Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Dhot, who was substituted by Cllr Allen.

None.

It was confirmed that all matters would be heard in Part I.

Minutes of the meeting held 23 March 2016 were agreed.

Paul Richards, Head of Green Spaces, Sport and Culture, and Adrian Batten, Green Spaces Manager, presented the report to the Committee.

The Allotments Team employed a full-time officer to manage and support allotments. There were two schemes for the management; A, in which administrative work and collection of rents in undertaken by the council, and B, where a society undertakes the renting of plots (including maintenance costs up to an agreed financial limit) whilst retaining all of the rental income. 7 sites are fully-devolved and self-managed, though support is still provided.

Fees have been frozen for several years, and various concessions exist. Residents on benefits and residents over the age of 60 receive a 50% discount. Allotments are free to those over the age of 65. All the fully-devolved sites are reimbursed for the plots allocated to the over 65s, and the costs go towards onsite maintenance.

Not all plots are occupied, largely due to problems with drainage. There has been significant investment in recent years, including through Chrysalis funding. Some of this has been orientated towards fencing and general security.

Members commented that they were pleased that there were so few vacant plots, but several questions related to whether more could be done to increase uptake. Officers responded that vacant plots were in sites with no waiting list, and there had been trials of alternative uses, including growing Christmas trees or locating bee hives. Members and officers discussed advertising allotments to groups with low uptake, including new immigrants and the unemployed.

Officers outlined numerous programmes to encourage uptake, including for schools and over 65s, as well as the Autumn Show and scarecrow contest for children. Officers agreed to investigate options to better signpost spare capacity.

Members enquired about disabled provision, and officers responded that though they had experimented with raised bed allotments using railway sleepers, there had been poor uptake, and the main barrier to uptake had instead been travel to the site. Access was considered on a case-by-case basis, and disabled users were placed by water butts where possible.

Officers noted that it was possible to keep chickens, but that they were keenly aware of animal welfare and noise problems caused by cockerels at dawn. The Council insist on a commitment to properly keep, feed, water, and allow animals out.

Officers commented that the general profile of users was mostly the elderly, but had seen an increase in young parents and a more equal gender balance recently. A large number of different nationalities were represented, and allotments had a notable social impact for people seeing friends and helping to create a community.

For plots that were not maintained, the Council carried out limited weed control so that they do not damage other plots, and would rotavate a plot for a new occupant.

Members thanked officers for attending and answering questions, and commented that the reports indicated the Councils commitment to allotments, growing local food, healthy living and residents' wellbeing.

Members considered written submissions from the Community Engagement & Town Centres Team, which provided an update since the review which finished in spring 2015. It was noted that there had been an increase of 50 Street Champions since the review, and the current number stood at 714.

The Committee agreed that they would welcome a more in-depth report and attendance of officers later in the year.

James Rodger, Head of Planning and Enforcement, attended the meeting to answer member queries. Members welcomed the Review Report, and the recent changes to specify that the review did not encompass enforcement activity.

A Member of the Committee raised a concern about a conflict of interest in the case of the Licensing Chairman attending a visit to a licensed premises, though the Head of Planning stated that he believed that this would be a valuable addition and there was unlikely to be a conflict of interest.

Subject to minor changes, Members recommended the Report be submitted to cabinet for consideration.

Noted.

Members discussed potential review topics to be considered at the next meeting on 16 June 2016. Members requested more information on:

·         Allotments, encouraging uptake and diversification of users.

·         Shisha,