Two Column Layout Newsletter October 29th 2025
Minues of our recent Committee meeting
Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on Thursday 23rd October 2025
PRESENT: J.Hodges, A. Redfern, M.Hubball,
C Jones. J. Carter-Bown, J Mills, P Jones, G.Cross, A. Linnecor, R. Harrison
Meeting opened at: 7.3pm
1.CHAIRMAN’S OPENING ADDRESS
Chairman welcomed everyone to the October meeting.
2. APOLOGIES
J. Pile, D. Bonner
3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Read and agreed.
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
Potholes issue- ongoing. Some repair has taken place but seems to be of a temporary nature.
Cars at the top of the site- ongoing issue
£250 paid to Social Club for 80th anniversary.
First Aid course took place 18th October.
Jason awaiting a date to meet up with a plot holder to discuss issues.
Tree damage insurance…Allan to get in touch with Bernie. Discuss at next meeting.
Paul’s fitness challenge in aid of Birmingham Hospice went well. Thanks for all the support.
5. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Plot luck supper went well. Numbers were down this year.
Thanks to Chris for making the coasters to acknowledge our 80th anniversary and Judith for organising the evening.
6. SECRETARY’S REPORT
The two councillors from Sutton Coldfield Town Council visited the site as arranged and had a good look around. They liked what they saw were soon off. Their day was done. Terry Wood was one of the visiting councillors. He was one of the individuals who, I believe was instrumental in early discussions to take out Sutton Coldfield allotments from Birmingham control to be taken over by Sutton Coldfield Town Council. It was good to meet up with him again. The councillors attended with Steve Hollingsworth and Peter West from Sutton Town Council.
We are well into the start of the new allotment year. Mike has been working hard collecting the payments for the plots from our plotholders and correcting a number of errors in the plot rent list provided by Birmingham City Council. We had a few people attend our session in the Social Club last Sunday. All went well.
I have been signing up newly registered plotholders throughout our site. These are people who , in many cases have been working on their new plots for a period of time in readiness for signing up for the new allotment year.
I have recently added a brand new plotholder to our list of plotholders. Jacqueline has joined us on plot 44B. Our Jackie recently down sized on to plot 44A.
I had a message from the BDAC, Hester Blewitt asking about The Flo Pickering Trophy which was last awarded in 2022. On this occasion Denise Bonner won it as best new plotholder. But there was no trophy to award at the annual show. Denise and Jason had entries in the show and I went along to have a nose. The trophy was missing as were others.
The Supper night went very well. There was a good atmosphere and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Once again the food on the table was excellent. Our show judges attended and sampled the food provided. Thanks to Judith for the organisation of the nights activities.
7. TREASURERS REPORT
Main Account
Shed Sales for September were £35.09 YTD £1921.20
The Main account balance was £5334.82 at the end of September
This includes the payment of £250 to the Social Club for the 80th anniversary. This has not been acknowledged!
It also incldes £378 paid for over 80s. Ted Wright sent a thank-you note to the committee for this.
I would like to add my thanks to the committee.
There will be a further £42 when Eric Rankin's paperwork is sorted. (Change of plot)
Maintenance Account
We have still not received any of the annual budget money from BCC. This is for water, general maintenance , toilet cleaning etc. This money £479.06, was due in May with a promise, given some weeks ago, that it was on its' way. The Council informed as that the payment instructions had not been received by the accounts department and this had caused a delay. Berrnie (our contact) said that the payment, that we normally get in November would be included when they send it. We are still waiting.
Our water bill for the March-September period was paid in October
Maintenance account balance was £1406 at the end of September.
I have left out the rental payment from these figures to avoid confusion.
Rent Payment
As usual this has been quite complicated. We have had a number of people changing plot sizes plus new plotters taking plots on. In addtition, the Council figures showed several errors due to confusion between small and mini plots on their part. I have sent Bernie a letter of explanation and charged people the correct amount.
Payment has been received from all but 8 plotters. I have written to all of them, reminding them that rent is due and they will be fined £10 if their payment has not cleared by November 9th.
8. SITE MAINTENANCE
Water reading at 1st October was 2129 cubic meters up 4 on last month. It was up 3 cubic meters for the same period last year.
1 cubic meter is an IBC!!
Compost is now in the store shed ready to purchase!
9. PLOT MONITORING SUB COMMITTEE REPORT
As a result of the September plot monitoring letters were sent to plot holders concerned. We will be following the Birmingham City Council guidelines to address these plots. 2 plot holders have been in touch.
