Your 2021 - 2022 committee

This is a precis of the minutes of the meeting.

Finances

Margarette presented a report on the current financial position, the main points are:

a. The balance in the bank account on 31stDecember 2021 was £1,671.35.

This included a grant of £500 received from Exeter City Council towards replacing the timber of the raised beds.

b. We have received over £500 in donations since November 2021 – so thank you to all who have made a donation.

c. Other grant applications are pending – possibly £300 from the University Streetwise fund, this will go towards water sustainability, there may be further money from the Devon County Council Locality Budget.

d. We have also been approached by Waitrose (through the article on Devon Live) about financial help with Health and Wellbeing. Other areas such as the Co-operative, South West Water Neighbourhood Fund and the University are still be looked at.

e. The question of the adjoining development was raised.  Adrian explained that we are not consulted on any planning applications that are submitted on behalf of the University, so we will have to check with Exeter CC planning department. (A later check appears to confirm that no detailed planning application has yet been submitted, though it was discovered that there are plans to use part of the area for temporary storage of 'up to 2,500m3' of 'inert arisings', (i.e., soil etc from elsewhere on the University) up to 2.0m deep. The status of this application is unknown, see 21/1618/FUL.

f. It was stressed about the importance of acknowledging all the donations that we receive, no matter what size.

Growing plans for 2022

As time at the meeting was limited, it was agreed to discuss this at the garden so we can agree what is being planted in the various beds over the year.

Exeter Seed Bank

Adrian explained that we had received an approach from Mandy Biscoe about growing plants for the new seed bank in Exeter, there had also been a meeting and we will be given to seeds shortly to grow on and hopefully add to the seed bank at the end of the summer. They would also like some of our Angelica.

Summer Garden Party

This has been mentioned several times, and now is the right time to start planning. We must have a list of people to invite, and it was decided to have a subgroup to do the planning. This will comprise Paul Cleave, Julia Crockett, Jayne Cooksley and Margarette Parlett.

The suggested date was Wednesday 8thJune, after the Queen's Jubilee