7th June 2017

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                         Minutes of the Garrison Residents Committee held on 7th June 2017

                                                                At Hinguar School

Present:

  • Phil Coombe - Treasurer
  • Daniel Puddick
  • Pam Deakin - Secretary
  • Jason Britchford
  • Peter Farrington
  • Richard Spence - Prospective Director SGMCL
  • Robert Fowler - Managing Agents
  • Michael Stiers - Managing Agents

 

1.     Apologies: Apologies were received from Chris Coomber, Helen Parke and Simon Wright

2.   Minutes of the meeting 1st March 2017, previously distributed, were approved.  Matters arising; Phil has organised the placing of anyGarrison Planning applications onto FB.

3. S106 handover and Planning Application 17/00638/DOV - No further news

4. Impact on Garrison Parking of the High Street Parking Restrictions - Following discussion it was suggested that perhaps zoned parking around the Garrison might be the best option.  A consultation process throughout the Garrison Residents is required plus council co operation. Fowler and Spenceley are to arrange a draft proposal and to contact the council when appropriate.

5. Anti - social behaviour. Richard Spence is continuing to send in a weekly report to the police . There has been more problems with bikers and car racing plus vandalism of the cricket pavilion, plus the usual visit from the travellers.

Action - Pam Deakin to write to Ann Chalk and Garrison Estates about the possibility of some sort of barrier to stop access to the land opposite the children's' playground. Phil Coombe to talk to the police through the Neighbourhood Watch media, The possibility of engaging a private firm for a patrol on a Fri/Sat/Sun night

6. Fowler and Spenceley submitted the following report.

1.      Car Parking – Please see separate report

2.     Landscaping – The Care Group continue to provide the services and we undertook a site inspection with them on the 21st March, accompanied by Chris Coomber of the GRA.  Generally it was agreed works were satisfactory.  The Care Group are continuing to deal with a number of ongoing issues, including replanting as required.   A follow up inspection is proposed for later this month. 

3.     Street Furniture – As reported last month, we are finalising a schedule of works and obtaining quotations for the repainting of the streetlamps, bollards and other items of street furniture on the unadopted areas of the Garrison with a view to having the work done in 2017/2018.  We have now spoken with the manufacturer of the columns to discuss suitable finishes and met on site with a representative from Dulux who have provided details of an appropriate paint system which can be specified and used.   We are now able to seek costs, following which a decision can be made as to whether the work is undertaken this year, or perhaps phased as a longer term project over several years.  As advised previously, this will also include consideration as to whether the cost of the project is funded from sinking funds held or is the subject of an additional charge to owners.

4.     Street Lighting –  We have been in discussion with specialist lighting contractors, Future Lighting regarding a possible switch of the Garrison Street lighting (unadopted roads only) to LED lamps and the possible benefits, both in terms of cost and carbon footprint.  From an initial review it seems that for outlay of around £14,500.00 all external lamp columns, bollards etc could be fitted with LED lamps.  This would reduce running costs in terms of electricity usage and lamp life by approximately £6,000.00 per year, meaning the payback period for such works would be a little over 2 years. 

Further more detailed costings will be required and consideration given to the aesthetics and spread of LED light, which tends to be a harsher, white light and provides less spread of illumination.  Given there are certain areas where lighting levels are already quite low we may need to introduce additional lighting at some additional cost.  This will of course depend on the proximity of the supply cables and adjacent lamp columns and whether cabling needs to be run below paved/concrete areas or grassed.

We would welcome the thoughts of the GRA and indeed residents as to possible switching of lamps as when this was raised at the last GRA AGM one or two residents did express some concern as to the aesthetics of a white light.  That said, LED lighting has of course been introduced by Southend Council on the adopted roadways within the Garrison.

