Summary of SHAGS Committee Reports for December 2021

Chairman’s Report (Mike Cobley)

We attended the Allotments Committee meeting with HTC on 9th November, but the
meeting was short as the Trustees of EHGC had all resigned earlier in the month. It has been
recommended that our new agreement with HTC will be in the form of a Licence, giving
better protection to our Trustees. Our maintenance budget for 2021 still has £300 available
and with £3,670 available for 2022 we have a healthy sum available for jobs next year. Our
proposals are requested by end November, but with no major problems envisaged and
nothing from site reps requested and overall plan will be put to Philip Wright - security and
tree management.

Roger Gillett's funeral was attended by a group of committee and friends and the brass plaque
has been fitted to Lin's memorial bench. A cheque for £100 to the Stroke Association was
presented to Paul.

The shortage of site reps is now serious with no one for OR, SA and now CL plus CF needs a
replacement for Keith in the Spring. The Christmas newsletter highlights the
problem. Thanks to Rod for circulating this and the many other information notices
throughout the year and to all committee members for their perseverance through 2021.

Treasurer’s Report (Carole Pamphlett)

Finance: Very little movement this month. We paid out £266.63 which included a donation
to the Stoke Association which was Roger’s family chosen charity in lieu of flowers. The
current surplus for this year is £5,990.52, the overall bank balance stands at £24,878.37.

Shop: It’s been very quiet for the last few weeks, but we’ve sold a lot of real manure. We
were back to wearing face masks this Sunday.

Annual Plan: I attach my chart of all the Annual Plan bids I received. There were 5 in total
but all asking for Major funds for improvements to their sites. HR and CF were both asking
for new metal sheds to store their machinery. After discussion with Mike, Gill, Roger and
myself we felt it would be better to buy a good quality shed that would last a long time, I felt
this would be a capital investment, similar to the metal shed we have at lower PH and AB.
Marcia at HR was happy with this and taking it forward, but Keith at CH felt he needed a
bigger shed. I’m waiting to hear back from Keith if will take this project forward. As you can
see from my list, Mike has asked for PH and improvements to the shop. The shop will cover
half the costs. AB: we have approved their bid but need more information where the new
pond will be. The total for all the bids comes to £5,268.48.

Sites:

Aldwickbury (AB) (Roger White/Tom Chichester-Miles/Hazel Upton/Richard Mottram)

No report received.
Churchfield (CH) (Keith Davison)
Not much activity on site by plot holders this month. as would be expected at this time of year.
The bid that was put forward in the Societies’ 2022 Annual plan for a larger Machine Shed on
site, has still to be determined. The high cost of steel sheds and container sheds at present, has
been a factor in deciding whether to go ahead to progress this bid or not.

Last week I was informed by our Allotment Secretary, that 2 of our plot holders (both
Rothamsted students) holding plots CF26 & CF32, have suddenly resigned. As arranged, I met
a prospective plot holder who is on the waiting list this morning (Sunday 5th Dec.) on site. She
has decided to take on Plot CF26. I explained that the shed on this plot belongs to the Society,
and she will be able to use it whilst she is a Churchfield plot holder.

Fox incursions are still troublesome with areas of plots being trashed or dug up and plot holders
property being damaged. Their defecation on site is still a problem and still remains a health
risk to our plot holders.

Cross Lane (CL) (no site rep)

N/A

Harpenden Rise (HR) (Marcia & Roger Dorey)

We are well into receiving this year’s manure from our farmer friend. This is spread over 8
drops and will continue into January. So far, we have managed to keep the grass paths in a
manageable condition and hope the weather will hold for the remaining loads.

We had a very good bonfire and managed to burn all the debris taken from the cut back
edges. We just need to get together our annual team to cut the tops of the high up hedges in
the spring before nesting starts.

We have been given the go ahead from the annual plan to receive a larger shed to house the
larger new mulching mower when it comes plus the other tools we have. We have been
busy planning how best to prepare the site and lay the base in a timely manner ready for the
shed in late spring.

Storm Arwen left our site fairly untouched except for blowing down a fence panel across a
headland. The householder refixed the panel, but it has since blown down again. Next storm
due to hit next week so fingers crossed.

Oakley Rd (OR) (Rod Cooley)

Many plots at Oakley Road are being worked well. Some plots have been improved and just a
few plots show little or no sign of work.

