Hazelhurst CSA Committee 2010-01-26

Hazelhurst CSA > Co-operative Committee > Committee Meeting 26th January 2010

Time and Venue

1945 for 2000 start at Heather’s house (subject to confirmation)

Agenda

Last meeting

Matters arising, see the notes from the last meeting.

Seeds for Change consensus workshop

Confirmed for Friday 26th February 2010 11am till 5pm, venue still to be agreed, see the questions we need to answer for Monday 1st Feb:

1. What do you want to get out of the workshop?
2. What areas of consensus and facilitation would you like us to cover? For ideas of useful skills and theory have a look at free resources online.
3. What is your experience of consensus decision making? and meeting facilitation?
4. Anything else you'd like to tell us?

Wiki page for the event: Hazelhurst CSA Consensus Workshop.

Rules

Since the last Committee meeting concerns regarding timescale - Co-operatives^UK vs. Somerset, the relationship with Co-operatives^UK and the relationship with The Soil Association have been addressed on the list. There has also been some input from Jim Brown on the choice between being a Co-op or a BenCom. In addition a brief (2 page) and a long (17 pages) version of a list of advantages of the Somerset Rules CSA has been tabled for consideration. Furthermore Alison has posted a comparison table which has been added to the wiki.

Land related issues

News from Huw — the 9 acre field was sold by the farmer to Huw Evans' company on 26th January 2010.

Exact boundary locations where fences do not at present exist, also confirmation who owns which hedge.

Seasonal tasks we should do ASAP.

Registering for a holding number and possible funding from Defra and/or Natural England for habitat enhancement and management.

Need an email list for conservation and biodiversity projects.

AOB

Support letter for MOGs funding bid

Invitation from central library to use their display case for month of April-(for Transition initiatives)

Ceilidh feedback.

Walk report back

Future meetings

Agenda, faciliator, dates for future meetings, the next meeting is on 25th February 2010.

Notes

Present: Gareth, Alison, Yvonne (Chair), Ronin (Minutes), Marion, Chris, Heather, Kerri (Facilitator),

1. Members’ Check-in

All attendees checked in on their current status.

Gareth resigned:- 'Due to work commitments Gareth has stepped down from the committee, and continues to fully support the project in any way he is able to.'

Gareth then left the meeting.

2. Rules

Everyone felt the urgent need to make a clear decision on the rules tonight so a legally constituted organisation could be initiated. In the final vote the Somerset Rules were accepted, with five votes for, and three abstentions.

3. Forming the Co-op

Alison will get the documents to authorise setting up the Co-op. She will use her name and address and send these to the bank.

4. Land related Issues

The Land was transferred to Huw on 25 Jan 2010. Liz has suggested a date in May for a Land Warming Event to be held over a weekend.

A Biodiversity and Ecology Subgroup is to be set up to begin doing conservation tasks on the land. Discussions with Huw need to be undertaken about Access to the land, Hedgelaying is a seasonal task that needs doing now and could be seen as our first statement on the land. The exact boundaries need to be established and registration for a holding number needs to be undertaken.

5. Feedback from Walk

About 40 people attended the very successful walk. Information was shared about the areas history and its geographical situation. We met three people from the Moss Valley Wildlife Trust who were very encouraged by the numbers of people involved in the project. Sam filmed the walk.

6. Meersbrook Organic Growers

Request from MOG for a letter of support from Hazelhurst re their funding bid to pay for Darrel to do some Tutoring in organic horticulture.

7. Heeley/Meersbrook Transition Allotment. Them Diggers

Recruiting new members now.

8. Report back from Ceildh

Ceildh was very successful and raised £113.50 which is in petty cash.

9. Outline Business Plan

Outline plan to be drawn up. Eight free meetings are available with Sheffield Co-operative Solutions. Soil association has Hazelhurst on its website now.

10. Next Meeting

7.45pm on Thursday 25.02.10 at Alison’s

Next meeting: Hazelhurst CSA Committee 2010-02-25

Previous meeting: Hazelhurst CSA Committee 2010-01-06