2026 Annual General Meeting
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2026 Annual General Meeting
We are delighted to invite all members to our Annual General Meeting (AGM).
This meeting is an opportunity for us to come together, reflect on the past year, and plan for the future of Lister Drive Allotments.
Date and Time: Sunday 18 October 2026, 11am - 12pm (1 hour)
Location: Lister Drive Allotments, Community Hall
🥓☕ Bacon rolls and hot drinks will be served for 10am for £2.50.
The agenda for the AGM is available here - 2026 AGM Agenda
Details from the 2025 AGM available here
Nominations for the Allotment Committee
The society is run by committee of up to 12 volunteers including a Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and 9 non-executive committee members. Members are appointed each year at the association's AGM.
Chair - The Chair leads the society, overseeing meetings and ensuring that all activities align with our goals and values. They represent the society and work to foster a positive and productive environment for all members.
Secretary - The Secretary manages the society’s records, including meeting minutes and membership records. The Secretary is responsible for issuing letters to members and is our representative to Liverpool City Council parks and greenspaces service.
Treasurer - The Treasurer is responsible for the society’s finances. They track income and expenses, and provide financial reports. Their role is crucial in maintaining the financial health and transparency of the society.
9 x Committee Members - Committee Members support the society by participating in decision-making processes, helping to organise events and projects. They bring different perspectives and skills, contributing to the overall success and vibrancy of our community.
Anyone who has been a member for more than 3 months can stand for election. If you would like to stand for any of the committee positions, please send your name, plot number and the position(s) you wish to stand for to contact@listerdriveallotments.com before midnight on Sunday 20 September 2026.
In the event that multiple nominations are received for a position, at the AGM, we will ask nominees to say a few words about why they would like to stand for election and a vote will be taken.
Submitting a motion
Motions can be submitted up to midnight on Sunday 20 September 2026. To help members understand your suggestion you should:
Set out what you want your proposed change or addition to do.
If your amending an existing rule, you should copy the existing text showing your proposed changes.
If you want to make a new rule you should write
Motions will be voted on following a discussion at the AGM.
Publications
A copy of the Association Annual Report and Accounts, proposed motions and nominees will be published on this website, by 10pm Sunday 4 October 2026. A printed copy will also be available in the toilet block and shop.
Voting at the AGM
All plots are entitled to 1 vote, usually by the named plot holder. An associate member may vote on behalf of the plot holder.
The meeting will start at 11:00am
Chair's Update - minute silence if any former members have passed. Summary of last meeting. Summary of progress since last AGM
Treasurer's Update - Annual report. Summary of finances for period 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
Motions - Presentation and voting of motions submitted prior to the AGM
Election of Committee Members - Confirmation of any nominations received prior to the AGM. If more nominations are received than there are vacancies, voting will take place
Members will need to sign in before the AGM
During the sign in process, plot holders will be given a voting card. The card should be held up when voting on motions and during the election of committee members
Only one voting card is issue per plot holder, therefore if you share the plot with anyone, you will need to agree who will represent the plot and vote using the card during the elections.
A printable version of the agenda is available here: 2026 AGM Agenda
The following nominations for committee positions were received prior to the AGM
Chair Patricia Bingham, Plot 19
Secretary Adam Simpson-Davies, Plot 54
Treasurer James Simpson-Davies, Plot 54
As there were no other nominations for the role of Chair and Treasurer, these positions are elected unopposed.
The nomination of secretary is from the same plot as the Treasurer – therefore, the secretary will have no voting rights as committee members only get 1 vote per plot.
Committee Members
Cheryl Rawcliffe, Plot 5
Graham Price, Plot 38
Michael Ryan, Plot 53
Roger Horton, Plot 58
Sue Conroy, Plot 22
Matthew Stokes, Plot 63
6 people have been nominated unopposed.
There are 3 vacant positions on the committee. Any eligible plot holder may nominate themselves at the AGM on 18 October 2026, if they wish to stand for a position. If there are more nominations than vacant positions, members will vote and the 2 candidates with the most votes will receive a position.
