Agenda item

The Draft Allotments Strategy has been developed with the full involvement of representatives of the Allotment Association. Its key purpose is to maximise participation in allotment gardening. The Draft Strategy recognises the importance of allotments as a leisure and recreational facility and for their benefits to local communities, green spaces, health and well-being wildlife, as well as their role in producing low-cost healthy food produced locally in a sustainable way.

The Parks and Estates Manager introduced this item to the Panel. He stated that extensive work had been undertaken with the Allotments Association and subsequently the Allotment Forum to jointly create the draft strategy. He added that the strategy incorporates best practice from other authorities as well as guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

Mr Geoffrey Dart, Chair of the B&NES Allotments Association addressed the Panel, a full copy of his statement is on the Panel’s Minute Book and a summary is set out below.

I’m here today with my colleague Virginia Williamson, the Association’s Secretary who drafted much of the Strategy presented in your agenda.

Despite Allotments being a statutory responsibility B&NES does not currently have a strategy for allotments or a consolidated operations manual setting out its responsibilities or relationship with tenants. This absence leads to widespread confusion and dis-satisfaction amongst tenants and does not allow the quality of service to be monitored against an agreed standard. This is compounded by poor communication.

Over the last three years the Association has worked with Officers and Councillors on four initiatives. The first is the draft strategy before you. The second is an annual site inspection report to record agreed actions between site representatives and the allotments officer and to monitor their implementation. The third is a six monthly public forum chaired by Councillor David Dixon and finally a ‘More Plots for Bath’ initiative to begin to tackle the waiting list of over 500 people.

Whilst we see a strategy as a necessary and long overdue first step, we are disappointed that Officers have made no progress in costing it – we are concerned that after so much hard work a strategy without costs could be kicked into the long grass.

In conclusion we ask that the draft strategy is accepted and that statutory responsibilities are addressed urgently.

Councillor Malcolm Hanney commented that the strategy really did require some costing within it.

Mr Dart replied that the Association would be happy to go forward and work on some costs.

Councillor Geoff Ward asked if he could give a judgement on the likely costs required.

Mr Dart replied that one full time employee dedicated to the matter would solve a number of issues.

Councillor Geoff Ward asked for further information on the allotments database.

Mr Dart replied that it was well overdue and would cost between £6,000 - £7,000.

The Neighbourhood Environment Manager commented that there was bespoke software available but a decision had not yet been made as to whether it could be integrated with the incoming CRM system.

Mr Dart commented that there was a need to bring vacant and derelict plots back into use. He added that he felt let down by the officers as they had been working on the strategy for around 15 months.

Councillor Douglas Nicol asked how many plots were currently derelict.

The Parks and Estates Manager replied that it was almost impossible to give that figure to the Panel. He added that inspections will be carried out over the summer and notices will be served on any that are unkempt.

Councillor Nicholas Coombes commented that he was largely in support of the strategy and suggested that officers concentrate on the elements within it that were highlighted as a priority.

Councillor Douglas Nicol suggested that a study be carried out as to how many derelict plots there were within B&NES.

The Chairman asked how the consultation process would be funded.

The Parks and Estates Manager replied that it would be absorbed from within the current department budget.

The Chairman summed up the debate by asking for a report to come back to the Panel in November which will give details of the costs associated with the strategy and figures on the number of derelict / vacant plots.

The Panel RESOLVED to recommend that:

(i)  Consultation be undertaken to determine the standard of service provision for allotments in Bath & North East Somerset through the adoption of the Allotments Strategy.

(ii)  The results of the consultation are incorporated into the draft Allotment Strategy to be reported back to the Panel later this year.