Eastside Roots Community Garden Centre

Meeting 12.03.07 – Minutes


Present: Brian (CDA), Paul (Fed of City Farms), Pete, Rachel,
Sam,
Jenny, Alex

Apologies: Adele


Becoming a Co-op
• Brian explained the differences between setting up as a
workers co-op or a community co-op.
• The main advantage of a workers co-op is that a focused small
group of people (employed or volunteers) can drive the co-op forward
and can set the membership criteria for others to join, including
possible probation period and minimum amount of work.
• The main advantage of the community co-op is that anyone in
the community who is interested can join, which may give greater
access to community resources and potentially increase certain
funding opportunities.
• Other things to think about are: who are our biggest
stakeholders? do we want to have an asset lock (if co-op winds up,
assets go to like-minded organisation rather than members)? what do
we do with profit - reinvest in own resources, distribute to members,
distribute to other community organisations? What funders might we go
for? What's their criteria?
• The meeting then discussed the best option for Eastside Roots
and decided on a workers co-op initially. This can be changed to a
community co-op when more established
• Sam volunteered to be co-op secretary, liaising with company
house, keeping file of meeting minutes etc. This was agreed by
meeting
• Pete, Rachel, Jenny, Sam and Alex to be directors. Sam to
contact Adele and Bridget to see if they would like to become
directors.
• Brian's contact – brian@...
• Trinity agreed for us to use their premises as address for co-
op: The Trinity Centre, Trinity Rd, Bristol, BS2 0NW
• Brian will post out copies of constitution, Sam to distribute
to everyone, need to consider membership criteria, asset lock, profit
clause – to be discussed and agreed at next meeting (19 March). Sam
to contact Brian with amendments and aims (to be lifted from initial
letter of constitution)
• Jenny to check co-op bank criteria. CDA or BEST to help
writing business plan
• Jenny and Sam to pass ID over to Brian to take to solicitors,
Jenny to write cheque

Stapleton Rd site
• Has been earmarked by BEST for Eastside Roots
• BEST have said to Network Rail that they have £60,000 to
spend by March, though it's unclear how much of this is available to
us
• The areas of the site on offer have changed slightly and BEST
now requesting an updated site plan and want to meet with us and
Network Rail within next 2 weeks
• It was agreed a phased plan would be appropriate, given the
size of the site and the fact that there's lots going on at Trinity
also, possibly concentrating on 2 small areas initially to promote
site and maybe use as shop front (to discuss further at next meeting
19 March)
• Sam and Jenny to attend meeting with BEST/Network Rail on
20March 3.30pm

Trinity site
• Trinity site plan almost complete, Sam and Jenny to attend
meeting with Trinity on 21 March 11.00am

A.O.B.
• Sam and Alex to design fliers/posters for compost workshop on
31 March asap
• There is £200 funding from Fed of City Farms to be used by
end March – Paul suggested we find sign/banner making company who
will take money in advance of work – Jenny to contact UHC, Paul to
find out where Fed get their signs made
• Joe, Sam's bro, is available to do a fundraising workshop in
April – date to be confirmed
• Watering rota now essential as plants in polytunnel:
 MONDAY – workday
 TUESDAY – Sam
 WEDNESDAY – Alex
 THURSDAY – Jenny
 FRIDAY – Pete
 SATURDAY - ?Rachel – tbc
 SUNDAY –
The nominated person takes responsibility, doesn't necessarily have
to do it, it could be a good way of getting others involved in the
project. Possibly Adele or Bridget to cover Sunday's watering

Diary Dates
• Monday 19 March 5.30-7pm, Trinity - meeting about
constitution/ Stapleton rd site
• Monday 26 March 6-7.30pm, 15 Gratitude Rd, Easton – logo
design meeting
• Saturday 31 March 10-5pm, Trinity – compost workshop