Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alison Hansford and Harold Heaton.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No declarations of any interest were received.

To confirm the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Allotments meeting held on 9 November 2010 (enclosed)

RESOLVED – That subject to the following amendments:

10.A.25 - ALLOTMENTS MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE REPORT

Standard Charges Recommendations

1. That the annual charge of £39.50 increases annually on 1 April in line with inflation.

4. That it be Council policy to reduce the larger plots as and when they become available, dependant on the site and demand for that location.
5. That the plot sizes be monitored and potential changes be made according to demand.

Layout of new sites Recommendations

2. That the Council be responsible for defining the actual plot, but that the allotment holder be then responsible for the delineation of the plot, using safe and suitable materials.

Provision of services (water) Recommendations

3. That the provision of a free water butts to new allotment holders be withdrawn or offered at cost.

The minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Allotments meeting held on 9 November 2010 be held as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

The Head of Streetscene Services will provide information that the Group had requested at the last meeting (to be circulated at the meeting)

The Head of Streetscene Services reported that the cost of water on site would result in a charge of around £23 pounds to the allotment holder, based upon the water usage for the last financial year. 2010/11.

RESOLVED – That Members would recommend that this charge be implemented in the 2012/13 rental year.

To consider the enclosed draft report of the review. The report summarises the Groups findings and lists the proposed recommendations.

The Task Group considered a draft Final Report summarising their findings to date. The Group agreed a number of amendments as a consequence of the discussions earlier on the agenda and information provided by the Assistant Parks and Open Spaces Officer, that the Council were presently working, along with the Chorley Allotment Society, and various eqaulity groups on the different ways of working on allotments and community growing iniatives by assessing the needs of the individual and working together to overcome any problems.

The Chair reported that this would be the last meeting of the Group and thanked Members and Officers for their contribution. The outcome of the review had produced recommendations that had the capacity to increase revenue and minimise running costs with no major budget implications to the Council, some were organisational and would establish best practice.

AGREED – That the Final Report as amended by the Task Group be approved for submission to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 6 December 2010 and then on to Executive Cabinet in February 2011.