Summary of SHAGS Committee Reports for November 2021
Chairman’s Report (Mike Cobley)
Sad news that Roger Gillett died on 29th October after his catastrophic stroke in August 2020. We expect at least 12
SHAGS members will have attended his funeral at Little Hadham on 16th November.
The Trustees have held an Allotments Committee meeting with HTC on 9th November to discuss our new Trustee
agreement for the management of our sites. Unexpectedly the Committee for EHGC have all resigned, handing the
sites back to the Council to manage. It has been suggested that our new agreement will change our status to that of a
Licence to hold the land, similar to all other groups occupying and using Council land. We await further advice before
the next scheduled meeting in February.
We are facing another crisis with the loss of site reps at CL. Dominic has resigned for health reasons and Jenny feels
she is unable to continue on her own. Some serious canvassing is required to get the existing plotholders to work
together at their site. We still have no site reps for either SA or OR so similar problems there.
Our new fencing projects are nearing completion with contractors at CL this week. Where clearance work has been
undertaken and brambles and nettles removed site reps are reminded that there is a supply of daffodil bulbs for planting
on the sites.
Treasurer’s Report (Carole Pamphlett)
A quiet month on the finance side. We had £45.00 income, including Rod’s daughter who has taken on OR 5, she’s been
waiting for a plot for some time. I manage to spend £239.46 mostly on small claims but I paid £70.00 for a new pond
liner at PH. The total surplus to date is £6,256.95 which added to the balance from last year brings our current bank
balance to £25,144,18. There will be a few more bills to pay before the end of the year, mainly our water for a 6-month
period, which could come to about £1,570.00. I’ve sent off the readings to Castle Water for 6 sites, still waiting for 2
sites.
I’ve received 5 Annual plan bids and our 4 Trustees aim to go though them On Monday 15th November. I sent off our
grant application to HTC as was agreed at out last meeting, we should hear back from HTC after we’ve signed the 3-
year Trustees agreement. Payment is due 1st April 2022.
The shop is still looking healthy the total taking to date is £11,507.98 The yearly total for 2020 was £11.378.88 and
£8,018.58 in 2019. The current bank balance for the shop stands at £19,406.93 but we started the year with £17,523.30
but we have a lot of new stock so we can’t work our any profit until the stock take after Christmas. Which is when we
aim to change the shop bank account from Barclays to HSBC, we can do that online.
Sites:
Aldwickbury (AB) (Roger White/Tom Chichester-Miles/Hazel Upton/Richard Mottram)
No report received.
Churchfield (CH) (Keith Davison)
No report received.
Cross Lane (CL) (Jenny Stevenson)
No report received.
Harpenden Rise (HR) (Marcia & Roger Dorey)
The council have done a good job replacing the fence adjoining the park, although they have locked the new gate so that
we can’t open it but this will be sorted before long I am sure.
Most plot holders have been working hard to put their plots to bed and so the site is looking tidy.
We are awaiting the manure deliveries which had to be delayed this year and once these get going we will be shifting
manure for a good couple of months over winter.
The electricity board has inspected their substation and ordered some tidying work. They have also replaced our gate
locking system with a special bar which now holds two different padlocks.
We have strimmed and hedge cut all around the interior perimeter and cleared up the debris ready for a bonfire and the
water has been turned off and a meter reading taken.
Oakley Rd (OR) (Rod Cooley)
The Oakley Road site bid form for 2022 was finalised after receiving feedback from plot holders at Oakley Road. It was
then submitted to Carole Pamphlett on 30th October 2021, ahead of the 2nd November 2021 cut-off date.
Mike Cobley’s repair to the wooden gate latching has worked extremely well and the gate can now be closed, and the
latch set easily. Mike inspected the metal gate at the other end of the site and showed that it could be easily latched by
just lifting the latch.
Many plots at Oakley Road are being worked well but some plots show no or little work. Three neglected plots require
an improvement notice. Some plot holders have extended their plots losing the pathways between plots. There had
been a request for funds for timber edging for the plots, but this should be funded by plot holders, not the Society;
previous funding was to improve the headland pathways.
Piggottshill (PH) (Fraser Gordon/Mike Cobley/Geoff Bateman/Syd Marvell)
Our traditional 5th November bonfire was well attended this year after missing out 2020. Two days of bonfire building
with Mike, Jim, Fraser and Geoff putting together a huge pile of material that plot holders had delivered to the vacant
plot adjoining. At 6:30 pm there were only two plot holders on site, but quickly joined with around 30 Mums, Dads and
children. There were lots of fireworks visible on the skyline, so the atmosphere looked like a proper firework night.
The ashes were still hot enough to rekindle on Monday. Thanks to all the helpers and Carole for sausage rolls!
There have been several incidents of anti-social behaviour over the last few weeks with items of equipment and tools
going missing, in particular hose reels and digging forks. Plot holders should keep items safely stored wherever possible.
The Police have been informed and the Community Officer will try to be more vigilant over the next few weeks at all
our sites.
Sibley Ave (SA) (no site rep)
N/A
Topstreet Way (TW) (John Myres)
Plots are now being tidied up for winter after a productive season. The water has been turned off and much of the year’s
combustible rubbish has been burnt with the kind help of one of the plot holders. Another manure order from Cross
Farm has been put together for those plot holders who need it. Hopefully mechanical issues we have with some of the
lawn mowers will be sorted during the annual maintenance.
Letting’s Secretary Report (Alex Davis & Jim Machin)
Lettings
Current letting percentage is 99.8%. We have only one available plot across all the sites. A number of plots that have
become available have been re-let this month.
Waiting list
The waiting list is now up to 43. There are a number of potential resignations and relets in the pipeline as people clear
the 2021 produce, they are considering what to do for next year. Various sites have indicated that they expect some
resignations, with a healthy waiting list we should manage to re-let over the winter.
Actions
We have not managed to progress revising the letting agreement now we have the council’s agreement to permanently
use email for these.
Machinery Manager’s Report (Roger White)
Machinery servicing has started with the intention to complete this by the end of November. Sites are being visited in
the following order:
• Aldwickbury
• Sibley Ave and Oakley Road
• Topstreet Way
• Churchfield
• Cross Lane
• Harpenden Rise and Piggottshill
Servicing currently includes the following:
1. Visual inspection of each machine to check that all safety mechanisms and protective covers are in place and all
cables are working.
2. Visual check of blades and fittings
3. Removal of old fuel and replacement with E5 unleaded fuel with fuel stabiliser.
4. Check of spark plug and replacement if required.
5. Running of each machine to warm the engine and check operation.
6. Removal of old engine oil and replacement with new.
7. Cleaning and washing.
8. Lubrication of cables and bearings.
9.
Where replacement parts are needed these will be fitted over the winter and any machines which require major repairs
will be sent to a specialist repairer.
Shop (James Gallagher)
No report received.
Communications and Webmaster Report (Rod Cooley)
All of the photographs taken of the award winners at the 1st October 2021 awards opening ceremony have been put on the
website, together with the award winner details. The scarecrow competition images and results have also been put on the
society website.
The table of Officer and Site Rep contact details on the website has been updated with Gill Hick’s new ALLOTSEC email
address.
The article from Mike Cobley about the sad passing of Roger Gillett has been emailed to all members and put on the website
under the heading of “Absent Friends”. Roger’s passing has also been put into the “NEWS” section, where members are
requested to read the article in the “Absent Friends” section.
The seed potato description for 2022 by Peter Loveland has been put on the website under the heading of “SHOP”.
Various updates have been made to the website.
