[Pertelotte]

Hang on in there and fight on.

As far as I can make out what's happened is simply a palace revolution. To wit: a power grab. The legalities you might be looking for are that a) a self appointed committee is not in a strong point to push through changes as it cannot prove it represents the wishes of the members. Saying 'no discussion' contravenes the point of a committee and thus you could argue that the regulations are void.  If they don't hold an AGM within 12 months of starting, or have elected (by members) officers and member approved policies then you're laughing. b) Any rules must be prospective rather than retrospective so your current boys should be safe. c) You're on your plot because of a previous agreement with the landowner; take a peek at that agreement and see if you have the option to tell the self-elected committee to ****** off. (You might want (qualified)legal advice - a solicitor not CAB. Land law in this country is a nightmare. You could muddy the water for years to come.  )

d) If you're feeling desperate your legal rep could argue that cockerels are sui generis, legalese for of the same ilk. You can keep boy bunnies and girl bunnies. Cockerels are just boy hens. They are not qualitatively different. If you had ducks then your drakes would not necessarily be excluded. It's just sex discrimination - although you'd have to be desperate to use that one, but does it state resticted to humans only? Be creative   Speak to your MP - and how safe is their seat - with a growing population of chicken owners there is a chicken vote just waiting to be targeted.

Active canvassing of the other members is a MUST. A last resort would be arbitration. If your lucks in there won't be a complaint's procedure in that 20 page document - after all their word is law. Another option is a lead-lined sock at the end of a darkened alley. Emotionally satisfying but a teensy bit illegal, so I won't upset the mods by mentioning it.  :happy:

Best of British

Pertelotte x

[Aunt Sally]

there were hens and cockerels on there before the allotments so i dont see why it should change now.

We have told you why - It is the LAW!  When they became allotments allotment law took over and cockerels are not permitted as a right !

Cock birds are slaughtered and eaten before they crow so why do you need cockerels ?

[Pertelotte]

IMHO I don't think the problem is about cockerels or no cockerels. The original complaint was sorted out by Environmental Health.

I think it's all about power. this is why I banged on about getting professional advice. Just because some little tin pot dictator thinks he can move the goal posts doesn't mean he can.

Think about it, why wait until now to serve up a sheet of regulations as a fait acompli without consulting the members? Possibly because everyone's still in a panic and it's an opportunity to flex some muscle? Dominic might well be on the money.

[joyfull]

sadly though these allotments will now be covered by the allotments act (whereas before it was farmland) and that does state that cockerels are not allowed which is a shame for Jobson as he needs the cockerels to breed with  .

[Aunt Sally]

Allotments are for food production.  It's quite easy to find a few young chicks off of heat or even buy some fertile eggs for a broody or even some e-xbatts and be able to grow meat and egg birds.

Pertelotte, this is why they need to have a proper Association with an Elected Committee and a Constitution and  Tenancy Agreement.

[shetan]

  tell the chairman that the only way you'll get rid of your cockerel is to neck him and as its the chairman with the problem - he'll have to do it! bet he runs for the hills.

all jokes aside - on a more serious note i actually agree with casey. if there is a commitee then it should be voted in. we live in a democracy (theoretically) and therefore there should be a democratic vote by the allotment holders as to who they want to represent them. the rules on the allotment also need to be agreed to all. its not fair to introduce the rules after you've already established your plot so perhaps it would be reasonable to agree to existing cockerals on the proviso that you don't get new ones.

instead of waiting for a vote at a meeting why not try collecting signatures - this way you'll have an idea of how the others feel. free eggs could also be used as a bribe perhaps (?) and then you don't need to worry about the vote going the other way when the meeting does happen....?

[jinty1911]

Well it sounds to me that the Council are happy and are not re-testing and the neighbours are now happy and a self-elected government have just taken over.  Think it's a little man with a big chip and there are a lot of them in the world right now, unfortunately.     

[wildwitchy]

Well it sounds to me that the Council are happy and are not re-testing and the neighbours are now happy and a self-elected government have just taken over.  Think it's a little man with a big chip and there are a lot of them in the world right now, unfortunately.     

well said!! I hope you are able to keep your boys & the "little hitler gets his come uppance"  I know how you feel!!!

[Yorkie]

This thread is getting more and more heated; we have only one side of the story and phrases such as "little hitler" are neither helpful nor becoming of a family-friendly forum.  Neither are suggestions to use lead-lined socks in a dark alley.  Even in jest.

I am now locking this thread.