It’s been a very busy few weeks for us – since the last progress report on 26th June there have been another 145 emails exchanged between the directors and with the various parties involved with LMC.
Of course it’s not really about the huge number of emails. It’s more important to realise how much work is behind them in an effort to get things to a point where we can be happy with the standard of maintenance of Little Meadow; also to ensure that the corporate side of LMC is stable and secure; and finally to get the level of service from our contracted managing agents up to scratch.
Unfortunately there’s still quite a long way to go in each of these areas.
On the practical side of things:
- Bellway have finally agreed to complete some of the outstanding work and this will commence in the first week of August under the supervision of a Bellway manager. We are seeking more detail because their description of what is actually to be done is quite vague.
- Bellway’s contractors are to repair the road surface at the junction of Marjoram Avenue and Primrose Close which has sunk and which puddles in heavy rain. We understand that residents will receive a leaflet drop about this because the road will briefly need to be fully or partly closed in that area while the work is completed.
- The missing wooden posts at the boundary with Knowle Park will be installed.
- Some clearing and tidying of hedges will be carried out (we don’t know for sure, but we assume this refers to the issue in Betony Close adjacent to Amber Parkside)
- Instructions have been given to Allwinds to schedule mowing the grass between the road and the pathways in the south loop of Marjoram Avenue. This is not strictly LMC’s responsibility but we have taken the view that it is important to the overall appearance of Little Meadow and sadly there is little chance of getting Bellway to do it (technically they are responsible for roads and footpaths until the road adoption is completed, at which point Surrey Highways would take over)
There is still quite a lot of other work to be done which we have previously listed and there are three matters of particular concern:
- The reduction in steepness of the slide mound slope in the playground. Bellway have forwarded a copy of an independent safety inspection which was carried out when the playground was almost complete and this does not express any concern about the mound, which in our opinion is too steep. We remain adamant that Bellway should not renege upon their earlier agreement to take action.
- The clearance of the swale alongside Yarrow Close and the seeding for a wildflower meadow in accordance with the detailed specification in the Waverley Planning documents. Since it is the wrong time of year for seeding, the alternative is for Bellway to provide a monetary contribution to LMC to cover the cost and this is our preference because we would then have direct control over what is done.
- Clarification of ownership and responsibility for maintenance of the swale alongside Alfold Road
Our contracted managing agents, DJC/FirstPort, do not seem to be responding to our emails and phone calls. We have informed them that the directors are becoming exasperated and that LMC deserves better – but still nothing! Purely by chance we recently discovered that a site visit/inspection was undertaken by DJC/FirstPort’s representatives on 6th/7th July. The directors were not informed that this was to take place so we were completely unaware until after the event. We have asked DJC/FirstPort to provide us with an explanation.
The practical aspects of looking after Little Meadow are naturally what concerns most of us but some of these cannot be dealt with until we’ve sorted out some pressing issues on the corporate side. We are pleased to say that there has been progress in concluding some of these; perhaps not as much as we had hoped for, but progress nevertheless.
- The Minutes of the members’ AGM held on 26th April have been finalised. These were promised by DJC immediately following the meeting but never materialised so we have taken on the task ourselves from our best recollection of the now long-ago meeting.
- The directors’ appointments have at last been officially filed at Companies House. DJC/FirstPort took rather longer than the statutory 14 days to do this (an incredible 73 days in fact) but at least it’s now done and the new owner/directors are officially recognised as representing LMC.
- The annual Accounts as at 30th September 2022 and the statutory Confirmation Certificate were filed at Companies House on 30th June 2023. One more day and there would have been a late-filing penalty (which we had already advised FirstPort would be down to them) and the possibility of LMC eventually being struck off the register. The accounts were signed by one of the Bellway-appointed directors; however, they make little sense as the company was described as dormant at that date – no assets, no reserves, every figure in the accounts is zero. Obviously this anomalous situation is being explored urgently.
- Representations have again been made to Bellway to seek the swift transfer to LMC of the common areas of land. Bellway have referred this and other matters to a second legal adviser and it is hoped that the legal process will soon commence.
- The next directors’ meeting has been fixed for Saturday 22nd July when our progress to date will be reviewed and some necessary decisions will be made regarding the future management of Little Meadow and the operations of LMC.
We will continue to keep everybody in the picture as much as we are able to. As always, please use the contact form on the website if you wish to reach us.