3rd September 2013

Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 3rd September 2013 at Guard House, 56 Chapel Road

Present

John Dowell (Chairman)

Chris Coomber (Hon Treasurer)

Adrian Walker (Hon Secretary)

Michael Kennedy

Matthew Brittain

Ian Dally

Jamie Robinson

Apologies

Clive Austin

Barry Spinks

Jonathan Hunnibal

Welcome

John Dowell opened the meeting by confirming that George Cronin has replaced Greg Ketteridge, former Managing Director of Shoebury Garrison Management Company Ltd.

Road Cleaning

JD said Mess Road had not been swept or in any other way serviced because Nationspaces and Care Group had failed to appreciate it was now part of the their responsibilities. Cory would carry out a special clean shortly. (completed 6/9/13).

Leisure Complex

Our latest news from George Cronin is the deal has not been finalised with the interested party and JD feels we must now press for a decision. He reminded members that restrictions on the sale included a) use was to be confined to a gym b) it was for residents only c) there are only three parking spaces. These restrictions would be for at least five years

Drill Shed

The owners have not yet paid a penny in service charges and Nationspaces has admitted it is not competent to deal with this issue. After pressure from the GRA, George Cronin had met with Strutt and Parker to ascertain appropriate service charges based on RICS best practice. Chris Coomber said there had been no improvement in the matter of renovation and maintenance, causing further deterioration in the fabric of the building; the owners were still flouting planning restrictions on parking, unloading, deliveries and the use of the premises as a retail outlet. A submission is to be made to the Chief Executive of SBC, with copies to local councillors, asking why the restrictions were not being enforced.

Parking

JD said while there were still issues with private and commercial parking, nothing could be finalised while development of the site was continuing. He said it would form part of the remit of the new managing agent appointed on C&M’s departure.

Estate and service charge arrears

These have reduced from £65k to £22k following pressure from the GRA. JD feels the delay in recovering these arrears has been the responsibility of

C&M/Nationspaces. C&M have assured the GRA Committee that charges are now being collected more diligently by Nationspaces.

Westgate Seating Area & Footpath

JD said this is an important matter, which requires resolution. The area concerned is owned by C&M, is currently maintained by Care Group and charged to garrison residents and we need to know whose responsibility it will be when C&M depart. It is used mainly by employees of Evolve Telecom and potentially Sainsbury’s and is at times infested with dog mess and rubbish, the latter being collected infrequently.

Sainsbury’s

Refurbishment of this block is nearing completion, opening scheduled for 27th September.

Southend Educational Trust and the Chapel

Some mystery appears to surround the present status of the organisation since changed government funding. SET have moved out of the chapel, apparently while refurbishment takes place, but on enquiry, the chief executive of SET said they intended moving back by Christmas. It was noted that the chapel itself, the grounds and especially the steeple, appear to be in need of attention.

Heritage Centre, tennis courts and multi-use sports area.

The project appears to be somewhat stuck in a quagmire of indecision and poor planning. A meeting was held recently, following concerns raised by the GRA including parking and coach turning. The tennis court proposal has now been altered to one where the three courts will remain in their present position after renovation and there is a suggested new proposal to site the multi-purpose sports facility to the concrete area beyond the current Gunners Rise development to the south-west.

Erection and removal of Mess Road gates

JD agreed to attend a meeting between Officers’ Mess residents and George Cronin. Residents wanted to know why C&M had removed the gates they had erected. GC replied they were removed because residents had been told by C&M they had no right to erect the gates and had failed to remove them by the deadline set. Residents seem to have assumed that since the road was a ‘private road’ i.e. not owned or maintained by the council, they were entitled to erect gates. It was pointed out that emergency and maintenance vehicles needed access and anyway, since most of the Garrison roads were ‘private’, gates could in theory be erected all over the site.

Leasehold property repairs

In accordance with leases letters had been sent to leaseholders requiring payment of invoiced bills within 21 days and as a result a number of residents had approached committee members and Nationspaces. Jamie Robinson, himself a leaseholder, said objections centred around the necessity of the repairs and why they were not being undertaken as part of the normal leasehold agreements. JD said the issue was the properties had not been maintained as they should have been and were not attended to in 2007 when repairs were scheduled and for which a survey had been undertaken in 2006.

He also pointed out the significant inflationary and VAT elements involved in the costs and the fact that service charges had not been increased sufficiently to reflect increased costs, which SGMCL would have been aware of. JR also questioned the validity of the survey since the surveyors were clearly unable to access some of the items referred to in the survey. JD advised concerned residents consider seeking qualified advice but in all cases should address their concerns, in writing, to Nationspaces Developments as Managing agents for Shoebury Garrisson Management Company Ltd. within the specified period.

Meeting with George Cronin MD of C&M 13/5/13 and 14/6/13

JD described the meetings as ‘satisfactory’ in that GC had expressed himself keen to resolve all outstanding issues and had undertaken to report back on outstanding matters at the next meeting on 11/9/13.

Treasurer’s report

Chris Coomber provided committee members with the latest accounts for 4/4/13/ to 3/8/13 showing a balance carried forward of £411.33.

Any other business

JD brought the committee’s attention to a recent news report explaining that Gladedale and its associated companies, now renamed Avant Homes and around 30% part-owned by Lloyds Banking Group, is in discussion with banks about its intention to sell or float the company later this year. Lloyds is reported to be in favour of such a move.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 10pm.