1. Duration of Agreement
   a. This agreement shall come into effect on October 31st of a calendar year and shall run for a duration of twelve (12) calendar months. The agreement shall be renewed automatically in subsequent years, provided that
   i. The rules of the agreement have been met.
   ii. There is no major change in the rules of the agreement.
   iii. Continuation is agreeable to both the tenant and Stonebridge Allotment Society.
   iv. There is neither grievance nor dispute between the tenant and the Stonebridge Allotment Society unresolved at that date.
   b. Tenancies established at other times of the year shall be renewable at the next October 31st.
2. Rents
   a. Rents are payable in advance and shall be due by October 31st of each calendar year. All rents shall be determined in consultation with Faversham Town Council.
   b. Any tenant falling in arrears shall without notice pay the amount due on the ground tenanted within one month of the due date, failing which the ground for which rent is unpaid shall revert to the Stonebridge Allotment Society for reallocation.
3. Buildings
   a. Further buildings may not be erected without consultation with Faversham Town Council.
   b. Only one shed and one greenhouse or polytunnel to be erected on allotment plots. Any requests for further buildings must be made, in the first instance, in writing to the Secretary.
   c. Buildings, sheds, or greenhouses are not to exceed 1.8m x 1.2m without the Council’s prior consent.
   d. No fencing to be erected around individual plots without permission from the Committee.
4. Undertakings by Tenants
   a. The Allotment Site is only to be used as allotment gardens for private horticultural purposes and not for the purpose of any trade or business (trade or business shall be deemed to include for the use of land as a market garden).
   b. On the establishment of a new tenancy, the tenant shall ensure that at least one-third of the newly-tenanted plot shall be established in good condition within one calendar month from the date of the tenancy agreement, weather permitting. Should the tenant be in receipt of a plot requiring substantial work, the time scale for the work shall be agreed between the tenant and the Letting Officer.
   c. Thereafter, the tenant shall undertake to comply with the following:
   i. To keep the allotment clean and free from weeds and otherwise maintain it in a good state of cultivation and fertility.
   ii. Not to use pesticides on the site.
   iii. To keep all paths adjoining the plot cut (if grass) and in serviceable use.
   iv. To maintain adjacent hedges and water margins.
   v. To dispose of their own rubbish, other than compostable plant material, off site.
   vi. Not to cause nuisance neither to any other tenant nor to any local resident in any matter of site use and access.
   vii. To control bonfires, lighting them no earlier than 2pm, ensuring that there is no threat to other tenants ground, nor nuisance to local residents and road users. No bonfires may be lit between June 1st and October 1st in any circumstances.
   viii. Not to encroach on established paths and roadways.
   ix. Not to deposit within the allotment area any refuse or decaying matter except manure and compost in such quantities as may reasonably be used for cultivation.
   x. Not to deposit rubbish and decaying matter in hedges, dykes, waterways, against fences, on bridges and open sites.
   xi. Not to bring any material on to the site other than that required for the cultivation of the tenants plot. Carpeting and tyres must not be brought on to site.
   xii. To neither bring nor cause to be brought into the allotment site any dog unless it is on a leash and under control at all times, and belongs to the tenant.
   xiii. To respect that the officers of the Society shall have the right to refuse entry of any unauthorised person (a member of the tenant’s family is exempt from this ruling) unless that unauthorised person is accompanied by the tenant.
   xiv. To neither bring nor cause to be brought into the allotment site any child unless he/she is under the supervision of the tenant at all times.
   xv. To respect all installations buildings and fixtures whether the property of Faversham Town Council or the collective property of all tenants or the Allotment Society.
   xvi. Not to plant any trees, including nut trees, without the written consent of the Council, providing always that this clause does not apply to fruit trees.
   xvii. Not to fell any existing tree without the consent of the council.
   xviii. Not to carry out reduction or maintenance of any existing tree, other than light pruning, without the specific agreement of the Stonebridge Allotment Society.
   xix. To allow access by the council in respect of its duties, especially in connection with waterways and weirs.
   xx. Respect requests to visit the site by agencies and people who are not tenants.
   xxi. Not to interfere in any way with the workings of the two weirs.
   xxii. Not to use pumps from water tanks systems at the top of the site.
   xxiii. Not to bring air guns, catapults and other weapons on to the site.
   xxiv. Not to fish in the site waterways, nor introduce fish in to them.
   xxv. Not to sub-let plots or portions of plots.
5. Transfer of Land
   a. The Stonebridge Allotment Society shall be charged by the terms of the Agreement with Faversham Town Council with the maintenance of a waiting list. Those applying for land will be notified that their request has been received and that their request will be dealt with in strict chronological order of receipt of requests. Vacant plots will be allocated by the Stonebridge Allotment Society
   b. Further allocation of plots to those already holding plots will only be made in the event of the waiting list having been cleared.
   c. All land transfers and allocations can only be performed through the Stonebridge Allotment Society
6. GDPR
   Email addresses will only be used to communicate with tenants on allotment business.
7. Grievance and Complaint
   a. The Stonebridge Allotment Society and Faversham Town Council shall have the right to inspect sites for all matters concerning upholding the terms of the agreement.
   b. All complaints and communications regarding grievances shall be made in writing to the Secretary and must be placed before the Stonebridge Allotment Society committee by the Secretary.
   c. Any tenant failing to observe the conditions of the Tenancy Agreement shall receive 28 days notice to cultivate land held in the proper manner and if the situation is not remedied within the given time the tenant shall be deemed to have surrendered land held to the Stonebridge Allotment Society for reallocation.
   d. Any tenant who receives 3 consecutive letters or emails requiring them to cultivate land held within a 12 month period and who fails to comply shall then be deemed to have surrendered their plot for reallocation.
   e. All matters of dispute between the Stonebridge Allotment Society and the Council arising from the Agreement shall be resolved by the Faversham Town Council Facilities Manager whose decision will be final.
   f. The Agreement between the Council and the Stonebridge Allotment Society is subject to maintenance of terms agreed by both parties.
8. Meetings
   a. An Annual General Meeting will be held in November of each year.
   b. The Stonebridge Allotment Society Committee shall meet as business requires.
   Secretary, Stonebridge Allotment Society
   email: stonebridgeallotmentsociety@gmail.com
   website: stonebridgeallotmentsociety.org
   Facilities Manager, Faversham Town Council

