Allotment rent increase - HELP!

[JohnMac]

Our allotment association is about to do battle with the Town Council over a proposed 40% increase in allotment rents. To read more about their proposal and our defence read click the link below.

Can anyone help with ways they've successfully challenge an increase, whether legal or by force of argument? Please post a comment on the link... all help gratefully received.

Thanks, John

Allotment Heaven: Allotment rent increase

[Two_Sheds]

I'm not arguing one way or the other, just thinking out loud here:

- why are the council doing strimming etc? On every site I've been on, tenants do their own strimming of verges and fences etc. Even on council-run sites, as opposed to AA sites. This would certainly be an argument for reducing the huge "staffing" cost

"....change the rent ...from the current one of £25 ... to £35 for a large plot"
- While the hike of £10 is high in one go, £35 for a year's rent is not an unreasonable sum.
Where the council have gone wrong (and my own site is guilty of exactly the same thing) is in not increasing the rent every year by small increments, then suddenly waking up to this in 2010 and demanding a big jump all at once.

The argument about not charging for play areas and parks is an interesting one. I guess the reason they can charge for allotments is because they aren't open to the general public as a right of way, but are private (to the tenants)

[Jeanied]

Hi John - I've looked through your link and I hope you succeed with your campaign.
My two allotment plots equate to one regular sized plot, and costs about £70 a year.
When asking for more detail of their staffing costs it may be an idea to ask for a breakdown of the pay grade and hours worked. You may well find they have whacked some hefty 'overheads' onto the costing - including admin costs for sending out the invoices, the cost of processing payments - and they may have attributed a proportion of 'management' costs which could include elements of strategic directorship!
I suggest you challenge them all and make a bid for a self managing site - providing you can get a good management committee together.

[Two_Sheds]

I suggest you... make a bid for a self managing site - providing you can get a good management committee together.

Or even a half-cocked committee, like what we've got!

[zazen999]

I'd personally not be too worried about a hike to £35 for a full plot.

If it was £135 then I'd be campaigning and busting a gut - but hiking it to £35 or £50 round our way will make people who really really want to grow veg a little more concerned about keeping their plot - there are a few round our way that used to have all the plots for a pittance but haven't maintained them and to be honest, can't maintain them - but on £25 they can still afford to pay it just to keep it.

I guess ours will go to £50 and some might holler but I'm prepared to pay that for the plot......it's worth it for us.

[SarzWix]

Mmm, I agree Zaz. Ours went up from £14 a year to £30 in one leap, and a few people were moaning a bucket-load. But, often these were the same people who were whingeing about the outer fence not being maintained etc., and these things cost money!
Unfortunately, councils/parish councils etc are having their budgets slashed at the moment, and it's going to affect everyone one way or another. At least they aren't selling the site to developers to try and rake in a bit of cash

[Peter]

Ours in Bishop's Stortford are charged per rod,£2.70 this year, £3 next year and £-20 in 2012-2013.

The council asked around and got the following figures for comparison:
2010 2011
Ware £3.30 £3.50
Hertford £2.70 £3.20
Epping £2.70 -
Enfield £6.30 £6.60
Sawbridgeworth £2.75 £2.75
Cambridge £3.40 £3.50
Norwich £3.75 -

[binley100]

I agree with Zaz,
£35.00 per year - £2.92 per month or 0.67p per week , not bad rent .
Ours is £23 per year half plot, £35 per year full plot and I'm expecting a rise for next year, but when you break it down weekly it's still good value to grow your own food and get some fresh air and exercise. Cheaper than a gym membership.

[Two_Sheds]

these were the same people who were whingeing about the outer fence not being maintained etc.,

Yeah, our whingers moaned about the rent increase, but then wanted us to have a toilet block installed

I whinge about having to pay £7 a year for water, because I have 5 water butts while other tenants don't bother and just use the taps.
It's swings and roundabouts though

[gojiberry]

If the rent money is used to maintain the site then I don't see any problem. We only pay £8 per plot but get nothing on a regular basis. We cut our own grass and hedges, have no water, but do usually get help when we need a new strimmer or mower. We have a mobile type toilet which we have to pay to have cleaned out once a year (only £20) but we still have to find the money. Would prefer to pay £35 and have the council do it all.

Ian

[Aberdeenplotter]

gojiberry,

we are charged £70 for a full sized plot and still get nowt.