2nd Feb 2015

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Minutes of a meeting of the Garrison Residents' Association held at Hinguar School on 2nd February 2015

Present

  • Scott James (Chairman)
  • Adrian Walker (Hon Sec)
  • Michael Kennedy
  • Viv Jones
  • Ian Dally
  • Daniel Puddick
  • Cliff Marshall

Apologies

  • Chris Coomber (Hon Treasurer)
  • Neil Hurrell
  • Helen Parke
  • Jamie Robinson
  • Phil Coombe
  • Viv Bycznsky
  • Jonathan Hunnable

Scott James opened the meeting at 7.40 pm by welcoming the committee members.

Treasurer's report

Scott James read the accounts in the absence of Chris Coomber: money in the bank stands at £212.65; the only expenditure recorded was £50 paid to the retiring Chairman John Dowell, in gratitude for his services to the GRA.

Meeting held by Shoebury Residents' Association to discuss proposed mixed development on Gunners' Park 20/1/15

SJ said the meeting had been well attended and the overwhelming consensus among residents and Councillors was against the development. Only Councillor James Moyies was very vocal in his opposition to the plans; the other councillors did not voice their opinions as many of them sit on the planning committees. The next planning meeting had already been deferred to March and a decision is expected then. It is believed councillors propose organising a meeting of residents and other interested parties to discuss the matter prior to this date. SJ said he and Cliff Marshall had met with Cllr. Moyies to talk about the 172 dwellings proposed for the site and had given him a set of relevant documents, which he agreed to read and to use as part of his objections during the planning meeting

Flyers 

SJ thanked Cliff Marshall and Phil Coombe for assisting in the delivery of the recent notices about the meeting on 20/1/15.

Social events and website

There was a general discussion about ways of improving the current website. It was agreed to amend the front page to record the change of managing agents from Nationspaces to Fowler and Spenceley and to include any further news about the management handover from C&M as it becomes available. Viv Jones suggested asking Fowler and Spenceley to become involved in this and that more use should be made of the news page. SJ said his own experience as Chairman had indicated the news page was widely read and Ian Dally agreed to include any suitable material on the page.

CM suggested we engage with residents to understand their needs and aspirations for The Garrison and proposed setting up a sub-committee for social events. In response to other suggestions about the website, Ian Dally, website manager, explained that he had very few resources for any too ambitious plans and suggested F&S might supply residents' email addresses to expand our somewhat limited membership database.

VJ suggested taking advertisements on the website from local businesses, but ID responded this was not what the site was for. SJ thought event sponsorship might be a useful tool for money raising.

Adrian Walker said the organisers of the 'Bikeathon', in aid of lymphoma and leukaemia research, had asked for permission to run the event again on Sunday 6th September along the coastal path in front of the Outlook apartments, and along Mess Road. AW explained the charity had offered some modifications in response to complaints about the 2014 event. SJ suggested he and his family would be happy to volunteer as marshals and other residents might also want to do the same. Daniel Puddick asked how we might obtain residents' views on such events and SJ responded by producing a draft leaflet he had prepared earlier which contained a variety of information and which he suggested might serve the purpose. This was met with general approval.

Mess Road gates

Cliff Marshall gave a short history of the residents' attempts to obtain permission to erect a 'quarter gate' across the entrance to Mess Road as a traffic calming exercise. This has proved a controversial issue, not only about the suitability of the gate, but about the manner in which the matter had been handled to date and there followed a robust exchange of views between members. SJ suggested the issue be deferred to the next meeting, to allow certain relevant correspondence to be produced and this was agreed.

Shoebury Garrison Management Company Ltd

Prospective members of the proposed reconstituted board of management (not to be confused with managing agents), due to take over from C&M shortly, met with Fowler and Spenceley, the new managing agents, on 19th January to talk about the logistics and timetable for the management handover and to discuss various maintenance and repair works scheduled to be undertaken by C&M at their cost before they leave the site. Following the meeting, F&S wrote to C&M setting out the various concerns. There has as yet been no reply, while certain events had occurred recently which would affect The Garrison's future: there remained two dwellings to be sold on the Garrison Rise site and The Garrison cannot be handed over till these sales are completed; the skateboard and multi-purpose games area on Gunners' Park has been approved by SBC; C&M appear to want to renege on their undertaking to dispose of certain 'residual' plots of land prior to the handover and instead are proposing to transfer them to the new SGMCL. 

AW explained these residual plots include a large area by the West Gate, which is of no use to residents and which requires regular and costly maintenance; a small area of woodland behind Warrior Square Road which contains a pumping station; part of the old chapel grounds and one or two smaller scraps of land. C&M were in somewhat protracted negotiations with residents over the sale of two pieces of foreshore near the Outlook apartments and Mess Road. There was also some speculation about the future of the newly renovated boathouse near Gunner's House.

Clearly, these and other vital issues, such as C&M's agreement to underwrite outstanding estate/service charge arrears which Nationspaces failed to collect, need to be resolved before handover.

Drill Shed

SJ produced a copy of the TPI relating to this site, describing the various restrictions placed on the owners by the Planning Inspector. These would be examined and discussed at a later date. SJ said he had spoken with Ian Homan, a director of both the Drill Shed and the spa, and has arranged a meeting with him. However, there were certain obstacles which needed attention before this would be practical.

Any other business

Rifle shed

Following concerns expressed by Parade Walk residents, SJ will ask F&S to provide a copy of the TPI for this site.

Chapel

AW had learned that SET, the owner, has moved again into different premises; C&M has been informed so they may write to them yet again expressing concern at the condition of the site and their future intentions.

There being no further business, the meeting ended at 9.25 pm.