Deanshanger Allotments CIO
Trustees Annual Report
Reporting period 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022
Trustees : Jane Beedell (Chairman) Sadie Scott Natasha Beedell
Objectives of the Charity
Deanshanger Allotments is a CIO registered on 11th October 2016 by John and Jane Beedell. The board has a maximum of three trustees who manage the CIO on a day to day basis. The objective of the CIO is to improve the conditions of life, specifically the provision of facilities for allotment gardening, for the inhabitants of Deanshanger and the surrounding area.
Death of founding trustee
John Beedell sadly died of COVID-19 on 22nd March 2020. His daughter Natasha stepped in to replace him. Aside from the sad loss to his family, his hard work, energy, dedication and expertise has been sorely missed by both Deanshanger Allotments CIO and Deanshanger Allotments Association, where he held the position of Treasurer.
Death of trustee
David Aaronson sadly died early in 2022 and Sadie Scott, an exceptionally dedicated plot holder at Church Lane site, stepped in to replace him. His dedication to voluntary work in the village throughout his adult life will be sorely missed.
Financial performance during 2022
In summary, the Section 106 Grant received from Redrow on 14th February 2019 comprised:
Allotment Work Contribution : £25,000.00 Allotment Maintenance Contribution : £21,636.36
TOTAL
£46,636.36
The total spent so far is £20,557 of the £25,000 Allotment Work Contribution. £6,000 was spent this year on the erection of a chain link fence along the resident’s side of the site to connect with the existing chain link fencing along the other three sides. This means that the perimeter fencing for the site is now wholly owned by Deanshanger Allotments.
This year, for the first time, the Allotment Maintenance Contribution (£21,636.36) was used to pay £42 to South Northants Council for a green waste bin collection service for Northfields site and £3,124.03 was transferred to Deanshanger Allotment Association for the 3 years’ maintenance costs (fully receipted) for Northfields Allotment site maintenance since
it opened to the public. This averages approximately £1,000 per year which is in line with the Allotment Maintenance Contribution being provided for maintenance for the next 20 years. The total spent so far is £3,166.03 of the £21,636.36 Allotment Maintenance Contribution.
2022 - Summary
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2022 was a quiet year of recovery from the pandemic, re-establishing work routines and coping with a cost of living crisis and certain food shortages.
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War broke out in Ukraine following the Russian invasion in the Spring which, together with the effect of the pandemic, led to a cost of living crisis.
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Many plot holders found they had less time for their allotments as they had to return to their workplaces and take on extra work.
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Many plot owners struggled with the long, hot, dry summer which required heavy watering of crops. Climate change was evident.
Operational activities and achievements 2022
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A value for money fencing contractor was engaged to install a chain link fence along the residents’ side of the Northfields site to match that on the other three existing sides. In addition to protecting the legal boundary of the Northfields site for the charity into the future, it ensures that the security of the site is not compromised should one of the wooden residents’ fences or fences owned by Redrow be damaged in high wind, as happened in 2020. It will also ensure the safety of our plot holders by preventing the residents’ wooden fence being blown down across the path and potentially hitting someone.
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South Northants Council announced that it would start charging £42 annually per bin for their green waste collection service, so this was paid for the Northfielkds’ green bin from the Allotment Maintenance Contribution budget.
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Two generous plot holders at Church Lane site donated a brand new luxury shed to their site. A contractor was engaged to prepare the footing and erect the shed at the front of the orchard where it is hidden from view. This is important for security reasons as it is not possible to insure sheds and their contents within allotment insurance.
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Plumbing to the water butts at our Puxley Road site was improved and insulated to prevent pipes bursting in the Winter. This was paid for by Deanshanger Allotment Association.
Objectives and operational plans for the future across the sites
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The main objective is to maximise utilisation across all our sites. Maintaining the full utilisation at our Church Lane and Puxley Road sites enjoyed during the pandemic would be ideal but may not be sustainable as plot holders resume their previous work and social routines, and cope with the cost of living crisis and climate change.
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A further water butt is planned for next year at our Puxley Road site where there are twice as many plots as at our other two sites but only the same number of water butts.
