BDAC

[shirlton]

Had post on my facebook today from The BDAC concerning the allotment rent increases in Birmingham. They reckon that by 2013 a good number of plots will be surrendered. Watch this space.

[Robert_Brenchley]

What are they saying? I haven't heard a word.

[Unwashed]

BCC's maintenance bill does seem pretty high.  Are they offering self-management as an alternative to high rents?

[shirlton]

What are they saying? I haven't heard a word.

Have alook at the BDAC website Robert

[Robert_Brenchley]

It does seem rather steep. I don't know whether the maintenance bill is excessive or not; we have a great many sites, and it would depend how the cost per plot compares with other Local authorities. We do have self-management, and we're having to fund more of the the work ourselves, as they've got more restrictive about how money can be used over the last couple of years.

I'd like to see a breakdown of how exactly the money is spent.

[shirlton]

Birmingham allotments rents will increase to £75 by the year 2014 with no reduction for early payment of rent as is the case at the moment.
I asked if pensioners would still get a reduction and the answer was that they probably would and that pensioners would probably be the only ones that could afford a plot. . I am not smiling .I am definitely not smiling

[Unwashed]

For what size plot Shirl?  If that's for a ten-pole then Grimsby's plots are already in that league and Newbury's are only a tad short, so it's top-whack, but not impossible.

The problem is the maintenance costs isn't it?  Will the Council be talking to the site associations about self-managing the maintenance as an alternative to the rent increase?

[shirlton]

Our plots are 12 of my paces wide and 40 paces long.. ( its a woman thing) I will take a tape with me when I go and measure it properly
I think Betty will be the one to answer the question about the self maintenance as an alternative to rent increases as she is an allotment secretary and would know how the coucil is thinking on the matter

[Unwashed]

On our site the charges are as follows:-

                                                     Full                    Over 60
Mini plot      (up to 100 sq.yds)    £12                      £6

Small           (101 to 200 sq.yds)  £22                      £11

Standard     (201 - 400 sq.yds)    £28                      £14

If it's the same on your site Shirl I'd say yours was a Standard plot (I reckon yours is probably 400 sq yds) so that's quite a leap in rents for you.

[shirlton]

We will have to wait and see how they are going to increase it year by year.