Government Review of Statutory Duties - Links & Tips

Further to the previous post regarding the upcoming government review, which could threaten the provision of allotments, here are some more links and guidance with regards to the online forms and what we can all do to help.

The Government has announced a "Review of statutory duties", aimed at identifying and removing duties from local authorities which are a "burden".  One of the duties they are considering removing is the duty to provide sufficient number of allotments for people in the area who want one. This means ALL allotments, including existing ones, not just new ones.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Look at the Government's web page on "Review of statutory duties placed on local government" at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/decentralisation/tacklingburdens/reviewstatutoryduties/

Then fill in the "Statutory duties webform" which is in the top right-hand corner, or go to:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GP7BKKT


Time is short. We have only until 25 April.

The form is a bit confusing, so please find below some model answers which you can use, or you could of course write your own. But do fill in the form!

Statutory duties webform questions, with some suggested answers:

1. Please quote the reference number for the duty or duties you are commenting on.
DCLG_136

2. What does this duty help local authorities to achieve?
Provide sufficient number of allotments for those in their area that want one.

3. Does undertaking this duty present local authorities with a burden?
NO

4. In your opinion, could this duty be removed?
NO

5. What are the particular benefits of this duty being removed and who would benefit?
...

6. What do you consider are the adverse effects of removing this duty and who would this affect?
We could lose many allotments just at a time they have become hugely popular in
many sections of the community, and when were are increasingly concerned about
the need for more exercise and a healthy diet for individuals, and about food security
for the nation...

7. Are you aware of any guidance - statutory or non-statutory - associated regulations or powers that are associated with this duty? If so please list them here.
Non statutory guidance: "Allotments: A plot holders' guide" at
http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari/resources/allotments-a-plotholders-guide-new-edition-mainmenu-151

8. In your opinion are powers and/or guidance helpful or do they create a burden?
The guidance is helpful.

9. Would you like to add any general comments about this particular duty?
Local government allotment provision has functioned well and at very little expense for many years.
The benefits to the public are difficult to measure, but must be substantial, and reach beyond allotment
holders and their families to the community at large...

Your chance to have your say - local council allotment provision

Our local council allotments officer has drawn our attention to the following, which should be of interest to all.


The duty of local councils to provide allotments is included in an ongoing government review of 'burdens' on local authorities.

 Please follow the below link to see details of this "review of statutory duties placed on local government":

http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/decentralisation/tacklingburdens/reviewstatutoryduties/
 
Allotments are only mentioned at line 137 of the first spreadsheet, so this item takes some finding.

The review is under consultation until next Monday, April 25th and responses are invited from the general public as well as from councillors and council staff.

If you'd like to register your views, follow the link on the right of the web page to the  'Statutory duties webform'.  It's quite quick and simple to complete.

Bean Poles, Fence Posts & Bamboo Canes

Various structural support solutions are now available at the Allotment Association's shop on Scarcroft http://bit.ly/eDlEZv.

Come on down to take a look.

Silver Birch Bean Poles: £9 for 15 poles

These 8' Silver Birch poles (pictured above and below right) are cut from sustainably managed woods in the Vale of York.
The uneven texture of the poles gives the plants a better grip than imported bamboo cane.
A bundle of fifteen poles will make a sturdy frame with seven uprights each side and one crosspiece.
Properly stored they will give you several years' service.

Fence posts: £2 each, 5' 6" x 2"

Sturdy fence posts are also available at the bargain price of only £2 each, pictured to the right resting amongst the bean poles, and modelled below by the glamourous hut assistant, George.

Bamboo Canes: Various lengths available

See attached photo, always available in the Association Shop.

Seed Potatoes: Now only 50 pence per Kilo!

Seed Potatoes at just 50 pence per kilo, now available at the Allotment Association's shop on Scarcroft http://bit.ly/eDlEZv.  Assorted varieties available, come down to the shop to take advantage of this special offer before they are all snapped up.

Meet our new PCSO

Keith Hall PCSO 5457

Meet Keith Hall, one of our new police and community support officers.  His colleague is John Iemboli, not pictured here.  Scarcroft and Hospital Field allotment sites are part of their new patch, they are members of the Safer Neighbourhood Team.  Do say hello when you see them around, they are often to be seen on foot or on their bikes.