Piggottshill (PH) (Fraser Gordon/Mike Cobley/Geoff Bateman/Syd Marvell)

Still a few poorly maintained plots and some follow up emails have resulted in one plot being
given up (PH 128). The adjoining plot was used as our bonfire plot on 5th November, and it
was nice to see a good turnout for a good blaze. Many thanks to the bonfire builders, Geoff
and Fraser, and especially Jim who worked tirelessly all day. The fire was still going on
Saturday and was hot enough to rekindle up to Tuesday. Carole filled up all the oil lamps and
supplied sausage rolls - and the last of the awards evening red wine was finished off.
The pond has been cleaned out and a new liner fitted. Further work party is necessary to
relay the stone edging.

We will request funding for a skip in the New Year to clear the site. There is a load of scrap
metal and junk around the site as well as the old roofing material left over from last year
when the shop roof was renewed. Areas to be cleared are round and under the TAR and
some of Joe's junk in the passageway and behind the smaller concrete garage as well as
broken tools and material on plots.

There is an untidy line of brambles, Russian vine and overhanging trees along the boundary
with Piggottshill Lane houses and this will receive attention during the winter months.

Sibley Ave (SA) (no site rep)

N/A

Topstreet Way (TW) (John Myres)

We have now completed another successful manure purchase and distribution. Thanks to
Dave Sampson, one of our plot holders, our bonfire site has been totally cleared of all debris.
We will ensure that only combustible material is placed there from now on. Plot holders will
be expected to remove their own green waste.

Letting’s Secretary Report (Alex Davis & Jim Machin)

Lettings
We currently have 5 plots available. People on the waiting list have been contacted about all
the vacant plots. These are at various stages of discussion. 1 awaiting payment and contract
agreement the others are largely arranging and scheduling viewings.

There have been a few plot changes at the Aldwickbury site and the waiting list for this site
has reduced accordingly.

Waiting list
The waiting list is now at 38. Harpenden Rise continues to have the longest waiting list.

Actions
Jim has started to revise the wording of the letting agreement to make it simpler and more
appropriate for email use.

AOB
Padlocks for PH - Key 3. The padlocks used for PH are no longer made and we have no
spares.

We have been able to have a similar lock modified to work with key 3. Three locks are on
order for a total cost of £277.16.

Grove School have asked that the limit on numbers visiting the allotment rises from 10
children to 15 children at a time.
Machinery Manager’s Report (Roger White)
Winter servicing is still ongoing with three sites still to be completed. These are PH,
Topstreet Way and Churchfield.

To date five mowers and cultivators have been identified as needing full servicing and these
will be being collected by Herts Garden Machinery (HGM) in the first week of January. Any
additional machines in need of full servicing will also be ready for collection by then.

The five machines for servicing are:

• Cross Lane (Mountfield Mower, Wheeled Strimmer, Mountfield Cultivator)

• Aldwickbury (Atco mower)
• Harpenden Rise (Atco mower)

Mike and I visited HGM last week to discuss our servicing requirements and availability of
replacement machines. Two points to note are the current supply problems with parts and
new equipment and the transition by manufacturers to battery powered equipment. HGM
are recommending Stiga and Toro for new battery powered tools as these provide more
robust machines for contractors as well as smaller machines for domestic use.

Shop (James Gallagher)

The shop has been bit quiet over the last few weeks due to weather and time of year. The
shop is well stocked we still have bulbs and garlic in stock. We’re looking to do new season
order early to avoid price increases of materials as much as possible. The shop will be
closing over the Christmas period from 16th Dec to 16th Jan with a stock take on 9th Jan
Thank you to everyone for the continued support with the shop.

Communications and Webmaster Report (Rod Cooley)

The society Covid 19 policy has been revised for the society shop in line with government policy
on wearing face masks.

Mike Cobley’s S.H.A.G.S. Christmas 2021 Newsletter has been sent to all members and put on the
website.

The society shop closing dates over the holidays have been put on the website under the website
headings “OUR SHOP” and “LATEST SHOP NEWS”, in line with the Christmas 2021 Newsletter.
The shop closures are also referred to on the society website opening page.

Contact details in the “THE COMMITTEE OF OFFICERS & SITE REPS” table on the society
website have been further updated by Gill Hicks and the updated version has been put on the
website.

Geoff Bateman’s invitation for inputs to the Plot So Far 2022 has been sent to all members and put
on the website.

Roger Gillett’s funeral arrangement details were sent to all members and his obituary updated on
the website.