Some of you may have read about the council's decision to change allotment leases in the Lancaster Guardian, but the following email from the chair of ALMA (The Association of Lancaster & Morecambe Allotments) reports some significant changes in our relationship with the council in the future...and for once we think this is good news!
"Dear All
Lancaster City Council’s Cabinet met at Lancaster Town Hall on Tuesday 6th October 2009, Item 6 on the agenda was the future arrangements for all Lancaster City Council allotment sites.
Councillor Emily Heath put forward the proposal of the Allotment Task Group that sites should pay a peppercorn rent and retain the difference in rent for running costs/maintenance and improvements to the allotment sites. Also that a sum of £20,000 per annum, over 5 years, be spent on bringing allotment infrastructure up to a better standard.
I am very pleased to tell you that this proposal was passed unanimously by the Cabinet and various members praised the past work of Allotment Committees and plotholders.
Further to this, it was agreed that, in addition a new lease, each site would be asked to enter into a Service Level Agreement with Lancaster City Council. Details will be provided later.
Although the Cabinet’s decision has to be ratified by the full Council at their next meeting (March 2010 budget meeting), I am assured that this will happen and I was informed that the new leases have already been drawn up.
This means that we have obtained all that we asked for.
May I take this opportunity to thank the Allotment Task Group for all their efforts over the past 5 years. Special thanks to Emily Heath, Richard Tulej, Jill Wesolowski and John Lambert.
Congratulations to all concerned.
Tom Jones
Chair
ALMA"