Board Update: February

Board members’ surgery

To give members a chance to ask questions privately our next community forum will be run surgery style from 12:00 until 14:00 on Saturday March 2nd.

Please email [email protected] with your questions 48 hours in advance to book a 10-minute time slot. In your email, please specify whether you would like to meet in the Compass or the Office.

A brief summary of the Role of the Directors of a Management Company

A few members have asked us to clarify the role of Directors and their responsibilities, below is a quick summary of these.

As with any company, a Management Company Director of V& S (No.3) helps control the company and has the power to make decisions. Directors are democratically elected to act on behalf of all Co members, they are all volunteers, their duties include:

• making sure that the company complies with the statutory and fiduciary duties of running the company.
• ensuring that the development is managed and maintained to an appropriate standard, cost effectively, and in line with the requirements of the documentation under which each property is demised.
• ensuring that all services are delivered with value for money, to high standards, and in complete compliance with title documentation, legislation, and best practice.
• meeting regularly to discuss and agree how the development should be run, any planned projects, agree budgets and review the managing agents' reports.
• ensure that all member's views within the community are considered and that the company is working for all Co members.

Queries regarding the removal of the gas cooker

At the last forum questions were raised about the disposal of the cooker in the Compass that the director present was unable to answer.

At the board meeting on February 23rd, 2023, it was reported that the deep fat frier and dishwasher were not working and that the gas cooker needed to be checked for safety. In July 2023 Mark Anthony Construction Ltd made a site visit. Whilst assessing the gas cooker and pipes for compliance to relevant safety standards the engineer declared the cooker unsafe and beyond economical repair. The cooker, dishwasher and deep fat fryer were taken away from the Compass by 'Chuckit' (Roland Lawrence) on 7 August 2023 at a cost of £165.

The board is obligated to ensure removal of any items deemed unsafe and sometimes has to make decisions that are unpopular. The board is in the process of investigating the best options for replacing the items, together with other work needed to bring the kitchen back to a safe and rentable standard. 

However, more urgent matters must take priority at this time.

Swimming pool update

Ian Betts has been commissioned to supply a full spec for works to the pool. This will assist us in securing comparable quotes ahead of serving a Section 20 notice. Moving forward with the help and advice of Deacon Asset Management we feel confident that the steps taken can result in a satisfactory solution.

Comms

It has been noted that that there has been much discussion on Facebook regarding the issue of communications. The Emerald Quay Matters Facebook group is a community page and as such the administrators of this page are not required to be directors of V&S.

We would like to reiterate that Facebook is not the preferred way for the board to communicate to the members, and very few directors are on this platform. We appreciate that a new way forward is necessary, and a meeting will be held Monday 4th March with directors and comms experts to discuss communication solutions.

We will keep you informed of progress.