Allotment issue - legislation - act now!

[zazen999]

Copied directly from the nsalg website...

The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, NSALG, Allotments, protect, promote, preserve, grow your own


Immediate response required before 25/4/2011

Calling all members, this will affect you and future allotment sites, you need to act now!

Communities and Local Government website states “Local authorities are bound by statute. Their functions are set out in numerous Acts of Parliament and many of these functions have associated legal duties.

The duties on local authorities have accumulated over the years with successive pieces of legislation. While some duties remain vital, others may no longer be needed or may create unnecessary burdens or restrictions on local authorities. To address this, the Government is carrying out a wide ranging review to establish for the first time, a full picture of the duties placed on local authorities by central government. Your views are invited on which duties are essential and should remain, and which are no longer needed and could be removed. The aim is to give local authorities freedom to operate in a way that meets local needs and priorities”.

As we all know, allotments are a major community resource and we need to keep the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 Section 23 in place....

Duty of certain councils to provide allotments.

• (1) If the council of any borough, urban district, or parish are of opinion that there is a demand for allotments . . . in the borough, urban district, or parish, . . . the council shall provide a sufficient number of allotments, and shall let such allotments to persons . . . resident in the borough, district, or parish, and desiring to take the same.
• (2) On a representation in writing to the council of any borough, urban district, or parish, by any six registered parliamentary electors or persons who are liable to pay an amount in respect of council tax resident in the borough, urban district, or parish, that the circumstances of the borough, urban district, or parish are such that it is the duty of the council to take proceedings under this Part of this Act therein, the council shall take such representation into consideration.

This piece of legislation is intended to ensure that Local Authorities provide sufficient number of allotments for those in their area that want one.

Click Here to register your views on the removal of the above. Or if you wish to contact DCLG, then you can write to them at:

Review of Statutory Burdens Team
Department for Communities and Local Government
3/H6 Eland House
Bressenden Place
London SW1E 5DU

On the website, a 'webform' (see link, top right) has been designed that sets out the duties they have identified and the questions we would like you to address. You can view or download the spreadsheet below at the bottom of the web page(see 'Related downloads') and follow the instructions set out in the webform, or email your comments to mailto:burdens@communities.gsi.gov.uk. This informal consultation exercise will remain open for six weeks, closing 25 April 2011

Please do not delay in responding, as we said....this will affect you

[BigShot]

Done.
Thanks, Zazen.

[Two_Sheds]

Sorry, I can't find a webform ...? (got a head cold, feeling a bit stoopid today)

[chris]

It says there's a link top right, but I can't see it either?

[zazen999]

If you click on the 'click here' it takes you to the website - the link is on the top right there....

[chris]

<dunce_hat_on>
What's the link text? I only see an email hyperlink?
</dunce_hat_on>

[zazen999]

Click here

[chris]

Yep, i'm on that page, but I don't see any webform, or link to a webform think i'll just email them heh

[chris]

Ah, stupid me. it's unde the link to the 'other sites' part: titled "statutory duties webform".

Bit confusing cheers

[zazen999]

Webform here

[Two_Sheds]

Thanks Zaz.


I gave up though, the form is too complicated (intentionally so?)

I made a good argument for keeping allotments, but then lost it on page two (?) when the form demanded I supply an answer for something I didn't know the answer to: " Please quote the reference number(s) (from the spreadsheet"

[BigShot]

It really is a needlessly complicated process.

The reference number from the spreadsheet is DCLG_136
The spreadsheet contains all the bits of legislation which create burdens (not necessarily a bad thing) on local authorities. The reference number above is the one that lets them know you're giving your views on Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 Section 23.
"Allotment authorities (that is, parish councils, or where there isn't one, district councils) must provide a sufficient number of allotments and let them to persons resident in the area (where they are of the opinion that there is a demand)."

The spreadsheet (in case you want to see what else they are reviewing) is near the bottom of the page linked towards the end of the original post.
Review of statutory duties placed on local government - Local government - Department for Communities and Local Government

[bazzaboy]

What a nightmare - as soon as anything to do with future planning is in local authority hands it becomes incomprehensible.... I think it's easier to just write letters/emails expressing the essence of allotments and I will do that.

Meantime interesting to note that I received notice of this development from an online allotment association, printed off copies for my fellow lottie-holders including the local Chairman of Gardeners Association and Allotments and he knew NOTHING about it at all... More worryingly he's also a Parish Councillor! So this latest fandango is not being undertaken with the knowledge of the councilors and the tight closure date suggests the usual stitch up.....

I also wonder, Zazan, if it's being seen by ALL allotment holders hidden away here in "Allotment Advice"? Or whether it deserves cross-references in both the popular Veg and Fruit threads to alert the widest possible participation in the few days remaining? bb.

[susieq100]

The list is horrendously long - I need to have a proper read through all of those duties. I hate this kind of 'underhand' thing - it always feels like the govt is trying to remove rights and duties surreptitiously! Or am I just being paranoid. But thanks for drawing our attention to it.

[pdblake]

I think the reference you need i: DCLG-136