28th Sept Allotment Committee Minutes
Minutes of the Barrowby Parish Council Allotment Committee Meeting held on Monday 28th September 2026 at the Reading Room, Church Street, Barrowby at 7:30pm
In attendance:
Ian Chambers (Chair), Pete King, Vi King, Cllr Anna McConnell-Good. Stefan Pcola joined at 7.50pm
Officer in attendance:
Claire Vink (Parish Clerk)
PUBLIC FORUM: No members of the public were present. Meeting started 7:30pm
1. WELCOME REMARKS (26/013)
The Chair welcomed members to the meeting
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE & REASONS GIVEN (26/014)
Apologies were NOTED from: Mark Cherry, Dave Lightfoot, Mary Lightfoot, Cllr Nigel Eaton, and Cllr Tim Lees
3. TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011 (26/015)
None received
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (26/016)
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Allotment Committee meeting held on 15th September 2026.
5. SITE REPORT (26/017)
a) The site report NOTED the following:
• A through boundary check will be completed once the leaves have fallen.
• It was NOTED that the farmer has been contacted regarding the tree on the Western boundary near the chickens. He has stated that he has had it looked at and does not believe it needs taking down at the moment however will look to get a grant when it becomes necessary to take further action. Committee requested that written confirmation of the liability and the qualifications those making the recommendations were requested. ACTION Clerk to obtain written confirmation from the farmer
• There have been an increase in the number of rats on the allotments. Committee requested that pest control be contacted to determine next steps with a focus on environmental sensitivity. ACTION Clerk to explore options for pest control
• It was NOTED that bonfires normally resume in October however this will be monitored by the committee due to the very dry weather
6. ALLOTMENT ALLOCATIONS, WAITING LIST AND PLOT REPORT (26/018)
a) It was RESOLVED to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies Act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the matters to be discussed
b) The plot report was NOTED. There is a waiting list of 14: 5 Barrowby residents, 4 non residents and 5 existing plot holders. There are 22 associate members. There have not been any plot inspections over the summer due to the extreme weather conditions These will resume in October. Plot holders were thanked for following the Anglian Water hose pipe ban. There were 3 exemptions to the ban. It was NOTED that the ban was still in force. It was resolved to approve the erection of 1x shed.
c) The meeting continued in open session
7. FINANCES (26/019)
It was NOTED that there was currently £755.37 remaining in the Allotment maintenance budget with £2000 in earmarked reserved.
a) A verbal update on the 3 legged ladder was received. It was decided that if an arborologist was approved to carry out the tree works there would no longer be any need to purchase the ladder.
b) It was RESOLVED to approve tree works instead of a tree survey. It was RESOLVED to approve the quote by Crimson King excluding the Western boundary. Request to be made to Crimson King to leave the chips for mulch. ACTION V King to liaise with Crimsons King to book the work
c) It was NOTED that a decision on the purchase of electrical tools was not possible at this time and should be added to the December agenda with additional information. ACTION Clerk to add to December Agenda
8. WATER (26/020)
a) The cost of water and water use at the Allotments was considered. No further action was approved at this time
b) Rainwater harvesting was discussed. It was NOTED that there may be a financial benefit to purchasing water butts in bulk. ACTION V King to asks tenants if there is any interest in getting a water butt for their plot. It was NOTED that the committee should send out posters promoting rain water harvesting / drought resistant crops with the tenancy agreement in the Spring. ACTION Clerk to create posters.
9. ARCHERY IN THE PONY PADDOCK (26/021)
It was RESOLVED not to approve access through the Allotments for an archer to practice on the pony paddock as no weapons are allowed on the Allotments as part of the rules.
10. CAPTURE OF FUTURE ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION / AGENDA ITEMS (26/022)
Electric tools
Promotional material for rain water / drought conditions.
Consideration of permissible uses for the Pony Paddock.
Budget considerations to be finalised and confirmation of fees for approval at Parish Council before Tenancy renewal.
11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING (26/023)
7th December
Meeting closed 8.32pm