Page 7 - ALG Issue 4 2014 Digital Edition

Insurance
Insurance for Allotment Clubs and Associations
Why buy insurance?
Insurance is often seen as an unnecessary expense but this view rapidly changes when disaster strikes and an unexpected and potentially unaffordable cost arrives in the post. Many associations operate with small budgets that are simply not equipped to cater for events such as the loss of a clubhouse or the cost of dealing with an award following an injured third party.
The question “Why buy insurance?” might better be replaced by: “What would happen if I had no insurance?”
Previously, I commented on some real, recent claims with one reaching £85,000 excluding the cost of lawyers’ fees. This is far from the largest imaginable award and you might want to consider the impact of being confronted with such an unexpected bill. What would happen to the association or its individual officers? Beyond actually affording the cost of a disaster there is also the cost of your time and the worry such events bring.
At Shield we want to ensure that you have the right cover in place that can deal with the unexpected, such as the cost
of a new clubhouse or the defence and management of a claim from an injured party. The right insurance should solve
the financial impact of rectifying claims, ensuring your allotment association is protected and allowing you to concentrate on running your allotments. Leave the financial and time-consuming strain of dealing with claims in the hands of your insurer.
Taking the decision to buy insurance still leaves you with the question as to which policy is right for you. Do you look for a policy that imposes minimum sums insured that far exceed your needs or do you
look for a flexible policy that allows you to choose limits in each section that suit you? At Shield, we provide insurance designed for the individual customer. If you only need
£10,000 property cover but would like £5,000,000 liability then that is what we can provide. There is no need to pay a premium for many tens of thousands of insurance you know you do not need.
Public liability insurance
policy benefits include:
• Protection for your members and
your association against the cost of compensating injured parties who suffered bodily injury or whose property was lost or damaged by an accident happening at your allotments.
• Court Awards – Up to £250,000 cover where you have been awarded costs but have been unable to recover them.
• Up to £10m Public Liability cover is available.
Optional extras
At Shield we listen to our customers and wherever possible amend our policies to give you the cover you tell us you need. With this in mind we have added the following optional extras to our public liability insurance:
• £10m Employers Liability cover • Trusted Person’s Indemnity
• Landlords cover
• Cups and Trophies
• Buildings and Equipment cover
• Abandoned Events cover
• Loss of money cover
What does it cost?
Premiums start from just under £50.00 (including Insurance Premium Tax) and the following examples show how the costs vary for the basic liability cover according to the level of protection you want and number of members in the Club:
The insurance is designed to allow you to ‘pick and mix’ any of the optional extras desired and set the level of cover needed for your specific needs. This means you can tailor your insurance to provide the level of benefits needed without paying for cover you do not want.
To include protection for buildings worth £10,000 starts at £40.28 and for £7,500 cover on equipment the cost can be as low as £39.75.
To speak to one of our specialist team of allotment insurance experts, call 01277 243 054.
Coverage
Number of Members in Club
20
50
70
£2.5m Liability cover for the Club
£47.40
£63.25
£82.61
£2.5m Liability Cover for the Club and for the Members
£61.39
£98.24
£130.91
£5m Liability cover for the Club
£58.00
£77.81
£102.02
£5m Liability Cover for the Club and for the Members
£75.49
£121.54
£162.38
Legal
Guidance on the Bulk Sales of Garden Pesticides
Head Office have received a number of enquiries relating to the bulk purchase of slug pellets for distribution via on-site shops to plot holders for use on allotments. The following advice has been given by the Chemical Regulation Directorate (CRD), a department of the Health and Safety Executive.
The CRD strongly discourage the practice of bulk purchase
and the separation into smaller packages. There have been many incidents of overdosing and poisoning by slug pellets, particularly of dogs. These make up a considerable portion of the incidents referred to in the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS). The CRD therefore take a robust line with anyone where people or animals are put at risk. As a result the CRD would actively support enforcement action by Local Authorities in these circumstances.
The above is covered under the Plant Protection Product Regulations 2011, which state that to sell or supply a plant protection product not in its original labelled container would contravene Regulation 9. Under these regulations this would be a prosecutable offence under Regulation 23 of the Plant Protection Product Regulations 2011.
Also, to sell or supply a plant protection product not in its original labelled container would not be taking all reasonable precautions to protect human health and the environment and this would contravene the Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations 2012 and would also be a prosecutable offence.
To distribute products of this kind can lead to the possible poisoning of animals and young children.
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