RULES AND CONSTITUTION

OBJECT:

The object of the club shall be to promote good fellowship and to encourage and protect the interests of its members in the pursuit of recreational gardening. The society will aim to promote good relations, and the involvement and wellbeing of the wider local community in any way possible including participation in Society events and activities.

MEMBERSHIP:

Membership shall be available to any person, subject to acceptance by the committee and to payment of the subscription in force at the time. One year probationary membership will be followed by full membership granted at the full Committee's discretion.

WAITING LIST:

The Society Secretary shall keep a list of applicants for membership, and plots shall be allocated strictly according to the list. Applications are accepted at the discretion of the Committee.

OFFICERS:

The officers shall be the Chairperson, Vice Chair, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer, plus six members who shall be elected by the membership as Committee persons at the AGM. They shall hold office until the next AGM at which they may be re-elected if still qualified. Five members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall have the power to appoint sub committees.AGM: The date of the following AGM shall be decided at the preceding AGM.

SPECIAL MEETINGS:

A special meeting may be called by the Committee, or in writing to the secretary by not less than 25% of the members. Notice of such meetings is to be given to all members by the secretary.

VOTING:

Each member will be entitled to one vote.

FINANCE:

The Committee shall be empowered to open a current and a deposit account in the name of the Society. All cheques are to be signed by the Hon. Treasurer and one of five named officers or Committee members. The financial year shall start on the third Sunday in September-each year. The accounts shall be audited or independently examined once a year by auditors/independent examiners appointed by the AGM.

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

Subscriptions shall be payable at the time of acceptance into membership and subsequently on the second Sunday of March each year. The amount of subscription is to be decided upon at each AGM.

CULTIVATION:

All plots shall be under cultivation by the first Sunday of March. All plots will be inspected on the first Sunday of March.

TRANSFERS:

No member shall have the right to transfer their plot to any other person without the prior written consent of the Committee. Upon the death of a member, the plot shall be offered to the partner, or son or daughter.

WATER:

The mis-use of water in general is prohibited and common sense in its use is expected. In order to prevent contamination of the water, plot holders must not wash their vegetables or tools in the water tanks.

PLOTS:

All plots shall be kept cultivated. All sheds and paths shall be kept clean and tidy. The plot holder's name and plot number must be displayed on the plot._

GREENHOUSES AND SHEDS:

The building or re-building of greenhouses, sheds and such requires the permission of the Society.

UNTIDY PLOTS:

A letter will be sent to the holder of an untidy plot giving 14 days to make good. If this is not complied with, the plot holder will be sent a notice to quit the plot, with 7 days to remove any tools and personal possessions from his/her plot.If after an improvement, the plot should become untidy again, the plot holder will be requested to attend a Committee meeting on the matter. Non-attendance by the plot holder will result in the termination of the plot holder's membership. A limit of 2 warning letters in any one year will be applied, after which, membership will be terminated at the discretion of the full Committee. Any postage incurred shall be refunded to the club by the member concerned.

THEFT:

Any plot holder found taking anything, including produce, from any other plot without the permission of that plot holder, will appear before a Committee meeting with a view to the termination of their membership.

COMMUNAL AREAS:

These are to be cultivated by volunteers within the society for the good and use of the whole society. Any produce of trees, bushes or vegetable plants planted in the communal areas may be picked by all plot holders to a maximum of 1KG per plot holder per annum. An individual plot holder can take more only if it has agreed with all members

MOTOR VEHICLES:

No cars are allowed inside the allotment gate except those driven by plot holders with a mobility problem for which such access has been agreed by the Committee. On dates to be agreed by the Committee, the middle yellow gate will be open for 2 hours for plot holders to bring large or heavy items in their cars. Once unloaded, the cars must be taken back to the first car park.

SECURITY AND SAFETY:

These are important issues for all of us. Whenever you come onto the allotment site, please lock the gate behind you, and also when you leave. It also keeps the rabbits out!