Barnet Council Allow Allotments to Self-Manage Options

[Simon Kirby]

Barnet Council are to allow their allotment sites to self-manage. This is explicitly part of the Council's Big Society initiative (it's a Conservative controlled council) though self-management has in fact always been part of the two-hundred year history of the allotment movement.

"By the end of September, Barnet Council expect to have agreed 38-year leases for its 44 allotment sites in return for a peppercorn rent. The plots will be run by community groups and co-operatives which will decide on the level of rents as well as what maintenance and improvements to carry out."

No one is better placed than allotment holders themselves to know what is best for their plots.

“This initiative aims to give plot holders the freedom to run their sites how they see fit, while the council takes a step back.”

I think everybody realises that the people on allotment sites know how to manage them better than those sitting in an office.

We have always been ready to work with the council on self-management if that’s what our member allotment societies want – and most of them do.

The key here is that Barnet Council have worked with the Barnet Federation of Allotment and Horticultural Societies encouraging them and building their capacity to manage their own affairs.

The Federation has an excellent web site of resources for self-management.

It's notable that Barnet Council are not making a big deal about the cost saving; for them self-management is about allowing people to take responsibility for themselves. I feel that it's time now that our own Town Council embraced self-management.

[On the edge]

On a similar vein, Shanklin's 'privatly operated' tourist information centre opens today. IOW Council couldn't justify the cost of running them. Council say more non Council funded ones will follow. Will these examples help remove the inertia of our local Councils? It seems many Councils are innovative and service oriented, dreadful shame WBC / NTC are so lethargic and conservative. Can't be any good for the career prospects of employees wanting promotion!