THE ABAS VISION STATEMENT

1. WELCOME TO THE July 2019 MEETING OF ABASplease remember our blogsite at http://abas.home.blogAND our new email at allotmentsbolton@yahoo.comApologies:Harpers LaneFlorence Avenue

2. THE ABAS VISION STATEMENT Abas exists to achieve fair treatment for all plot-holders on allotments sites within the Bolton Borough boundaries. It seeks to achieve this through effective representation of plot-holders and societies to the Council and the provision of support to individuals and societies.

3. Interim Secretary • In the absence of volunteers Stewart Draper has agreed to take on the roll on a limited basis • He was voted in by the members present at the June 2019 meeting and assumed the responsibilities of the position immediately • He will be vacating the position at the AGM in November, this leaves 4 meetings before a new secretary will be needed • In the meantime he will be preparing hand over documentation and Abas will continue to seek a replacement volunteer

4. Minutes of the June Meeting The Minutes having been posted on the Association Blog-site…. Are there any corrections anyone wishes to make? Are there any points anyone wishes to raise? Are there any other matters arising? May we therefore move to adopt the minutes as correct?

5. Matters Arising • Road Planings– Council to re-arrange availability • Tonge Moor Rd. – MR plans to release a number of plots and will contact with an updated waiting list once this has happened • Moss Lea – We haven’t received an new information regarding plans to address the condition of the access road. • Naysmith St. – Request for replacement fencing has now been reported in the monthly report as a H&S issue • Abas Email Address – the migration from the old email address (boltonallotments2014@yahoo.co.uk) to the new email address (allotmentsbolton@yahoo.com) is now complete. The old email address will not be actively monitored going forwards. If you mail the old address by mistake you will receive a response advising you to go to the blog site for the new address. • Abas Blog Site – The administrator account for the site is tied into Dave Jacksons personal email. As such we will be migrating the site to a new address (http://abas.home.blog) once the migration is complete we will redirect traffic from the old site to the new site. The old site will no longer host the monthly minutes going forward and will be used for archive purposes only.

6. Meeting Attendance • As per the Minutes of the June meeting of Abas, held at the Astley Bridge Cricket Club on Monday 10th June 2019 • Max Potential Attendance of OMA Sites is 17 • Max OMA sites expected is 14 • There were 11 members present and 5 OMA sites were represented at the meeting • Apologies – Nasmyth Street, Rawlyn Road, Harpers Lane, Florence Avenue • June OMA Allotment Sites not represented 5!!! • Reviewing Previous years: •                 June 2019 – 11 people from 5 OMA Sites •                June 2018 – 17 people from 9 OMA Sites •                June 2017 – 19 people from 10 OMA Sites •                June 2016 – 28 people from 9 OMA Sites • NB – As previously mentioned is the importance of the OMA and the Membership of Abas • The Majority of the Large Allotment Sites in Bolton are now covered by OMA and are represented by Abas  • Please continue to support and attend your Abas Meetings  

7. PROGRESS MEETING Item 2 - Allotment Budget 2019/20 and Allotment Expenditure 2018/19 • The 2018/19 expenditure figures provided were provisional, final figures are not yet available. • The 2019/2020 budget is again a balanced budget – that is expenditure is set to equal the target / expected income from rentals. This means that effectively spending will increase by inflation i.e. 2% Item 4 – The Refresher Monitor • No new Refresher Monitor is currently available, work is in progress. Item 5 – Waiting Lists • Some site Secretaries (Moss Lea, Smedley Av.) have requested replacement waiting lists and have now received them. • Waiting lists to be issued twice yearly – Next issue is June 2019

8. GM SPATIAL PLAN • The 8-week consultation period completed on 21st March. • The Final Plan will be issued following consideration of the consultation results

9. Bolton Allotment Competitions and Show • The Fairhurst, Greenhalgh and New Tenant Trophies plus the Rosebowlfor “Best Site” • 7 Allotment sites and 36 plots have entered this years competitions • Judging took place w/c June 24th and will continue w/c July 22nd • Presentations to the Winners will be at our Onion, Leek and Vegetable Show on the 3rd of August • As in previous years the prizes will be provided by J Mahers of Bolton. We are very grateful for their continued support. • Peter Chapman has volunteered to join the Judging Team. • On August 3rd, Abas will again organise the Annual Vegetable, Onion and Leek Show. • As in previous years Abas will be seeking individual / society sponsorship of the Vegetable Show Classes. There will be 25 classes at £10 per class. • Any society who would like a presentation about preparing items for the show please contact Abas • NB Closing date for class entries is Thursday 1st August

10. Show Classes • Class 1 Best Display of 4 Vegetables One of each kind selected from a list provided [space allowed 60cm X 45cm with no overhang of produce] • Class 2 Three Carrots [any type with 5-8cm of tops] • Class 3 Three Parsnip [with 5-8cm of tops] • Class 4 Three Onions dressed from sets under 250gr • Class 5 Three Onions dressed from seed under 250gr • Class 6 Three Onions dressed from seed 250gr and over • Class 7 Three Onions dressed one under 250gr one 250gr to 450gr and one over 450gr • Class 8 Two Blanched Leeks with foliage and roots • Class 9 Two Pot Leeks with foliage and roots, not to exceed 6” [15cm] to tight button • Class 10 Ten Shallots dressed under 30mm • Class 11 Ten Shallots dressed 30mm and over • Class 12 Three Red Onions dressed • Class 13 Heaviest Onion as grown complete with foliage and roots • Class 14 Four Tomatoes with calyces attached • Class 15 One Cucumber [with stalk] • Class 16 French Beans 6 pods [with stalk] • Class 17 Runner Beans 6 pods [with stalk] • Class 18 Peas 6 pods [with stalk] • Class 19 One Marrow [with stalk] • Class 20 Four Potatoes White • Class 21 Four Potatoes Coloured • Class 22 Three Beetroot [with 5-8cm of tops] • Class 23 One Cabbage [with 8cm of stalk] • Class 24 One Cauliflower [with 8cm of stalk and trimmed to show curd] • Class 25 One of any other type of vegetable not mentioned above •  Entries allowed are Class One only one entry per person • Classes 2 – 25 max of two entries per person per class

11. NAS and NWCAA The next NWCAA meeting is scheduled for Sunday 21st Jul on the Wirral or in the Liverpool Area (TBC)

12. WHAT’S ON IN 2019? • 3rd August 2019 – ABAS – Annual Vegetable, Onion and Leek Show • Sunday 4th August 2019 - Open Show at Sapling Road Allotments • Saturday 24th August 2019 - Annual Show at Moss Lea Allotments • NATIONAL ALLOTMENTS WEEK 2019 IS THE 12TH TO 18TH AUGUST • 1st September 2019 – Harpers Lane – Open Day and Show • 14th September 2019, 11:00 till 16:00 – Settle Street Allotments Show and Family Fun day

13. ANY OTHER BUSINESS • Are there any further matters members wish to raise? • June Issue of Waiting Lists - Vast majority of those present had received their waiting lists, except Martin Swain of Rawlyn Road , Martin  to contact Malcolm Russell • The minutes of all meetings are posted on the blog site as soon as possible after the event, we also post any other information we feel relevant to our members’ concerns http://abas.home.blog Email address: allotmentsbolton@yahoo.com

14. MEETINGS SCHEDULE • The following meetings are planned • August 12th • September 9th • October 14th • NOVEMBER 11TH THE AGM