Sutton College are looking for work experience openings. Allan will get in touch with Peter Weston to find out more.
Next inspection will be April 2026.
Can we remind plot holders that Autumn/Winter are times to prepare the allotment and the soil for the following growing season. Plots are never ‘put to bed.’
10. SHED SCHEDULE
N/A Committee members to fly their red flag when on their plot.
11. SHOW SUB COMMITTEE AND COMPETITIONS
Plot Luck Supper October 15th. We celebrated 80 years on this site. Sadly numbers were down this year. Anyway it was described as a very relaxed evening, we shared food, celebrated with the presentation of awards and met a guide dog puppy called Conker. The coasters made for the occasion went well. Thanks to Chris for making the coasters and to everyone for the delicious food.
Dave and Lesley presented the awards, Dave acknowledged the impressive Annual Shows and encouraged more people to enter next year.
Thanks also must go to:
Dave and Lesley for presenting the awards, Greg for doing a great job as our resident photographer,
Geoff, Suzanne, Dean, and Jo who helped setting up & Martin for setting up the tables earlier in the day.
We are still awaiting the results of site judging and standard plot judging. This is expected November 15th.
12. SITE REPORT/HEALTH AND SAFETY
Nothing to report.
13. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Social Club have no objection to an allotment notice board. Discussion took place about the best place to locate the board, needs a prominant position. For allotment information, we already have posters on gates, Facebook, WhatsApp group and the newsletter
14. AOB
• Anne thanked everyone for their support over the last 16 months.
• Jo has taken the unsold plants from the Annual show to look after until next year.
• A suggestion that there is a ‘get to know plot holder page’ with photos and plot numbers. Mike to gather opinion through the newsletter.
• Cars have been parked in the spaces leading up to the top gate. This has caused access issues for plot holders and could hinder an emergency access and / or exit.
• Sutton Allotment forum meeting attended by Colin and Jacqui. Discussion included remaining sites being transferred to Sutton, group contact for skips, and work experience students.
The forum minutes are on Sutton Town Council website
CLOSURE
Meeting closed at 8.55 pm.The next Committee Meeting- November 27th
That's all for now.Mike
Minues of our recent Committee meeting
Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on Thursday 23rd October 2025PRESENT: J.Hodges, A. Redfern, M.Hubball,
C Jones. J. Carter-Bown, J Mills, P Jones, G.Cross, A. Linnecor, R. Harrison
Meeting opened at: 7.3pm
1.CHAIRMAN’S OPENING ADDRESS
Chairman welcomed everyone to the October meeting.
2. APOLOGIES
J. Pile, D. Bonner
3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Read and agreed.
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
Potholes issue- ongoing. Some repair has taken place but seems to be of a temporary nature.
Cars at the top of the site- ongoing issue
£250 paid to Social Club for 80th anniversary.
First Aid course took place 18th October.
Jason awaiting a date to meet up with a plot holder to discuss issues.
Tree damage insurance…Allan to get in touch with Bernie. Discuss at next meeting.
Paul’s fitness challenge in aid of Birmingham Hospice went well. Thanks for all the support.
5. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Plot luck supper went well. Numbers were down this year.
Thanks to Chris for making the coasters to acknowledge our 80th anniversary and Judith for organising the evening.
6. SECRETARY’S REPORT
The two councillors from Sutton Coldfield Town Council visited the site as arranged and had a good look around. They liked what they saw were soon off. Their day was done. Terry Wood was one of the visiting councillors. He was one of the individuals who, I believe was instrumental in early discussions to take out Sutton Coldfield allotments from Birmingham control to be taken over by Sutton Coldfield Town Council. It was good to meet up with him again. The councillors attended with Steve Hollingsworth and Peter West from Sutton Town Council.
We are well into the start of the new allotment year. Mike has been working hard collecting the payments for the plots from our plotholders and correcting a number of errors in the plot rent list provided by Birmingham City Council. We had a few people attend our session in the Social Club last Sunday. All went well.
I have been signing up newly registered plotholders throughout our site. These are people who , in many cases have been working on their new plots for a period of time in readiness for signing up for the new allotment year.
I have recently added a brand new plotholder to our list of plotholders. Jacqueline has joined us on plot 44B. Our Jackie recently down sized on to plot 44A.