Explanatory Note
This motion authorises a trial of burning on plots 1 – 4, 18 – 21, 35 – 39, 53 – 57 under the conditions set out below from 1 November 2026 to 14 March 2027.
The committee recommends members approve the motion.
Text of Motion:
If approved this will amend the site rules below (indicated in red):
Allotment holders may burn wood and woody garden waste between 1st November and 15th March annually.
You should ensure:
Any fire is well managed and supervised at all times. We strongly encourage members to use a steel bin.
Fires are fully extinguished before leaving.
Plot holders must not:
Light fires when it may cause a nuisance to our neighbours - for example when the wind is blowing towards the flats on New Road/Brainerd St
Burn any other material such as plastic, rubber, treated timber or toxic materials that may cause a health or pollution hazard.
Plots holders on plots 1 – 4, 18 – 21, 35 – 39, 53 – 57 cannot burn waste material on their plots. You should arrange to burn your waste material with another plot holder.
Temporary arrangements for 1 November 2026 to 14 March 2027
Plot holders on plots 1 – 4, 18 – 21, 35 – 39, 53 – 57 may burn permitted waste as long any fire is contained within a metal incinerator bin. Incinerator bins should have a maximum capacity of 100 litres. Maximum dimensions are 90cm (height) and 60cm (width).
This temporary variation may be suspended at any time by the committee where plot holders are found to be ignoring these requirements or causing nuisance to our local residents.
The committee recommends members approve the motion.
Proposal
This motion authorises the Treasurer, with agreement from the Committee, to appoint a payment institution authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for payment services for the purposes of collection of rent and other payments by Direct Debit.
The committee recommends members approve the motion.
Proposal
Subject to the approval of motion 2, to authorise the Treasurer, to collect annual rent and membership fees by Direct Debit in 2 installments in January and February or 3 installments in January, February and March.
To make payments in instalments, plot holders will be required to:
be in ‘good standing’ - this means there should be no live warnings
opt in to monthly installments
ensure they have sufficient funds in their designated account on the date payment is due
Plot holders are normally required to pay in full by 9 February each year. Where money is not received, plot holders will have until 9 February or 7 days from the expected date of payment, to pay any remaining balance in full.
The committee recommends members approve the motion.
Explanatory Notes:
The membership fee for 2026 was £35.00. If agreed, members will approve an increase of £14.00 in the society member fee for 2027.
Water rates have increased by 50% in the last two years while usage has gone up substantially during dry spring and summers resulting in a reduction in our reserves. An increase of £8.23 per plot is required to ensure we continue to provide mains water.
The committee will invest in new battery-operated equipment available for hire. Battery operated equipment is cheaper, safer and easier to use and will make it easier for plot holders to manage plots without the need for individual costly purchases.
Text of motion:
Members approve an increase in the annual membership to £49.00
The committee recommends members approve the motion.
Explanatory Notes:
A proposal has been submitted to introduce a surcharge for covered growing structures such as polytunnels and greenhouses. The surcharge reflects the additional water requirements to grow crops undercover.
The surcharge would apply where a polytunnel or greenhouse does not have more than the minimum amount of water collection and storage.
The minimum is: 400 litres (two standard water butts) per 2.4m by 3m (8ft by 10ft) greenhouse or polytunnel. Water collected from other structures (excluding greenhouses or polytunnels) on the same plot may count towards this provision.
If approved, a surcharge may be:
a fixed fee per plot
a fixed fee per structure
a variable fee based on the covered area
Plot holders should consider whether fees should be applicable
to existing structures
new plot holders taking over plots without existing structures
where water collection from other structures is sufficient
An additional surcharge would apply for each water butt that is not connected to a structure but which the committee considers is in use.
Text of motion:
Plot holders are required to pay an annual surcharge for:
covered growing structures (greenhouses and polytunnels) without water collection
water butts that are not connected to a structure (are not filled by rainwater)
Payment will be made with the annual rent and membership fee.
The committee asks members to consider the motion
If approved, the committee will ask members to discuss the amount of a surcharge, if there is no consensus the committee will be authorised to set a charge taking the discussion into account.