Page 33 - ALG Issue 3 2016

Presentation of Annual Report 2016
Our Work - Liz Bunting
Legal and Operations Manager
Of course, the National Allotment Society’s work is only possible through our supporters, volunteers, staff and partners. Your loyalty is one of our main strengths, and without that, we would achieve nothing. You give the NAS the ability to stand up for allotments where needed. You’ve all played a vital role – thank you. Looking back on 2015-16, there’s much to celebrate, but there’s still a long way to go if we are to save allotments and increase the numbers of plots to meet the demand.
We have received a great deal of support over the last 12 months and also received thanks from our membership, many of whom
are really grateful for the assistance they are given, while many others have complimented Head Of ce on the real improvements
in the magazine and the way in which we have increased our communication and information ow.
These are all aspects we pledged to improve within the Strategic Review. As a result of the work carried out with the rules review, although it has taken longer than was originally envisaged, we now have a version that has been formally vetted by Co-op UK, a body with an extremely professional approach and experts in their eld. Once our rules are approved by the AGM, they do not become legally enforceable until they are registered, and it is then my responsibility to register them with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). I am aware that, since the new legislation came into force in August 2014, the Co-operative Community Bene t Societies Act has led to the FCA having adopted a more vigorous approach to what they will accept as an organisation’s registered rules.
SUPPORTING THE ALLOTMENT COMMUNITY
During 2015 the NAS has continued to provide support to the membership in a number of ways, either through new campaigns or continuing with previous activities:
1. We have continued to respond to the ever-increasing number of legal enquiries from all our membership categories. We do need to respond to at least 60 enquiries per week, some straightforward
allotment law questions, others very complex that may require up to an hour or more of detailed analysis.
2. We have assisted more associations to take on Devolved Management, in differing degrees. The pressure is continuously increasing across the country as local authority budgets are cut. The National Allotment Society has a major part to play in ensuring that the membership are fully aware of the obligations they are taking on and to give the appropriate detailed advice to help them to cope not just with the transition but future management and commitments.
3. Over the year, nine Allotment Of cer Forums have taken place across the ten regions to share good practice and discuss current topics. Many Allotment Of cers’ Forums are now including town and parish clerks who are nding themselves responsible for allotments with little support.
4. We have implemented a non-member email, which has over
300 people with an interest in allotments and who have signed up to receive the email on a quarterly basis. This enables people to nd out why we exist and obtain information about important allotment issues. Hopefully, given time, some of these people will become members.
5. We have had a presence at a variety of shows all over the UK to promote the work of the Society. This has been extremely bene cial in terms of new members and meeting existing members.
6. We have a range of new NAS Policy documents. Deborah Burn undertook writing Policy documentation for the NAS as an Intern from Newcastle University, during the summer of 2015. This work was completed under the guidance of our Policy Advisor, Dr Richard Wiltshire. We now have ten policies on the website. Again, this is further work completed in line with our Strategic Review.
7. We have undertaken work with many other organisations to promote allotments including Co-op UK, the Wildlife Gardening Forum, Garden Organic, Horticultural Trades Association, the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, the Crop Protection Association and BT.
Throughout 2016 we will:
Continue our presence at shows with allotment clinics for expert advice. 2016 started with a very successful Edible Garden Show held in March. We will endeavour to continue supporting shows from Head Of ce and to help with the recruitment of new members.
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