Notes on the First Meeting on the "Future for Allotments Report" hosted by the Local Government Association, 23 July 1998
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Notes on the First Meeting on the "Future for Allotments Report" hosted by the Local Government Association, 23 July 1998 |
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Introduction ... These notes have been placed in the QED Virtual Potting Shed as a service to allotment and community gardeners who wish to make a contribution to the debates which follow on from the publication of "The Future for Allotments" Report. The Local Government Association has asked for any comments from allotment associations and allotment holders to be channeled through the NSALG and NFCF rather than being sent directly to the LGA. The postal addresses of both organisations are appended. Alternatively, you may send a response by e-mail to the QED Website: all e-mails will be passed on to NSALG, NFCF, and (unless an instruction is given to the contrary) to the kitchen.gardens e-mail group. The Notes ... Present:
1. The meeting was intended as a brainstorm of the issues that need to be addressed arising from the recent Transport, Environment and the Regions Select Committee report on The Future For Allotments. This contains recommendations to DETR and the LGA on action they should take to improve the clarity of legislation covering allotments and spread best practice to all local authorities from those already providing good quality allotments services. 2. The LGA explained that although the importance of allotments as a local community resource is recognised, there has not hitherto been any experience within the central LGA secretariat of dealing with the issues and therefore little expertise in the best practice or legislative aspects. To carry out some worthwhile work on this topic will therefore require the assistance of officers and members from local authorities which have expertise in allotments services and from other organisations concerned with allotments. The resources to carry out such work within the LGA are likely to be limited and so co-ordination of a joint effort will be the main avenue for preparing a best practice guide. The approval of members may be needed to carry out the work. 3. There was a general consensus by the meeting that the LGA needs to do three things:
4. There was further agreement that whilst information about best practice will need further development, much is already available from the 1997 English allotments survey. What is needed most however is the re-conceptualisation of the role and place of allotments in the urban policy framework in its broadest sense. This will need to encompass sustainable development, community development, education, health and the intrinsic value of allotments as amenity, wildlife open space. There is recognition that the allotments movement has not in general been able to articulate its needs in such policy contexts. 5. There was discussion about why this had been the case. Generally, there was agreement that political momentum and support is necessary for allotments to be taken seriously as a recreation service in local authorities. Also, in many authorities responsibility for allotments rests at fairly junior levels within leisure services or sometimes within property or land departments. In the latter case, this could in some circumstances mitigate against the development of an allotment service which is integrated into the wider leisure and amenity objectives of local authorities. Any document produced about allotments therefore needs to tackle this issue. 6. In preparing any national best practice document, consultation with all relevant bodies will be key. All participants will need to be able to endorse best practice documents. In particular local councils, represented by the National Association of Local Councils, will need to be part of the process. Also the private sector will need to be involved. 7. Partnership will also be a key ingredient, with relevant professional bodies such as ILAM and the RTPI, as well as with organisations which can help implement the wider agenda for allotments, such as schools and health promotion officers, and health authorities. Other possible partners include Community Health UK and LA21 officers. Also other local authority departments will need to be drawn in to recognise the potential value of allotment activities in meeting their objectives. 8. ILAM is preparing a conference on allotments. Also Birmingham City Council is holding a Millennium Parks Conference in Autumn 2000 at which these issues could be aired. 9. Key to a successful transformation of relationships between local authorities and allotment holders will be to reform the landlord/tenant agreements. These lead to a very formal and legalistic relationship and is not one that promotes partnership. Plain, understandable agreements are needed, setting each partners roles and responsibilities. Bristol and Birmingham are attempting to simplify their agreements and provide help packs with them. 10. The provision of allotments needs to recognise the essentially local nature of allotment use. Most people walk or cycle to their allotment plot. Also, people tend to prefer smaller sites, with less than 30 plots. 11. The problem of defining latent demand for allotments was recognised. The key may be in moving considerations of demand from the last ditch attempts in which they are made to save allotments from redevelopment, to the planning stage of allotments provision, so that they inform provision and marketing. Key to this is a general improvement in record keeping on allotments and the maintenance of a register of allotment sites. 12. With regard to legislation, it was agreed that current allotment legislation is outmoded, and needs revision and consolidation. However, it was recognised that a new allotments act is very unlikely at present. Much could be achieved by the government if it clarified the legislation through some form of guidance or circular.
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