Minutes
Present: Sue Pasek (Acting Chair), Wendy Gunter (Treasurer,) Mike Powell, Gordon Goldsmith, Nerys Lloyd-Pierce, Martin Pasek, Rhys Williams, Jane Davies, Lewis Evans, Mel Ford (plot holder observing)
Apologies: N/A
The meeting opened at 19:00.
Previous Minutes:
Matters covered below.
Chairman’s Report:
Covered with Site Secretary report.
Site Secretary’s report (shared role):
The meeting opened with Sue welcoming Treasurer Wendy Gunter back after an absence of several months due to illness. The Committee thank Wendy for fulfilling the requirements made of a Treasurer despite her illness.
Since the March meeting eleven plots have been let, three more plots await letting. There have been no structure applications.
Sue reported that the underground water leak onsite still awaits repair by the Council, a “ticket” has been raised by the Council, and one visit to site was made by a contractor who inspected the water troughs in case of any problem there. While the leak remains, the PPAA Committee will continue to turn the water on only for several hours a day.
Treasurer’s report: Wendy
Wendy stated that she had completed ‘end of year’ for the PPAA accounts and would be submitting them to an accountant for ratification.
Re the accounts, there was discussion after one plot holder enquired about expenditure to be itemised differently.
Our bank, Lloyds, had recently changed the existing free bank account, used by the PPAA, to a Community Account, at a new cost of £4.25 per month.
Asbestos: Jane and Martin:
A plot holder has reported asbestos on their plot and asked to have it removed, and the Council have also been informed. The matter is in hand, and the asbestos will be removed by a licensed contractor.
Plant Sale: Gordon and Lewis:
Neither Gordon nor Lewis were able to report any progress so far, but will continue with their enquires to third parties .
Several plot holders have volunteered to donate any surplus plants grown by themselves toward a small plant sale.
Plot Inspections
Plot inspections will begin in the week beginning 21st April. The total number of plots on site to be inspected will be broken down into smaller sections and several groups of two from the PPAA will be assigned a group. This method worked successfully last year. The Council require annual plot inspections to be made. Their process is explained more fully here.
AOB:
Rhys intends to start sowing the bramble seeds and also planting young plants along our spine hedge boundary.
Nerys has been donated a further two bird boxes, which will be sited ASAP.
Mike reported that trees marked by the Council, situated near to the Community Gardens, still had not been removed.
Mel raised lack of awareness re the PPAA £5 subs, (as distinct from the rental payable to the Council,) as detailed here.
There was no further business and the meeting ended at 20:10.
The PPAA Committee meetings are regularly scheduled for the first Tuesday in the month, the next being 6th May 2025 at 1900, at The Cricketers, Cathedral Road, Cardiff.
Serious problems from inattention to plot numbering.
The Council instruct all of us to number our plots, and the coming revised Tenancy Agreements will, as it stands, make it a breach of conditions not to do so.
We’re sorry to report then, that a very devoted gardener has recently suffered theft and damage to their plot, due to someone’s reckless disregard for the importance of identifying plots correctly.
It seems that a neighbour enlisted the help of two men with the intention of removing plants from their plot, but failed to make them understand fully which plot that was, with the result that they removed them from the wrong plot, and caused serious other damage in so doing.
The law on criminal damage is clear. If someone intentionally or recklessly causes damage, then they may be found guilty, and the excuse “it was just a mistake” isn’t a reliable defence.
Please, everyone, make sure that we’ve correctly remembered our plot number, and display it clearly. The numbered site plan is here.
Thanks all.
PPA Website Team
I’ve never heard a spring so full of birdsong on PPA. Warblers, robins, wrens, blackbirds the lot.
Well done weather and workers on the hedges and the rest.
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