Remember, if you have any problems on the allotments - vandalism, criminal damage, trespass or rough sleeping (if rough sleepers present a problem for you) please let the police and the allotment association know.  If you witness a crime in progress ring 999, if you want to report a crime that is not happening at that moment please ring 0845 60 60 24 7.  The police may not be able to do anything about these non immediate crimes, unless there are witnesses, but telling them about what crime is happening on the plots with as much detail as possible about what, when and where, helps them build up a picture of the key times and areas and allows them to adjust their patrolling patterns accordingly.  And sometimes they will be able to act, as rumour has it that they were able to lift finger prints off one Scarcroft Allotment plot holder's smashed up greenhouse last year and were able to link the prints to an individual who was subsequently arrested.

Additionally, if you want to report crimes to the association, either do so by coming into the allotment shop or by emailing us on our usual email address scarcroftallotments@live.co.uk. If the committee knows how extensive crime is on the plots, they are able to put pressure on various groups to make reducing crime on the plots a priority.

You can make a difference to the level of crime on our plots by doing the following:

• don't leave any valuables in your sheds or hidden on your plots
• mark any tools you do leave on your plot so that they are less easy to sell on
• don't leave petrol on your plot as it can be used to set fire to sheds
• don't leave weedkiller on your plots as it can be used to vandalise other plots
• either leave your sheds and greenhouses unlocked or lock them with a very sturdy lock
• get to know your neighbours and challenge people you don't recognise (if you feel safe to do so).  Remember most paths on the sites are not public rights or way so people are trespassing if they are not going to visit a plot.
• always take your phone with you when you go to your plot so you can call the police if you see vandalism in action or call a friend to come an join you if you feel threatened
• make friends with your local dog walkers as they can be our eyes and ears early in the morning and later in the evening when fewer plot holders are around
• display the 'there are no valuables in this shed' sign on your shed - these are available free from the allotment shop
• visit your plot regularly so, if you are the victim of a crime you are able to give more accurate information as to when it happened

Here's hoping for a crime free season.

York University - Approaches to Growing

York University's Catherine Heinemeyer (BSc MSc) is running an urban horticulture course starting Monday 18 April.  Their website describes the course content as follows.

Cities may appear to be unlikely and sometimes hostile environments for food growing, yet traditional societies have overcome equally adverse conditions (water scarcity, soil erosion, extremes of temperature). We will look for inspiration and strategies from a variety of sources: creative ‘closed-loop’ solutions from traditional agriculture; modern technological approaches; gardening philosophies and movements from conventional, to organic, to permaculture. Students will learn basic gardening principles to assess the constraints and potential of sites for growing, and use these as the basis of sustainable ‘closed-loop’ garden design. We apply these lessons also to cities in general – how the urban food cycle could become more productive by tapping the resources available. The module will make use of visits and guest speakers, and end with a project in which students investigate the potential of currently underused compostable resources in York.

Term: Summer
Day: Monday
Start Date: 18 April 2011
Time: 7-9pm
No. of weeks: 11
Full fee: £107.00



More information and Enrolment details can be found at: http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/cce/accredited/socialsoc.htm#grow
Or you can contact the Courses Administrator, Helen Briggs, using the following details:
Centre for Lifelong Learning
University of York
Tel: 01904 328473
E-Mail: helen.briggs@york.ac.uk

National Trust Gardeners' Question Time Event‏

The National Trust are holding an event at Treasurer's House which I am sure will be of interest to our members.

Gardeners' Question Time and Tea will be held at at Treasurer's House, Minster Yard, York (YO1 7JL), on 4th May from 12pm - 2pm.

It will feature an afternoon with a National Trust Gardener who will be able to answer your questions and give you hints and tips, whether you have a window box or an allotment plot.

Beginners are welcome too!

After question time enjoy a delicious gardener’s tea in the tearoom.

Cost: £12

Booking: Booking essential, call 01904 624247 or e-mail treasurershouse@nationaltrust.org.uk

NGS Gardens Open For Charity - 8th May

As part of the National Gardens Scheme's Gardens Open for Charity programme of events, John Plant's garden in Skewsby will be open to the public on Sunday 8th May 2011.

Admission will be £3.50 (children free) and there will be plants for sale.

All monies raised are for the National Gardens Scheme charities.

If you cannot make it along on this occasion, it will also be open on Sunday 24th July 2011.

Spring Social 15th April 2011

A chance to meet fellow gardeners over a drink in this traditional, local pub.  New members of the Association warmly welcomed as well as all the more familiar faces!

Allotment Plotholders Exhibit Their Work at York Open Studios 2011

York Open Studios is one of the highlights of York’s visual arts calendar.  This year will be its 10th Anniversary!  It will be held over two weekends, 1, 2 and 3 April and 8, 9 and 10 April 2011

Don’t miss this free opportunity to visit a grand total of 119 of York’s best professional artists and makers in their homes, studios or exhibition spaces.  There will be an even wider variety of work on view and for sale - paintings, prints, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, furniture, wood-carving, photography, sculpture and more…

This year several local allotment holders past and present will be taking part including....