I had a message from the BDAC, Hester Blewitt asking about The Flo Pickering Trophy which was last awarded in 2022. On this occasion Denise Bonner won it as best new plotholder. But there was no trophy to award at the annual show. Denise and Jason had entries in the show and I went along to have a nose. The trophy was missing as were others.
The Supper night went very well. There was a good atmosphere and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Once again the food on the table was excellent. Our show judges attended and sampled the food provided. Thanks to Judith for the organisation of the nights activities.
7. TREASURERS REPORT
Main Account
Shed Sales for September were £35.09 YTD £1921.20
The Main account balance was £5334.82 at the end of September
This includes the payment of £250 to the Social Club for the 80th anniversary. This has not been acknowledged!
It also incldes £378 paid for over 80s. Ted Wright sent a thank-you note to the committee for this.
I would like to add my thanks to the committee.
There will be a further £42 when Eric Rankin's paperwork is sorted. (Change of plot)
Maintenance Account
We have still not received any of the annual budget money from BCC. This is for water, general maintenance , toilet cleaning etc. This money £479.06, was due in May with a promise, given some weeks ago, that it was on its' way. The Council informed as that the payment instructions had not been received by the accounts department and this had caused a delay. Berrnie (our contact) said that the payment, that we normally get in November would be included when they send it. We are still waiting.
Our water bill for the March-September period was paid in October
Maintenance account balance was £1406 at the end of September.
I have left out the rental payment from these figures to avoid confusion.
Rent Payment
As usual this has been quite complicated. We have had a number of people changing plot sizes plus new plotters taking plots on. In addtition, the Council figures showed several errors due to confusion between small and mini plots on their part. I have sent Bernie a letter of explanation and charged people the correct amount.
Payment has been received from all but 8 plotters. I have written to all of them, reminding them that rent is due and they will be fined £10 if their payment has not cleared by November 9th.
8. SITE MAINTENANCE
Water reading at 1st October was 2129 cubic meters up 4 on last month. It was up 3 cubic meters for the same period last year.
1 cubic meter is an IBC!!
Compost is now in the store shed ready to purchase!
9. PLOT MONITORING SUB COMMITTEE REPORT
As a result of the September plot monitoring letters were sent to plot holders concerned. We will be following the Birmingham City Council guidelines to address these plots. 2 plot holders have been in touch.
Sutton College are looking for work experience openings. Allan will get in touch with Peter Weston to find out more.
Next inspection will be April 2026.
Can we remind plot holders that Autumn/Winter are times to prepare the allotment and the soil for the following growing season. Plots are never ‘put to bed.’
10. SHED SCHEDULE
N/A Committee members to fly their red flag when on their plot.
11. SHOW SUB COMMITTEE AND COMPETITIONS
Plot Luck Supper October 15th. We celebrated 80 years on this site. Sadly numbers were down this year. Anyway it was described as a very relaxed evening, we shared food, celebrated with the presentation of awards and met a guide dog puppy called Conker. The coasters made for the occasion went well. Thanks to Chris for making the coasters and to everyone for the delicious food.
Dave and Lesley presented the awards, Dave acknowledged the impressive Annual Shows and encouraged more people to enter next year.
Thanks also must go to:
Dave and Lesley for presenting the awards, Greg for doing a great job as our resident photographer,
Geoff, Suzanne, Dean, and Jo who helped setting up & Martin for setting up the tables earlier in the day.
We are still awaiting the results of site judging and standard plot judging. This is expected November 15th.
12. SITE REPORT/HEALTH AND SAFETY
Nothing to report.
13. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Social Club have no objection to an allotment notice board. Discussion took place about the best place to locate the board, needs a prominant position. For allotment information, we already have posters on gates, Facebook, WhatsApp group and the newsletter
14. AOB
• Anne thanked everyone for their support over the last 16 months.
• Jo has taken the unsold plants from the Annual show to look after until next year.
• A suggestion that there is a ‘get to know plot holder page’ with photos and plot numbers. Mike to gather opinion through the newsletter.
• Cars have been parked in the spaces leading up to the top gate. This has caused access issues for plot holders and could hinder an emergency access and / or exit.
• Sutton Allotment forum meeting attended by Colin and Jacqui. Discussion included remaining sites being transferred to Sutton, group contact for skips, and work experience students.
The forum minutes are on Sutton Town Council website
CLOSURE
Meeting closed at 8.55 pm.The next Committee Meeting- November 27th