What is the role of the Allotment Rep?
The Committee of the Ashford Allotment Society is made up of the usual people, like a Treasurer, Secretary, Chairwoman and so on, plus a representative from each site - in an ideal world.
The role of the Rep is to represent the plotholders to the council, and to act as a point of liaison. They are not there to represent the council to the plotholders. At times they have a diplomatic role, when plotholders are in breach of the regulations for example, but they are still formally the representative of the plotholder.
The tasks of the Rep are to show prospective tenants the available plots, put notices up when necessary, help the judges find the best plots for the annual Best Plot competition, and to represent their site at the Committee Meetings of the Society and at the Annual General Meeting. That is three meetings in total a year. The Rep is usually the person who lobbies the council when something needs to be done, and they should be the first person a plotholder turns to for advice.
Some reps are more conscientious about attending Committee Meetings than others. Some are there every time, some rarely turn up. Some sites do not have a Rep at all, despite repeated attempts to recruit someone.
HOW ARE REPS ELECTED?
Reps come up for re-election every two years, unless a vacancy occurs between these times. election is by postal ballot.
WHO CAN BE A REP?
Any plotholder is welcome to put themselves forward as Rep; no special knowledge is needed, you do not need to have a perfect plot, and you may well be a newcomer to the allotments, that's fine. Reps are just ordinary plotholders, and the meetings are very low-key and not at all intimidating. If you would like to be considered as a Rep for your site, contact the Allotments Officer Eileen Law at the Council at [email protected].
Larger sites may choose to have a Deputy Rep to spread the workload and cover for holidays. this is a good idea and has been done in the past. Both Reps would attend meetings, and if the main Rep is unable the Deputy can read their report and vote on their behalf.
Sites currently without any Rep at all are Beaver Field and Wye. Other sites may be in need of new reps in the future.
The role of the Rep is to represent the plotholders to the council, and to act as a point of liaison. They are not there to represent the council to the plotholders. At times they have a diplomatic role, when plotholders are in breach of the regulations for example, but they are still formally the representative of the plotholder.
The tasks of the Rep are to show prospective tenants the available plots, put notices up when necessary, help the judges find the best plots for the annual Best Plot competition, and to represent their site at the Committee Meetings of the Society and at the Annual General Meeting. That is three meetings in total a year. The Rep is usually the person who lobbies the council when something needs to be done, and they should be the first person a plotholder turns to for advice.
Some reps are more conscientious about attending Committee Meetings than others. Some are there every time, some rarely turn up. Some sites do not have a Rep at all, despite repeated attempts to recruit someone.
HOW ARE REPS ELECTED?
Reps come up for re-election every two years, unless a vacancy occurs between these times. election is by postal ballot.
WHO CAN BE A REP?
Any plotholder is welcome to put themselves forward as Rep; no special knowledge is needed, you do not need to have a perfect plot, and you may well be a newcomer to the allotments, that's fine. Reps are just ordinary plotholders, and the meetings are very low-key and not at all intimidating. If you would like to be considered as a Rep for your site, contact the Allotments Officer Eileen Law at the Council at [email protected].
Larger sites may choose to have a Deputy Rep to spread the workload and cover for holidays. this is a good idea and has been done in the past. Both Reps would attend meetings, and if the main Rep is unable the Deputy can read their report and vote on their behalf.
Sites currently without any Rep at all are Beaver Field and Wye. Other sites may be in need of new reps in the future.