Self Management

[fuchsia]

Hi All

We are considering looking into going self management. I would like to know if anybody`s site is run this way, are you happy with it, do you have any problems with it?
What are the good and bad points of running it?

What sort of deals did you get with the council/parish rent wise etc

Any advice gladly received

;D

[fuchsia]

[Mushy Pea]

Hi Fuschia,

You might find some info on my previous link.

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,44852.msg448902.html#msg448902

We are probably going down this route and will let you know as things progress.

As you'll see the site has been offered at a "peppercorn" rent of £1 to our committee and our committee can then set the plot rents (subject to Council approval).

A meeting has been called for this Sunday so we'll see what happens then.

Regards,

MP

[manicscousers]

ours is self managed, we pay the **** club rent, they do nothing for us and we just get on with it  ;D
we pay 25.00 per year to the association, for that, we get water, manure and feeds, we all do a plant sale, once a year, that brings in money for improvements on the site.
we have a constitution, or own bank account and a committee of 4, sec, chair, treasurer and life president as Eric stepped down from chairman but he's too good to let go completely.
our site only has 14 plots/half plots but we have a great bunch of peole on there, everyone mucks in to keep the site going and we've just got communal chickens which is great  :)
the club wants us to also pay rent of 25.00 per plot to them but we're fighting it as we have to maintain the area and, as I say, they do nothing for us  :)

[fuchsia]

Thank you mushy pea for your comments, please keep me informed on how you progress, I would be interested.
Sorry manicscousers to hear your experiences aren`t so good. Paying an extra £25 on top of the intial £25 is a bit steep, what was the cost of your plots before self management?
I thought I would have had more of a response to this question. Are you aware if your site is self managed or council run? Do you have a committee or just a site representitive? Would you like to have a better run site with social events or are you happy with things as they are?
I would be interested to hear your views on your particular site to get a general idea on how people feel.
Thanks

[manicscousers]

Hi, Fuschia
before the new club was built on top of our plots, we paid 25.00 per full (90x30) plot to the association, we gave a donation, approx 50.00 per year to them
when they built the new club on 4 of our best plots, we all ended up with half or less plots and they decided they wanted 25.00 per plot per year, this only includes water from a hose that runs around the site .
unfortunately, they lease the land from the council so are our landlords and can ask what they like  :o
we have always had a comittee and our own bank accounts etc.Our site has a good social side and is now very well run..we have a plant sale once a year to pay for improvements on the site and have now had 4 grants  :)

[flowerofshona2007]

You will bang your head against a brick wall Amanda, your site attempted this a few years ago and there was a vote which gave a result that 80% on the site where against it and the council are not keen to go down that line again due to the huge failure Roe shot had and the council took the site back !!
Remember you have to have good support and knowing the site i would say you have more chance of it beening sunny tomorow !!
Our site is self managed and is great, but we have a wonderful site manager and a good core of members who pull their weight and help out.
Having spoken to quite a few members from your site over the last few weeks they are not aware that this was imn the pipe line, this should be sorted out at a meeting before being thrown open to the public.

[fuchsia]

Hi

Flowersofshona, can I ask a question? What do you think needs to change on our site? There has been a lot of change  with a lot of new plotholders. I have just organised a social BBQ and had 40 people atttended, the first time for that many people, and we raised over a £100 pounds in a raffle and auction for association funds. They want things to change. Self management is an idea at this stage and I am looking for information to put forward to the new committee next year. I have a good rapport with the council and the idea is not out of the question. A new constitution has been drafted ready for adopting at the next AGM whereby a new committee of 10 people will be elected. There is also a new newsletter which has just had its second publication (quarterly production) and is received well. There are plenty of plans in the pipeline for next year. These things have been done at the request of plotholders, new and old. Things are changing but it is a slow process but one that is wanted here.
So I would be glad for any advice on our site.

