REPORT
Shed Sales for July were £105.30. YTD £1743.50
We have received the rent commission from the BCC. This was £422.90
The Main account balance was £5588.16 at the end of July
Maintenance Account
We have still not received the annual budget money . This money £479.06, was promised some weeks ago. The bill for replacing the garage etc doors £250.00, has been paid
Maintenance account balance.
£1421.21 at the end of July
8. SITE MAINTENANCE
Water reading at 1st July was 2069 cubic meters up 57 on last month. The same period last year was up 25cubic meters.
1 cubic meter is an IBC!!
Social Club -Late Summer Show- food is available and bar will be open.
First Aid Course was cancelled; no new date as yet.
October 5th Paul is doing a fitness challenge in aid of Birmingham Hospice.
His challenge is 80 x12inch step ups . 12.30 start. Donations /sponsors welcome.
Party on the Green- Saturday 23rd August………… Supported by- Ark Community Church,
Friends of the Green, Hill Social Club and The Pint Pot.
3pm til late. See posters for details.
9. PLOT MONITORING SUB COMMITTEE REPORT
A couple of plots have been discussed and a plan of action put together.
Several other plots are currently raising concerns. If you are experiencing problems please let a Committee member know. Site plot inspections will be carried out early September.
From now on, any letters of concern will be sent trackable.
Can we remind plot holders that Autumn/Winter are times to prepare the allotment and the soil for the following growing season. Plots are never ‘put to bed.’
10. SHED SCHEDULE
Committee members to fly their red flag when on their plot.
11. SHOW SUB COMMITTEE AND COMPETITIONS
Late Show is prepared … we now need entrants/ entries for the different categories!!
There is a novice section which Jason will judge, Dave Hubball will once again judge the main show.
There was some discussion concerning the promotion of our horticultural shows for the future.
We are trialling accepting show entries by email leading up to the show. However, the Social club will still be open on Saturday 30th August 11-12pm for hard copy entries. Entry forms and show schedules are available from the store shed.
Email address: judithAllotment40@yahoo.com. Entries accepted from now until midday 30th August.
Congratulations to those plot holders who have won a best plot category. The list is on the website.
We discussed joining The National Vegetable Society. It has been decided that Hill allotments wouldn’t benefit from this. It’s more advantageous to join as an individual to take advantage of discounts.
12. SITE REPORT/HEALTH AND SAFETY
Nothing to report.
13. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
First Aid course cancelled (26th July). No new date has been confirmed as yet.
14. AOB
· Peter Weston, our Sutton Coldfield Allotments officer, has been on the site taking photos.
· Coasters idea for 80 year celebrations.
CLOSURE
Meeting closed at 9.20 pm.
The next Committee Meeting- to be confirmed.
