Associated Membership

[SproutLover82]

Hello

Following a challenging year to allow my long term boyfriend to tend plot without my presence, we have played by the book and requested Associated Membership. The committee has agreed to this and have given a membership fee of 1/2 the plot rent for the year (£28.50), on top of what I am already paying. This will make our total rent for the year nearly £90.

Can anyone advise what their society charges for associated membership as this more than we expected? Some have previously suggested that membership to the society with a nominal fee has been used.

Thanks in advance

[bearded bloke]

Tricky one to quantify really unless there are members on here that are on the same allotment site as you ? I think you are at the mercy of the rules & charges applied to your specific site, will you OH have voting rights ? if so, but are not necessary then that MAY be a bartering point ?

[KevinM67]

Wow - that's incredibly unfair and very expensive. As BB mentioned, I would also check if your OH has voting rights (although in most cases when you mention 'associate' member they don't normally do).

I'm so glad that our association is quite 'laissez faire' when it comes to that sort of thing, as long as you respect other plotholders, don't do anything in the extreme that might cause hassle, and try and keep your site in sort of reasonable order - then you're pretty much left to get on with things.

[Alison]

I don't understand what you're paying for? I pay for my plot and anybody who I want to can help me with it without any additional payments (total annual cost less than £30 for a full sized proper plot). My confusion might be over the fact we don't have a society so don't have that additional payment, what difference does it make being an associate member, is it voting rights? If so you need to work out if it's worth the cost or if you're better off just being a helper.

[Alison]

Wow - that's incredibly unfair and very expensive. As BB mentioned, I would also check if your OH has voting rights (although in most cases when you mention 'associate' member they don't normally do).

I'm so glad that our association is quite 'laissez faire' when it comes to that sort of thing, as long as you respect other plotholders, don't do anything in the extreme that might cause hassle, and try and keep your site in sort of reasonable order - then you're pretty much left to get on with things.

Am I getting this right, are people only allowed to go on plots on some sites if they're a paid up member? Blimey, my OH, mum and various friends help me with harvesting etc, totally normal on our site. Me old hate it to be otherwise.

[veggiechicken]

To save going over old ground - here's the previous thread http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...lot_83974.html
Play nicely, everyone. Don't want to have to close another thread

[Alison]

To save going over old ground - here's the previous thread http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...lot_83974.html
Play nicely, everyone. Don't want to have to close another thread

I totally forgotten about that thread, am impressed you could a) remember it and b) find it

[veggiechicken]

That's the magic of a pointy stick, Alison, and a memory like an elephant

[KevinM67]

Am I getting this right, are people only allowed to go on plots on some sites if they're a paid up member? Blimey, my OH, mum and various friends help me with harvesting etc, totally normal on our site. Me old hate it to be otherwise.

We are 'supposed' to declare if anyone else will be helping/working on the plot, this is for insurance purposes and only costs £2 per additional person (to cover the insurance premium).

Also, I had totally forgot about that previous thread - I've recently found out that VC is weird that way.

[veggiechicken]

I never forget an insult either, Kelvin

[SproutLover82]

To save going over old ground - here's the previous thread http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...lot_83974.html
Play nicely, everyone. Don't want to have to close another thread

Yes that was me earlier this year! My understanding is that he get no voting rights etc. He will simply be allowed to tend the plot without my attendance.

Part of me questions whether to pay it for a quiet life but I dont want to set that president for other people when i think it is not only making my plot massively more expensive than most and we are being penalised for not being a "family" (I.e married)

It's a funny life this allotment malarkey...I wish we had no society and rents were just paid to council.

[bearded bloke]

Did you get your rule book yet ? If so what does that say ?
When's your next committe meeting, they will know better what rulings apply than any members on these forums who are not members on the same site as you.
The only person that can decide "whether to pay it for a quiet life" is you.

[Hans Mum]

Does seem a lot we pay £8 for additional members which covers insurance, membership of local and national society. Means folks can come onto site without the plotholder and are covered if owt happens.

[alldigging]

We pay rent /m2 and a membership fee for the plot holder of £10. For an associate member its £5. They only need to pay for an associate member if they're going to come on their own, if they only come on with the plot holder then they don't need it.

It stems from insurance costing more because you have more people on site.
It sounds very unfair to charge double rent.

We didn't want to go down the joint plot holder route cos it might mean people abusing the waiting list.

[WendyC]

Our landlords are the parish council but the day to day running is delegated to our allotment association. Membership is given to all tenants, i.e. there is no extra membership fee to pay. We are members of the NSALG, which from memory is about £3 per person. We've never quibbled about whether the tenant or other halves - married or otherwise- are tending the plot. Insurance is £2 a person.
Difficult call really but £28 does sound a lot. Can you ask for a break down of how your fees are calculated e.g. rent + water+ membership+ insurance? Then you might have a bit of bargaining power.
What does paying for society membership actually provide?