Andrew Burningham - Sculpture and Furniture

Residences for discerning birds constructed from hardwoods and metal.
Mirror frames in contrasting hardwoods with patinated metal inserts.

 

Susan Denis - Painting

Figurative oil paintings. Subjects include landscape, still life and memory.

Fiona Fitzgerald - Ceramics

Richly patterned and textured vessels and wall shields using rolled, torn and reassembled clay

 




Marianne Von Tucka - Ceramics

Contemporary ceramic vessels, wall pieces and sculptural objects with glazes applied in layers to create vibrant and contrasting surface.

 




To find out more information about the other artists and all the venues visit http://www.yorkopenstudios.co.uk/index.html

2011 AGM

A full house at Southlands Methodist Church Hall

Around 45 members attended this year's AGM.  There was praise all round from the chair, Graham Sanderson and an impressive and sound financial picture from the treasurer, Mike Oldfield (although Mike was unable to attend Graham presented his figures).  5 new committee members were elected, 7 people stood again and 4 people stepped down.  There were no changes to the constitution.

The AGM business was followed by an informative and entertaining talk by Scarcroft bee keeper, Hugh MacPherson.  Hugh's had had various trials and tribulations with his bees since starting a few years ago and the main aim of his talk seemed to be to discourage anyone else from keeping bees, but he presented this argument in such an engaging and interesting way that I am not sure he will have achieved his goal.

 

Hugh's Hives in the snow

Planet Southbank's Community Garden

Planet South Bank are pleased to announce thier first community gardening venture. They're working with Edible York to transform land at St Clements Church, Scarcroft Road, from grass and (elderly) rose bushes, to fruit, veg, herbs and edible flowers. They need  help to make this happen, starting with a work party on March 26th, 11am to 3pm, when we’ll be creating some beds ready to take the seeds, seedlings and plants that Edible York are providing for us. Come and join in – even if only for a little while. We’ll have spades and forks, but do bring your own gardening gloves if you have them. We’ll have a stall there, so you can find out more about Planet South Bank and pick up some information on reducing your carbon footprint (and saving money) at the same time.

 All welcome - this community garden is for everyone who is interested in growing (and eating) beautiful edible plants, especially all the local people who are deprived of growing space. Local people are welcome to come and do a little weeding, pruning or planting - or pick some of the produce, when it’s ready – or get more involved by becoming part of the ’stewarding group’ who will plan what will be planted. For more information on this, please contact info@planetsouthbank.org.uk

http://planetsouthbank.org.uk/community-gardening/

http://www.edibleyork.org.uk/

Meet the 2011 Committee

Here is the 2011 Scarcroft and District Allotment and Amateur Gardeners' Association Committee.
This year we welcome five new members - Luke Bevan, Katy Brierley, Gill Wignall, Adrian Clayton & Sarah Austin.

That makes 8 from Scarcroft, 4 from Hob Moor and 2 from Hospital Fields.

2011 Scarecrow Festival Entries Wanted

2nd Annual Southbank Scarecrow Festival

Saturday 30th April - Monday 2nd May

Kings, Queens and WeddingsAfter the success of last year's scarecrow festival, Planet Southbank have decided to do it all again, with a new theme - Kings, Queens and Weddings. As they are a climate change action group, they would urge scarecrow to be made using recycled/eco-friendly resources. Prizes will be awarded for: Most Imaginative, Most Eco-friendly and Most Regal scarecrows.

To make this a success they need your scarecrows! If you would like to take part please visit their website http://planetsouthbank.org.uk/scarecrow-form/ and print out and submit the application form. They will put together a trail leaflet that will go on sale in local shops. Closing date for entries is Friday 8th April.

Orchid Demonstration

Members are invited to an Orchid Demonstration at Dean's Garden Centre, York with award-winning orchid grower and RHS gold medalist Chris Channon on Sunday 10th April 10.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.  No need to book, just turn up on the day - entry is free. 
Chris Channon will be there to talk about all things orchid related - growing, propagating, re-potting and general care.  You're also invited to bring along orchids of your own that you're having problems with to one of the 'Orchid MOT Clinics for free, expert advice.

MOT clinic - 10.30 - 11.00 a.m.
Cultural Talk - 11.00 - 11.30 a.m.
MOT clinic - 11.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.
Re-potting demonstration from 2.00 p.m. followed by another MOT clinic.

And don't forget that your 2011 Scarcroft Allotment Association Membership card entitles you to 10% discount on most garden items at Dean's!