[flowerofshona2007]

Hi Fuchsia,
40 people at the bbq was good going, where they all plot holders ???
What is puzzling me is why does the Chairwoman not know about these plans ??
As a secrettary you do not have the authority to make these kind of desisions ??
I agree the site needs a shake up but without almost a 100% agreement from the plot holders the council you are dealing with will not make the change ! If you read the old comittee meeting reports you will see the problems hit last time this was tried !
I speak as someone who has been used by certain members on your site before ! and it sounds like you are going the same way ! believe me it will only be for the benefit of a 'few' up there and they will make it feel great! i dragged the shop into this century and raised over £250 on tea and coffee sales in a year and ended up doing everything up there !!
To be very honest i cant see you getting the backing you need from the council, they are not one of the better ones on this kind of thing and they will promise loads till the time comes then you will be on your own.
Im all for you getting the site sorted but remeber there are plot holders there who have already been down this route and i know form a lot of upset people ringing me that you wont get enough plot holders, and announcing that you are getting a NEW comittee has not gone down well !
I didnt ask to be involved in this but i have many friends on the site and they are contacting me very angry and that is not the best way to go hun !! please take it from one who has been there, think before you leap !!!!

[fuchsia]

Just as a point of interest, last years AGM did not offically elect a new chairperson as the committee was not fully voted in. I have not made any decisions other than drafting a copy of the new constitution as when I was elected secretary there was no former paperwork passed to me other than a few letters. A new committee means one which is elected by a democratic vote by all members at the AGM so those that are on the committee get the chance to be voted back on if thats what people want or new members can be voted on. A committee of 5 people is not a big enough committee to make fair decisions on a site of 80 plotholders.
You say your site is self managed and that you have a wonderful site manager and a good core of members, are you saying that we don`t have a wonderful site manager or a good core of members?
Self management is not in the pipeline, thats why people don`t know about it, Its just an idea that with the right research and information can be presented to the new committee as food for thought on options for managing the site better. I have spoken to people about it to see how they feel but I wasn`t aware that this was the wrong thing to do. Its the feedback that I have had, that has made me research the subject further. It is only an idea.
I appreciate your comments, I know there are always obstacles to trying to improve things and some people don`t like change and get upset. Sometimes fresh people with fresh ideas have ways of putting things across or doings things that get results. Just because something has failed the first time doesn`t mean it can`t be ironed out and succeed the next time.
If people don`t want things to change then I`ll know at the next AGM meeting by the way people vote and thats fine with me but they will have had an opportunity.

[flowerofshona2007]

I wish you luck :)
(Have pm'd you)

[Old bird]

Fuscia

I wish you the best of luck.  I think there ought to be more people like you around prepared to put the effort in to change the "old system" which will certainly upset a few of the "we always do it this way" type of people.

Any rejuvenation of an old system brings with it renewed interest and more "community type feel" to proceedings.

When I put up my polytunnel (with permission) - two years ago now - there was much gaping in amazement - then I was told to take it down - later I became site representative - the old guard backed down I eventually got permission for the tunnel.  There is now a lot more of a community spirit.  People are actually talking to one another - and sharing plants/opinions.

Ours is only a small site 21 plots, but it is now fully occupied, all but one of the plots is fully worked, there is a waiting list and the spirit of change is still there. 

I decided I wanted chickens - so this time went through the "correct channels" and got a few backing me - then got my chooks - another set of chooks and a precedent has been set and we move onward and forward.  Meetings are now more vibrant, can be amusing and we certainly are achieving more for the other 4 other alllotment plots around the town. 

Get active - I am all for it - good luck with yours - If I can help at all - although I appreciate you may have a few hurdles to climb - give me a shout!

Old Bird

;D

[Squashman]

The Allotment Regeneration Initiative will give you all the assistance / advice you need. There e-mail address is: www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari

[fuchsia]

Thankyou old man for your support and squashman for the email address  which I have just emailed for info.

If we didn`t move forward we would still be trying to invent the wheel lol.

[Old bird]

Fuscia!  I am Old Bird not Old Man!!!

What's in a name tho'

Ann aka Old Bird

;D

[havelock]

we run a site  self managed and it works okay we are comeing to an A G M next week we have over 300 allotments on this site and we have been self maneged for a number of years now
you still get the odd moaner and groaner about some things but it works great and a number of allotments round about are trying to go the same way as us
we pay £11 water and £25 rent  the water money is on a meter so some years we make money if you have a wet year but if you have a dry year it could cost you
we have over £10.000 in the bank and this is all down to water money we also get 25% discount on the site for being self managed so it all has built up over the years
the way ahead is self maneged