On a related note, we have been in discussions with the owners of the old Chapel regarding installing an additional streetlight at the corner of their property on Chapel Road.  We would wish to agree with them to run the supply from an adjacent column on their land as this is the simplest and cheapest option for arranging a supply, avoiding the need for significant roadway or footpath excavations.  Whilst they have agreed in principal and subject to entering into a suitable Wayleave agreement and billing arrangement, they are unwilling to commit whilst the future of the Chapel remains undecided.  We are maintaining a watching brief and will reintroduce the proposal at an appropriate time.

5.     6 - 15 Parade Walk Water Ingress Issues – The required remedial works within the apartments have now been completed, the cost of the works met by the buildings insurer.  This matter is therefore now completed.

6.     Gravel Pathways in the Horseshoe Crescent – There seems to be some confusion amongst certain residents as to the works recently undertaken to the Horseshoe Crescent gravel pathways, in particular who commissioned and paid for this work.  I would like to clarify.

The original works, undertaken in the summer of 2016, were agreed between the former Chair of the GRA and the developer directly.  These works were at no cost to the Garrison Residents, being paid for by the developer.  They did not however complete works to all of the gravel pathways, addressing only those which, in their opinion, were in the worst of conditions in the belief that this was all that had been agreed.  Following our intervention we were able to secure agreement from the developer to meet the cost of materials only for dressing the remainder of the pathways.  Having discussed this with the GRA committee it was agreed to accept this proposal, although to press the developer to include for the spreading of the new gravel without the use of a bonding agent, merely as a cosmetic dressing.  This was agreed and the work undertaken, again at no cost to the Garrison residents.

This additional work has now been completed.  There is a variance in colour of the new gravel when compared to the original, however this is not unexpected and will fade to match over the coming months.

7.     Sewerage Pumping Station – Warrior Square Road – As reported previously the station in question serves 19 properties in the Warrior Square Road/Chapel Road area.  This had historically been maintained by the SGMCL at the expense of the residents who benefit from its service.    I am pleased to report that the adoption of the pump station has now been agreed with Anglian Water, who have now assumed responsibility.  We have negotiated a refund of charges from the company who provided the annual maintenance service for the pump, equating to 60% of the annual maintenance charge. 

We have contacted all residents who benefit from the pump to advise them of the adoption and to provide them with contact details for Anglian Water should any problems arise going forwards.

8.      Block Redecorations – The following works are being progressed:

a.      Horseshoe Crescent/Chapel Road blocks - Internal redecoration: Tender responses have been received and are being analysed prior to sending the second stage s20 notice to leaseholders.  Once the required 30 day consultation period has expired, and depending on the outcome of any observations made, we will be in a position to appoint contractors and request payments due.  A number of leaseholders have credits available on their accounts following the savings made on the recent external redecoration works which it is anticipated will meet much of the cost.

b.     Willow Court - Internal Redecoration: The internal redecoration works have now been completed, with residents pleased at the outcome.

c.     Horseshoe Crescent Maisonettes - External Redecoration:  We are addressing a number of queries/observations raised by leaseholder in respect of the scope of works, prior to progressing.

d.     Magazine Mews - Internal & External Redecoration:  As advised in our previous report, we are planning to undertake these works during the latter part of this year and will shortly be issuing the s20 Notice of Intent to leaseholders.

e.     Gunners House – The external pressure washing of the render and stonework has been completed and the appearance of the block is much improved. 

9.      General – We continue to receive various enquiries from residents on all things relating to the Garrison, including block repairs, advice on covenants, neighbour disputes.  We try to ensure responses are sent to all such enquiries in a timely manner and, where appropriate have arranged to meet with the resident in question to discuss such issues face to face. 

7. Any other business; Phil Coombe requires Chris Coomber s signature to complete the new bank mandate for the present officers.

 Nick in Horseshoe Parade has stopped feeding the pigeons.

Phil Coombe has suggested August 27th 2017 as a prospective date for the Garrison Summer Fete. The neighbourhood watch signs have been erected in Brigadier Way. 

Date of next meeting Wednesday 6th September 2017