Kettering Allotments Society
Secretary’s Annual Report 2023
The following report is submitted for the Annual General Meeting held on 19 March 2024 and covers the Society’s activities for 2023
Kettering Allotment Society continues to thrive. 2023 was another successful growing year with good harvests; it was also a successful year for the Society in its management of our 4 sites in Kettering. All sites are fully let and have waiting lists. With active management by stewards these lists are moving and people have not had to wait too long to get a plot (months, not years).
One year ago the AGM passed a resolution to adopt a new constitution, replacing the 1956 one that was not compliant with current legislation and out of date. We were able to use our membership of the National Allotments Society (NAS) to obtain a template document that complies with all current legislation. Our new constitution was submitted to the Financial Conduct Authority, our regulatory body where it is in the public domain along with our annual audited accounts.
Tonight we vote on proposals including adopting new tenancy rules. The committee has been working hard over many months to update our rules so that they are fair, clear, fit for purpose and enforceable. We also produced a convenient one-page summary of “dos and don’ts” to issue to all new members. One tricky area is agreeing and enforcing a policy on locking gates. The Committee has spent many hours discussing this issue and there are regular posts on Facebook. What we have learned is that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work - each of our 4 sites has different circumstances. We are also aware that setting a policy and enforcing it are not the same. That said, we thank all of those members who lock the boundary gates and help improve our security. Margaret Road is where there have been most break-ins and complaints. Please direct any comments or suggestions to your field stewards as each site has different circumstances.
Our Facebook group has grown and allows members and the committee to exchange ideas and news quickly and efficiently. Our monthly newsletter on WordPress is also read online by many members (829 views in 2023 by 447 people) further improving communication.
Our allotment land is owned by Kettering Town Council and our relationship with them has continued to strengthen. The Council has been very supportive, including financially. We are very grateful for this support. The Town Council paid for the superb new fence at Windmill Avenue, something we would have not been able to finance ourselves and also provided a grant for the removal of asbestos found at Margaret Road. Plans for further enrichment of this relationship are being made for this year.
We have also continued to benefit from our membership of the National Allotments Society (NAS). Each member of Kettering Allotments Society is also a member of NAS and gains many benefits, including liability insurance, quarterly magazines and a discount scheme with Kings Seeds. The committee was pleased to appoint Sarah Dexter as our seed secretary and any members who wish to buy Kings Seeds online at a great discount can contact Sarah: kasseedsec@gmail.com . The Society also benefits from its membership of NAS through access to their expertise, website resources and advice, including legal advice without the need for costly solicitors.
Other organisations that we have liaised with include the Kettering Food Bank. The Food Bank was very grateful to receive vegetables from our members, especially potatoes. We also donated to the Resource Centre at the Grange shops and they are most appreciative. The Resource Centre is open Tuesdays and Thursday mornings for hot food, a cuppa and a chat. If any members have surplus crops please consider donating to these amazing charities.
Our annual awards and social evening was held in September and was a great success. Many prizes were awarded, including best in field for each site and best newcomer. The prestigious Bridgstock Cup was awarded to Pat Mullins, plot 131 Scott Road for a record fourth time. Well done Pat. Thanks to everyone who helped out, especially those who sold raffle tickets. The raffle raised enough money to pay for the venue hire. Plans are in hand to improve this event further this year, hopefully in liaison with the Town Council and other gardening and allotment groups.
The committee meets regularly to discuss how best to manage the society. One question that came to the committee in 2023 concerned the level of rents. It was noted that our rents are below the national average and some members suggested we should raise rents significantly to collect more funds and invest in our fields more ambitiously. Other members believe that we should continue to make our allotments as affordable as possible when many people are struggling with the cost of living. We decided to do a survey of all of our members and ask what they thought. The response was heartening and very encouraging. A large majority were happy for a modest increase in rents to allow the society to remain solvent but did not back very large increases. Comments from members were supportive of the stewards and committee. We thank you now for your continued support and feedback. We are a democratic society and any feedback is useful to help us improve further.
Stewards have been busy as ever, working hard to maintain and improve their fields. We are really grateful for all of their hard work. Stewards are appointed by the committee as volunteers. A steward’s role is very rewarding voluntary service, but sometimes they are on the receiving end when complaints are made. All complaints are listened to and dealt with, but please spare a thought for the stewards (volunteers). Stewards and committee members sometimes have to deal with challenging situations, including disciplinary panels and appeals. We thank them again for their dedication and service.
Some of the maintenance and improvement work done by stewards is recorded below:
Northfield Avenue - vacant plots cleared of rubbish before re-letting to those on the waiting list, fallen trees (storm damage) made safe and removed, liaising with National Grid who dug a trench down the track to lay 300 000 volt cables underground, planting tree seedlings in a wildlife area, gate and fence repairs.
Windmill Avenue - a fabulous new fence funded by the Town Council to improve security, pedestrian gate installed, liaising with Tresham College art students for their projects, continued smooth management of the site.
Scott Road - vacant plots cleared of rubbish before re-letting to those on the waiting list, boundary hedge (400+ metres) trimmed, gaps in hedge secured with Heras panels. We now have two communal bonfire sites at opposite corners of the field and away from most plots. We generally discourage bonfires, but prefer that members bring their dry woody waste to one of these sites so that fires are kept to a minimum. Fires are only lit there when the wind will blow smoke away into open countryside and not disturb neighbours.
Margaret Road - asbestos removed safely (it had been found on a vacant plot along with other waste), tracks improved with hardcore and gravel, car parks created and improved, liaising with the Environment Agency/Council to repair drains on the Grange to reduce flooding, vacant plots cleared of rubbish before re-letting to those on the waiting list. Communal bonfire sites away from the houses have been established and fires on individual plots strongly discouraged.
Another word of thanks to everyone in our Society who has helped in any way. We cannot name you all as there are so many acts of service, but please be aware that we appreciate your contributions. We are a Mutual Society run by volunteers and that spirit of service is what makes it successful. To conclude I wish to paraphrase the words of JFK, President Kennedy from his inauguration speech: “Ask not what your allotment Society can do for you; ask rather what you can do for your allotment Society”
Ends
Russell Attwood, secretary, March 2024