Cymdeithas y Dalar

 

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, 21st of October 2010 at 7:30pm at St Teilo Church Hall, Llandeilo

 

The meeting was chaired by Peter Williams, minuted by J. Kateřina Dvořáková

 

  1. Present and apologies

 

Twenty three people signed the register of attendance (to be attached)

Apologies were received from Liz Nowell, Esyllt Harker, Craig Jones and June Kidd

 

  1. Minutes of AGM 2009

 

Pam Steane Price proposed to accept the minutes as an accurate record. The motion was seconded by Brian Price. The minutes were accepted.

 

  1. Presentation and adoption of finance report

 

Brian Price presented the finance report (to be attached).

There was a question as to why the bank interest is so low. The answer was that because of the character of the account, the interest is paid only if the amount of money in the account is over £2 000.

Another question concern public liability insurance and what it covers. We have standard public liability insurance; anybody can view a copy of the policy on request to the committee.

Gareth Malkin proposed to adopt the finance report, the motion was seconded by J. Katerina Dvorakova. The finance report was adopted.

 

  1. Presentation and adoption of the executive committee report

 

J. Katerina Dvorakova presented the executive committee report (to be attached).

Dick Nowell proposed to adopt the report; the motion was seconded by Nigel Cox. The executive committee report was adopted. Peter Williams thanked Katka for all her hard and often unseen work as CYD secretary and due appreciation was expressed by all present.

 

  1. Discussion

 

Dan Morris expressed his disappointment with the committee’s response to his resignation letter and general dissatisfaction with the committee’s work. Peter Williams invited him to come to a committee meeting to discuss his concerns but the offer was not taken up.

 

Dick Nowell asked if we are looking into new possible sites as the number of people on waiting list is now nearly 50% of the plots available. Apart from planning to add 6 more plots on the current site we are looking into two other possibilities – widening the current site or opening a second site. In the first case we would be renting from NT at the commercial price and in the second we need to investigate the legal conditions of setting an allotment site on private land to protect both the landowner and the plotholders. Emyr Morgan that it may be possible to split some plots in half as some plotholders find their plots difficult to manage. Gareth Malkin suggested this idea is put on the agenda of the next committee meeting. Paul Rowland said that some of the new plots may be divided.

 

Tim Metcalfe asked if the minutes of committee meetings are available. At the moment they are available on request, we hope that they would be soon available on our website. Dick Nowell offered to help with the website to speed its setting up.

 

Dick Nowell raised the plan for new housing in Llandeilo. He suggested approaching the planning department and ask them about provision of allotments for the new residents. John Gaffney informed everybody that Transition Town Llandeilo answered the strategy document consultation and that their answer, pointing out the lack of environmental sustainability of the plan, is available on TL2 website. Peter Jones pointed out that all the land available is owned by developers and part of it is on flood plain. Chris Parish added that even the hydrological survey hasn’t been done and that this development won’t be happening in near future.

 

Tim Shaw raised the point that if someone resigns from the committee and raises number of points they should be answered. Dan Morris said he wanted his resignation letter to be published.  Peter Williams responded by saying that Dan’s resignation letter had been answered and accepted. He repeated the invitation to Dan to come to a committee meeting to discuss his concerns. Peter Williams also pointed out that the committee did not see the resignation letter as suitable for general release as it contains unsubstantiated personal attacks and accusations some of were libellous. Dan Morris insisted that he wanted his resignation letter published and the points raised answered. Dick Nowell suggested that Dan Morris wrote another letter to the committee removing the personal accusation and that this letter together with the committee’s response is then published and made available  to all members. Peter Williams asked all those present if this was acceptable and there were no voices raised against and therefore it was agreed.

 

Emyr Morgan asked about drainage. Paul Rowland answered that we have plans for the drainage of the site in place and are waiting for NT to put in drainage of the car park area. Emyr Morgan further asked about plans for trees or a play area for children. Anne van Mechelen answered that they are in a long term plan and will be addressed when the basic structures are in place.

 

  1. Guest speakers

 

Chris Parish (Llandeilo Fawr Town Council Mayor)

Congratulated everybody on what was a good growing season, especially for runner beans, said that the allotments have become an important part of Llandeilo life and voiced the town council’s support for the project.

 

Brian Hancock (the National Trust)

Said he is impressed with all the hard work which went to allotments, he finds the community involvement inspirational and hopes for further close co-operation between CYD and NT.

 

Peter Jones (Llandeilo Gardening Club)

Peter Jones represented both the Gardening Club and the Llandeilo Show. In the name of the Llandeilo Show he said that they are pleased for us to be involved. For the Gardening Club he voiced an offer of an allotment competition. The general response to this offer was positive under the condition that it would be only for those who want to take part. Peter Jones also offered us a place on the Gardening Club committee so we can be mutually informed about our activities.

 

  1. Election of the executive committee for the ensuing year

 

The following people stood for re-election: J. Kateřina Dvořáková, Craig Jones, Gareth Malkin, Margaret Nicholls, Brian Price, Paul Rowland, Pam Steane Price, Anne van Mechelen, Geoffrey Williams and Peter Williams. The number did not exceed the maximum number of 12 committee members and therefore the vote was formal. The acceptance of the committee was proposed by Dick Nowell and seconded by Emyr Morgan. The committee was elected. Nigel Cox was nominated as a co-opted member of the committee by Brian Price; the move was seconded by Margaret Nicholls. Nigel Cox was co-opted to the committee. Dick Nowell offered to help with the internet.

 

  1. Next meeting

 

Next AGM will be in October 2011, not during the half term holiday.