Month: December 2023

Minutes For PPAA Committee Meeting Of 5th December 2023

A Place To Grow Your Own

Present: 

Sue Jones (acting Chair), Wendy Gunter (Treasurer), Gordon Goldsmith, Martin Pasek.  

Apologies: 

Richard Masterman (Chair), Mike Powell, Rob Loxton, Lewis Evans.

Actions from previous minutes:

All covered under relevant agenda items.

Chair Report by email from Richard Masterman:

  1. Actions from meeting 7th Nov covered by agenda items
  2. Council meeting of Site Reps 15th Nov
  • Richard’s earlier email of 18th Nov reported [the Council proposed raising the age at which the 50% discount in plot rental would apply from sixty to sixty-five. However, on consultation with sites, and in their email of 5th December we are informed that they have now decided against doing this. The possibility of charging sites for water was also raised in that email, but that could not – it appears – apply for PPA until the present LMA expired in 2026 at the earliest]
  1. Site security
  • Richard has procured a wildlife camera and is currently trialling it in his front garden.

Initial comment is that it is not commercial CCTV standard, but might provide some reassurance to concerned plot holders.

  • Celia has approved the work to improve gate security but requires contractor Risk Assessments and site services details. Risk Assessments awaited from the contractor and will be forwarded to Celia together with previously used site services plans highlighted to show the work area. There is a Dwr Cymru underground main the vicinity but no ground excavations are anticipated.
  1. Plot inspections
  • Nothing further from the Council [Sue will now email John Maidment, Head Of Parks – AP Sue]
  1. An order has been placed for seed potatoes to be delivered spring 2024. A web notice will be issued shortly requesting advance orders.

Site Rep’s Report – shared role:

There has been a recent CAHA (Cardiff Allotment Holders Association) meeting, but no one from PPAA was able to attend and no minutes have as yet been received.

Treasurer’s Report:

Wendy reported that the £5,000 invoice for the removal of the large fly-tipping heap had been settled.

The Committee thanked Wendy for organising this work.

Any Other Business:

1. Plot vacancies, lettings: three plots have become vacant, viewings for new tenants TBA. AP Sue.

2. Hedgehog boxes: six have now been positioned about the site with the kind help of a plot holder.

3. 2024 Poly tunnel bed allocations: Dan Phillips has agreed to continue as poly tunnel co-ordinator with the Committee overseeing the Draw. Publicity wording etc. have been received from Dan and PPAA will pass this on.

4. Water trough clean-out: four of the eleven have been done and thanks go to the respective three plot holders for this work.

5. Overflowing culvert: in spite of the heavy recent rains Road Three still remains clear of mud.

6. Riverside Community Gardens: PPAA are awaiting further information from the Council about the proposed co-operation between RCG and Cardiff Salad Garden. (PPAA are required to exercise Due Diligence in ensuring parity of compliance with the Terms Of Tenancy between RCG and all other tenants on the site.)

7. Improving usability of the north gate: many plot holders complain of difficulty in inserting their keys from the inside. A modification to ease this problem was discussed. 

There was no further business and the meeting ended at 2018.

Date Of Next Meeting:

9th January 2024 at the Butcher’s Arms, Canton, at 1900.