The closing date for entries will be 8th October. A maximum of three entries per member should be submitted as prints to Noel Perkins, 72 West Street.

As this is the first year, the comments of the independent judge will be taken on board for future competitions. Winners will be announced in good time for the presentations at the AGM.

The work to the long bridge has now been completed and the bridge is in use. Improvements to other bridges have also been made by Swale as a condition of the transfer to FTC, including handrails and decking.

Tenders are being sought for the replacement of the defective bridge between plots 19D and 27B.

A reminder that there is to be an open meeting for members 26th July.

Following on from a successful programme of major works, the committee will update the membership on the progress with ongoing initiatives to improve the site. It will also be an opportunity to discuss other ideas to be put to the AGM in November.

Dont forget the plant swap.

This will be an opportunity to meet up with fellow allotment holders, swap plants and dispose of surplus seedlings.  They will not go to waste and will benefit others.  Last years event was well attended and enjoyed by all.

A copy of the poster displayed at all gates is attached.

Plant swap 2017

Macknade Fine Foods are hosting an in store talk by Paolo Arrigo of Franchi Seeds on Thursday 20th April from 6pm.  More details and tickets, £10, can be obtained by contacting:

http://macknade.com/community/whats-on/events/journey-seed-plate/

Franchi Seeds are one of Europes oldest seed suppliers, growing seeds in a similar climate to UK so they thrive here.  They raise a huge range and are extremely good value in my experience.

The new allotments have been let following the site strip and levelling carried out by Kevin Nugent over three days with a hired digger.  This vital task, which included sealing the leaking stream bank, transformed the site so it can be put in to use.  The committee have expressed their sincere thanks to Kevin, on behalf of the membership, for his generous assitance.

The work party on 19th March included the new tenants who, with the help of Sally Kerin, Andy Freeman, Bob Gomes, Noel Perkins, Faye Boldt, Marion Ripley and John Gould prepared and laid the new main paths.  Tenants can now work and enjoy their individual plots.

The remaining work is to repair existing and install additional fencing, construct the decking over the original leak location and provide a permanent security railing at the end of the perimeter wall.

The clean up on site this weekend was a great success.  Over eighty bags of rubbish have been removed by BIFFA today.

Thanks to Sally Kerin for organising the event, Sandra Moriarty for help in clearing metal from the new allotment area, Hazel Grave, Keith Thompson, Ashley and Daniel Haines for clearing rubbish from around the site.

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS WAS A ONE OFF OPORTUNITY.  NO MORE RUBBISH IS TO BE DEPOSITED IN NTHE ENTRANCE AREA.

METAL DISPOSAL
Metal can still be deposited in the enclosure at the end of the main drive ready for collection later this month.  You will be advised when this facility is no longer available.

Work started today on the site strip and levelling work.

Sally Kerin met our volunteer digger driver, Kevin Nugent, at the outset and expressed our sincere thanks for giving his time and expertise to the project.

Kevin and his wife Sue joined us last year and have transformed their previously overgrown plot.  He has has now retired and offered to undertake this major task so that more plots can be provided to meet demand.