Page 25 - ALG Issue 3 2024

The Society operates in five main work areas:
i) Servicing the membership via our Administration Team, who ensure
the membership experience is as smooth as possible and the team help to resolve issues that may arise.The introduction of our new website has taken much longer than anticipated. However, as I write this report, we are in a testing phase prior to launch.
ii) Marketing produces our much-appreciated Allotment Gardener magazine and regular newsletters.
This year’s concentration has been
on updating our brand identity and entering more into the social media world.
iii) Legal work - almost 1000 new legal enquiries were received in a 12-month period, many requiring detailed work. A great deal of time has been spent with associations wishing to go down the incorporation route to protect their associations for the future. Many are taking on obligations under long term leases and self-management agreements and some the ownership of land. Our work this year has included more interaction with local authorities and central government. We have increased our webinar training, undertaken many government consultations and taken on board changes to planning legislation, while the introduction of Biodiversity
Net Gain, along with the Green Infrastructure Framework, have had an impact on allotments.
iv) Work in the field, carried out by our team of regional representatives and deputy representatives.They give
their time to visiting sites, sorting out disputes, attending AGMs and spending days on show stands promoting the Society with regional volunteers.This is all very valuable work for the Society. It is always a pleasure to meet members, inform them about the work of the Society and also encourage others to join.
v) Work in partnership with other organisations helping to raise the profile of the NAS which is vital to the success of the organisation.The membership has assisted greatly with the Ordnance Survey Crowdsourcing Project after publication in our magazine, newsletters and on social media.The latest figures available from March 2024:
FIRST EVER AMBASSADORS
Zoe Claymore
Sarah Owen-Hughes Adam Frost
OUR HIGHLIGHTS
For many years, as a founder member of the Internationale des Jardins Familaux, the NAS has been sending its Presidents to attend conferences and other events at venues around Europe.They have always reported back via the Allotment Gardener magazine. During August 2023, it fell to NAS to provide a study session for a group of 40 delegates representing many European countries. Our venue was Cambridge with relatively easy access to airports and good rail links.
We had a very successful conference, hosted by our President, Phil Gomersall, with an excellent group of speakers on the theme of “Soil Health”.
The NAS work for allotments is only possible thanks to the support we receive from our members, volunteers, partners and staff – thank you for all the work you do.
TREASURERS REPORT
Jeff Davies presented the Treasurers report for year ending January 2024.
The Accounts for the year ended 31st January 2024 show a stable and healthy financial position with the overall result showing a surplus of some £10k. However, this includes an upturn of nearly £30k on revaluation of our investment portfolio which is very welcome but we cannot escape the fact that our operational costs for the second-year running are more than our income and without the revaluation would have left us with a deficit of some £20k.The organisation continues to be affected by the cost-of-living crisis and inflationary pressures caused by the war
in Ukraine and the Middle East. Income has increased by just over 5% overall compared to 2023 and whilst there is encouraging progress in commission
from Kings Seeds (up by over 9%) and Insurance commission for affiliate fees (up 12%), our main income stream is relatively flat with an increase of 2.5%, well below our aspirations.
Our operating costs have been restricted to a 4% increase on 2023
and we have had to consciously restrict spending in certain categories to achieve this. If you discount the revaluation of our investment portfolio, costs are £538k
compared to £518k in 2023 and this is a situation that cannot be sustained. In the circumstances, membership fee increases are being recommended with effect from 01.01.2025 to enable us to progress in the future and maintain stability. It has been some considerable time since the last increase and we hope members will support this.
An additional investment of £250k has been made in an ethical fund and we are committed to this agenda as long as it is in the interests of the organisation and
its members.There are considerable tax implications of switching monies from our existing investments but this will continue to be reviewed.
Finally, I would like to thank all those
at Head Office for their support in producing information and looking after the day-to-day running of the finances and a special thank you to Liz Bunting and best wishes for a long and happy retirement.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE ACCOUNTS YEAR END 2024
53 Accepted / 1 Against
APPOINTMENT OF ACCOUNTANTS – MHA 53 Accepted / 1 Against
VOTE FOR INSPECTION OF ACCOUNTS RATHER THAN AUDIT 52 Accepted / 1 Against / 1 Abstain
MOTIONS
Jeff explained that:
Each year in January, the Management
Committee discusses and considers any increase in fees.This is the first increase in 11 years for individuals and associations and local authority membership has not increased since 2007.
S (Statement) –Oppose - NAS should have a plan for improvement first and address our weaknesses around awareness.
S –We had 3 sites threatened and the legal advice received was invaluable. No one knows about NAS, unless they have a plot on an affiliated site.The proposal of a fee increase will put them at a standstill.
S – A member stated they are both an individual member and affiliated to an association, that the NAS and its benefits are so important, that they would rather pay increases than lose the Society.
S – The benefits that the NAS offer were highlighted and the new Voice of Allotment leaflet was presented.
AGM
Allotment and Leisure Gardener | Issue 3 2024 | 25