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My daughter and I both have an allotment. We have just attended a Parish Council, Committee meeting, because our allotment site Was on the agenda. One of the Councillors brought up the legislation in regard to using an allotment for business purposes and cited my daughter as an example of this. She is childminder and occasionally takes the children she is looking after to her allotment. The visits are risk assessed and done purely for educational reasons. She is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, because of the way she involves the children in lots of different activities. Does anyone have any experience of this or advice.
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Allotments are provided in Scotland for production of vegetables for consumption by our families and because we are allowed to have pig sties and poultry houses, it is safe to assume we can have pigs and hens as well. I think the Councillor who has commented may be concerned that your daughter is using her allotment as an extention of her childminding venture. If she is involving young kids and getting them interested in growing veg, I for one am taking my hat off to her.
Importantly, Allotments Law in England differs from ours although the broad principles are the same. -
Our public liability insurance would cost more if we had groups of children on site.
Do most agreements say:
"The Tenant may not carry on any trade or business from the allotment site"?
If they are occasional visits - then I don't see they'd be an issue. I would assume though that someone has complained about it - else why would it be bought up?
If they were regular and for a long duration then perhaps that is an issue.
Do you know who is upset about it?
This mentions a 'childminding allotment' - do you think thats a specific one for childminders?
http://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/serv...html?p_ID=6356
Another one
http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/educationandl...stanbrook.aspx
http://www.redcarclevelandcyptrust.o...2578F6004ABBBA
So she's not the only person to do it.
I would assume the councillors are responding to a complaint and that complaint needs resolving. We put something in our rules to say people had to make attempts to deal with their complaint with the person involved and then put it in writing to the committee if that didn't work.
A local allotment allows plotholders to bring on 'kin' only though.Last edited by alldigging; 28-02-2013, 09:39 AM.Comment
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To my way of thinking what your daughter is doing is not using her allotment for business purposes.
I would take "using for business purposes" to mean, for example
Growing vegetables, flowers or fruit for sale
Using premises on the allotment (shed or garage) to construct or repair items for sale
You could contact the National Association for advice The National Allotment Society – National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners LtdComment
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Seems the local councilor is being a tad overbearing and also very unprofessional singling out your daughter as an example without first ascertaining the reason she takes the children to the allotment. Children have a right to be outdoors as much as they can and also learn. He must think your daughter is using the children as slave labour
I would be asking this Councillor what he/she constitutes as running a business does she make a profit or charge to take the kids in?? To be honest I have a feeling that this councilor has stuck his/her nose in because someone else on the site has an issue with the kids going in. I'd invite the councilor down to the allotment to see first hand what the kids are doing. I would also contact the other councilors and get them onside the worst thing these councilors want is bad press.
Today I will be mainly growing Vegetables.
Tonight The bloody slugs & snails will eat them!
https://www.facebook.com/manchester....ts?ref=tn_tnmnComment
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That's exactly what I think.Originally posted by mrgrower View Post
The daughter is NOT running a childminding business from the allotment, just as I'm not running a dogwalking business by walking my dog up there.All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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The Allotment Warden brought it up. Possibly as a way of getting even after he got some grief on Facebook.Comment
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thanks have already sent them a queryComment
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sounds like someones had his interfering nose put out of joint to me .....S*d the housework I have a lottie to dig
a batch of jam is always an act of creation ..Christine Ferber
You can't beat a bit of garden pornComment
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People shouldn't say things on FB that they wouldn't say to someone's face ...Originally posted by fellwalker11 View PostAll gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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Surely this has to be an insurance problem!
Yes it may have been risk assessed but look at it on an outside view.
If one of the children fell on a path where a spade was situated sliced there head open where would the blaim lay!
Im sure basic allotment insurance does not cover school visits never mind a child minders visit!
I dont want to take sides or upset anyone but groups of children could be problematic.
I do take my hat off to her in regards to getting the children involved with gardening is there no way of maybe having a couple of raised beds in her back garden or at the nursery?
Fast growing catch crops would be more interesting and use up less space too.Last edited by darcyvuqua; 01-03-2013, 02:02 PM.In the following link you can follow my recent progress on the plot
https://www.youtube.com/user/darcyvuqua?feature=watchComment
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I certainly agree with that and if things have been said that have resulted in this now being seen as an issue then, well,........................ in fact nuff said.Originally posted by Two_Sheds View PostComment
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Originally posted by darcyvuqua View Post
Yes We'd discussed having groups of scouts/cadets on but even if they have their own insurance, our site insurance needs to take that into account...Comment
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