Allotment Management Programme for the Year - Comments Please

[chris_m]

Chris - I'm trying to show that it's an ongoing task all year but it peaks and more time is needs to be allocated and spent by the Allotment Admin person after notice to Quits and Non Payments of Rents when more plots become available.

Cheers, that makes sense.
VCs suggestion of a key to clarify it would help, I'm sure.

[Snadger]

Our letting period is based around our AGM. AGM Feb, annual rent paid by end of March

.We can only get rid of punters after one year i.e. voted off at AGM,then we won't accept rent from them..

I just wonder when your AGM is, and when rents need paid by
? We try and get new punters in in April to give them a good start with the main growing year.

[Cadalot]

Our letting period is based around our AGM. AGM Feb, annual rent paid by end of March

.We can only get rid of punters after one year i.e. voted off at AGM,then we won't accept rent from them..

I just wonder when your AGM is, and when rents need paid by
? We try and get new punters in in April to give them a good start with the main growing year.

Hi Snadger

As the programme the rent fall due on the 1st October. There is no AGM there is however a meeting of the Allotment Gardening Group in February (i.e. Next Monday) where the Council and Site Reps have traditionally held a meeting, the new Maintenance Company will also attend.

The site reps have never really formed as a cohesive group. If I had not pulled everyone together and managed to find some new Site Reps and encouraged the Management Company to assist the meeting would likely have been with 6 Site Reps from 36 Sites.

We now have 25 Site Reps out of 36 Sites, not all can make a day time meeting but many have managed to find committee members or plot holders who are retired and can attend. Those that can not find a substitute will have their worries and concerns relayed by myself on their behalf.

As you we need the invoicing sorted out so that the process can be completed and plots let as soon as possible so that new plot holders have a chance to start clearing before it time to start sowing crops.

[Bill Door]

Hi Cadalot now understand what you are trying to do.

There is nothing covering when a plotholder hands in their keys/tells someone they have given up. There might be "clearance" work to be done and costs charged out to the previous plotholder.

I know you will probably be told that the information is "commercially sensitive " but I would certainly ask if there are any penalties on the management company for not "filling" empty plots. They are probably paid on a percentage of the rental income.

I would add that if you don't watch it the allotment "managers" and committee members may end up doing the work for the management company on the "cheap".

Good luck with this

Bill

[Cadalot]

Hi Bill

Hi Cadalot now understand what you are trying to do.

There is nothing covering when a plotholder hands in their keys/tells someone they have given up. There might be "clearance" work to be done and costs charged out to the previous plotholder.

The returning of keys is within the Termination Notice Bars, There has never been a system for charging clearance work to the previous plot holder. When my neighbour took his plot on it was 8 ft of brambles he found a 6x8ft shed full of stuff at the back of his plot that he had no idea was there!

I know you will probably be told that the information is "commercially sensitive " but I would certainly ask if there are any penalties on the management company for not "filling" empty plots. They are probably paid on a percentage of the rental income."

I was initially informed that I could not see the contract information because it was commercially sensitive, I said bullshit I'm asking to see the unpriced contract documents they tried to use me as a ping pong ball between the council the Management Consultant and the Consultants that helped negotiated the deal over two years and drafted the documents.

I made a formal request under the freedom of information Act and have been provided with sections that relate specifically to Allotments.

They are about as useful as a push bike is to a goldfish! there are no KPI's no Service Level Agreement who ever created the contract needs to be shot.

Each time there is a stumbling block they have to pull those that negotiated the contract back into play because it was not properly or accurately documented.

I would add that if you don't watch it the allotment "managers" and committee members may end up doing the work for the management company on the "cheap"

They have already tried this getting a guy in from Bromley and suggesting that we go self management, basically told them there is not the passion at present to do this but we will do what we have always done with the council.

But now at least now the Site Reps are working together and not as individuals.



There is strength in numbers

[rary]

As someone with no idea of how allotment management works, I would rather see a chart with more than two colours indicating at a glance the different actions/requirements needed for management of allotments

[Cadalot]

As someone with no idea of how allotment management works, I would rather see a chart with more than two colours indicating at a glance the different actions/requirements needed for management of allotments

Rary

Red = Management Company Admin Staff - One number part time the actions or tasks are in rows
Mauve = Site Reps

Adding loads of colour would confuse most people