Agenda item

To consider the update on the progress towards the self-management of allotments in Rotherham, through:

·       An update on the finalisation of the lease between the Rotherham Allotments Alliance (RAA) Ltd and the Council, and

·       Progress of the work of Rotherham Allotment Alliance as set out in their Annual Report for 2023

The Chair welcomed Councillor Sheppard, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Neighbourhood Working, Councillor Steele, Chairperson, Rotherham Allotment Alliance Ltd, along with the officers in attendance.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Neighbourhood Working indicating that the Council took the decision to transfer its allotments to a community benefit society on 1 January 2020. Since taking up his role in 2021, he had become part of the Allotment Alliance Board, which was chaired by Councillor Steele. He noted the lease was still awaiting conclusion to handover ultimate control to the alliance. He noted there was high demand for plots at certain sites, but the occupancy rate was in a really good position.

He placed on record his thanks to Councillor Steele and all other members and directors of the board for the work they put in throughout the year. He explained that as part of the terms and conditions there were two seats available on the Allotment Alliance, he fulfilled one of those seats but would welcome another member to come forward.

Councillor Steele as Chairperson of the Rotherham Allotment Alliance explained there were six directors currently, which took on the work of running the allotments along with one support officer, who manged the day to day running of the allotment sites. They had currently let around 98% of sites. The sites they managed were in Wath, Rawmarsh, Kimberworth and the town centre. There were also societies who ran some allotments on their behalf, which were run by smaller committees.

There were still a few ongoing issues, some around grazing land and the outstanding lease. They were keen to be able to sign the lease and had been running the allotments since 2020. He noted that each year the allotments had to be relet and some people gave them up. This usually meant that work needed to be carried out on that site before it could be relet to another person.

The report highlighted that some investment was needed in the infrastructure. Councillor Steele indicated the alliance had some funding to invest and could also apply for grants to assist with this. There were a number of projects that could benefit from any funding provided by the Council following the sale of allotment lands. They also worked with community groups. 

It was requested that all allotments were made accessible where possible and that consideration be given to installing raised beds on some sites. This includes the tracks to access the sites. Councillor Steele noted that it was very difficult to make some allotment sites totally accessible because of the nature of the sites.  Where the alliance had been contacted by people with disabilities they had tried to improve the tracks to the allotments, they had also been more relaxed with the rule around cultivating 85% of the allotment.

The Allotment Support Officer noted that trackways and access gates were being considered for allotments across all sites. The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Neighbourhood Working explained the Council would work on a case-by-case basis to have fully inclusive allotments across the borough and adjustments could be made through partnership working with the various groups.

Councillor Steele confirmed that the alliance would look at individual allotment sites if someone applied for it and did try to be as flexible as possible to meet people’s needs.

The report listed that thirty-seven plots were unlettable.  It was queried if flooding still an issue for those plots. It was explained, those plots may not be accessible for many reasons, may be flooding in the area or the plot was overgrown. It cost around £1500 to clear a plot with the current yearly rent being £100, so plots would not be routinely cleared unless another person was ready to take on responsibility for that plot.

Resolved:-  That the report be received, the contents and progress towards the lease be noted.