Report of the SAF 2016 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
6th April 2016 at Chalvey Community Centre 7:30 to 9pm

SAF Chair Carrie Darby addresses the AGM.

SBC Council Officer Ketan Gandhi, Head of Wellbeing and Community, gives the meeting an update.

The 2016 AGM was attended by over 40 people and guests including His Worshipful The Mayor, Councillor Mohammed Rasib (President of the Federation) and Ketan Gandhi, Head of Wellbeing & Community, Slough Borough Council. 
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Presentations from the Chairman, Carrie Darby and Ketan Gandhi, SBC, provided updates on the status of vacant plot lettings, waste management and other ongoing issues, reported on some of the positive projects underway at some sites and outlined the opportunities and challenges for the following year.
 
The Mayor thanked all the volunteers for their continued support and presented the Win & Tom Watson Trophy to Colin Mace for his continued support. ​ Continue reading below.

The Mayor With The Committee.

His worshipful The Mayor, Councillor Mohammed Rasib, President of the Federation.

The Mayor Awards the Win & Tom Watson Trophy To Colin Mace.

Following the closure of the formal proceedings there was lively discussion and questions on a wide range of topics including the poor response to the 47 Council letters sent so far to let vacant plots and should SBC be telephoning those on the waiting list as opposed to writing to them; a request for the timetable for Spencer Road and Ragstone Road clearance & letting; can SBC let the vacant plots that are in very poor condition,  either over grown, with trees or have a waste problem;  the possible use of Community Payback for the clearance of sites & vacant plots; security issues and the use of security cameras; how we keep the waste under control now that SBC have cleared the common areas; remaining waste that was missed at Granville Avenue during that clearance; a request that SBC follow up the report of waste tipping at Cherry Orchard; the possible introduction of a new tenant deposit to be forfeited if the plot is returned in poor condition and used to fund clearance; the potential threat to Ragstone Road should the Chalvey Halt be developed; should we have designated organic gardening sections; the current ban on bonfires and incinerators; the data protection issue that SBC say prevents the Federation getting more involved with helping SBC manage the letting of plots and can this be overcome; one attendee also complained that he had been on the waiting list for 5 years, but had not received an offer letter. These issues will discussed further by the Committee and those on the Slough Borough Council Working Party who will report back at Federation meetings and the 2017 AGM.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS: 
Chairman: Carrie Darby
Vice Chairman: Colin Mace
Treasurer: Gwenda Cornish
Secretary: Trevor Allen
Communications Officer: Jim Breeds

Allotmenteers in the audience.