Public benefit - achievements
Allotment gardening provides significant mental health benefits, good aerobic exercise and helps combat loneliness. This was important during the pandemic lockdowns as social distancing was easily achieved on an allotment site and many other benefits have been appreciated during furlough/staying at home such as:
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being out in the fresh air
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enjoying a more healthy lifestyle
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acquiring new skills and knowledge
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a sense of achievement
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enjoying fresh produce free of chemicals
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meeting like-minded people
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making new friends
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enjoying contact with nature.
Northfields’ Allotment site has attracted new plot holders not only from the adjacent estate but from all over the village of Deanshanger. This has facilitated the development of a new community of residents who have been able to witness first hand the development of the new site and to be the first gardeners to grow their own food on their plots. This has also further integrated those living on the new estate into the rest of the village and forged new friendship links based on common interests. Once the site is fully occupied and plots are more mature, all plot holders will be encouraged to help maintain the site and take an active role in the site caretaking team.
Plans for the future for public benefit
In the future we hope to be in a position to offer the opportunity to suitable local organisations / groups to advise and assist with building some raised beds for wheelchair access on a reserved area near the car park, so that village residents with mobility issues can also be afforded the opportunity to grow their own fruit and vegetables and enjoy being part of this new community of gardeners.
We have also been notified of the possibility of a new estate being built adjacent to the site. If planning permission is obtained, our Northfields site will be able to offer new residents plots within walking distance to their homes.
Jane Beedell on behalf of all the trustees of Deanshanger Allotments Registered Charity No 1169612
Registered address: 18A The Green, Deanshanger, Milton Keynes, MK19 6HL
28/10/23
Deanshanger Allotments 1169612 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 1-Jan-22 31-Dec-22 To from
Section A Receipts and payments
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |||||||||||||||||
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| to the nearest £ |
to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||||||||||||||
| A1 | Receipts | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sub total(Gross income for | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | |||||||||||||
| AR) |
| A2 Asset and investment sales, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (see table). | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sub total | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | ||||||||||
| **Total receipts ** | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | ||||||||||
| A3 Payments |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
10/29/2023
1
| West Northants Council Green Bin | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service | - | 42- | - | -- | - | 42- | - | -- | ||||||||||||
| Erection of chainlink fence at Northfields | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Allotment Site | - | 6,000- | - | -- | - | 6,000- | - | -- | ||||||||||||
| Transfer to Deanshanger Allotments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Association for Northfields Site | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Maintenance | - | -- | - | 3,124- | - | -- | - | 3,124- | - | -- | ||||||||||
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| **Sub total ** | - | -- | - | 9,166- | - | -- | - | 9,166- | - | -- |
| A4 Asset and investment | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| purchases, (see table) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| **Sub total ** | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | ||||||||||||
| **Total payments ** | - | -- | - | 9,166- | - | -- | - | 9,166- | - | -- | ||||||||||
| **Net of receipts/(payments) ** | - | -- | - | 9,166- | - | -- | - | 9,166- | ||||||||||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | ||||||||||
| A6 Cash funds last year end | - | -- | - | 32,078- | - | -- | - | 32,078- | - | 32,078- | ||||||||||
| **Cash funds this year end ** | - | -- | - | 22,912- | - | -- | - | 22,912- | - | 32,078- |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | Details | funds | funds | funds | ||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | ||||||
| B1 | Cash funds | Cash | - | 22,912- | - | -- |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
10/29/2023
2
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| B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details Details Land at Puxley Road, Church Lane and Northfields Perimeter chain link fencing, gates, two water butts, a wheelbarrow and a shed at Northfields site |
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- 22,912- |
- -- |
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| OK | ||||||||
| Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Endowment Endowment |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- Cost (optional) - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- Cost (optional) - -- - -- |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| Land at Puxley Road, Church Lane and Northfields |
Endowment | - -- |
- -- |
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| Perimeter chain link fencing, gates, two water butts, a wheelbarrow and a shed at Northfields site |
Endowment | - -- |
- -- |
CCXX R3 accounts (SS)
10/29/2023
3
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
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| Fund to which | Amount due | When due | ||||||||
| Details | liability relates | (optional) | (optional) | |||||||
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| Signature | Name | Date of approval |
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| JANE BEEDELL | 26 | October 2023 | ||||||||
CCXX R4 accounts (SS)
10/29/2023
4