North Dock Residents Association

General Meeting Monday February 29^th 2016 at 6.30pm

At the Discovery Centre North Dock Llanelli

Minutes

Present
Amanda Kruger chairman, Alison Evans treasurer. Committee members: Kim Broom, Wyn Edwards, Alan and Sally Purnell, Phil Rees, Ian Thomson.

Ian Chappell, Steve Coombs, Joy Giles, Bethan and Katrin Poole, Helen Proctor, Alison Sainsbury, Jeremy Richards, Geoff Saunders, Paul Shapley, Caroline Stokes, Barbara Toft, Bernard Dezelu, Derek Smith, Robin Walter, Andrew Livings, Kaylee Marson, Jenna Davies, Lynne Davies.

In attendance
County Councillors; Louvain Roberts and Winston Lemon, Welsh Assembly Member Keith Davies, researcher Rosemary Emery.

1. Introduction of new committee members
   The new chairman Amanda Kruger and other committee members introduced themselves to the meeting.
2. Apologies
   Martin and Terri Darzins, Ronnie and Janice Davies, Joy Edwards, Ken Francis, Paula and Steve Halsall, Chris Hutchings secretary, Mary and David Matthews, Tony and Sue Moore, Yvette and Mike Morrison, Greg and Sara Mullins, Alan Newman, Paul and Doreen Thompson, Brian and Brenda Wareham, Martin Woodrow. PCSO Josh Jones.
3. Introduction of guests.
   The County Councillors Louvain Roberts and Winston Lemon and the Welsh Assembly members Keith Davies together with his researcher Rosemary Emery were introduced to the meeting.
4. Minutes of the last General meeting held on Thursday September 17^th 2015
   The minutes of the last General Meeting were approved.
5. Matters arising

NHBC Claim: Alan listed the main issues with the buildings at North Dock. The NHBC claim had been supported by DTZ. It was understood that there would be a cost of £2-3 million for repairs etc. Trinity Estates had appointed solicitors Hugh James of Cardiff to take the claim forward. However, NHBC seem reluctant to move on the claim and the next step would be for Trinity to instruct the solicitors to take the NHBC to court. It appears at the moment that nothing is happening. Each leaseholder is advised to contact the NHBC using their properties reference number to get an update and raise the profile of our case with the NHBC. One owner present had done this and was told that the claim was inactive. Amanda informed the meeting of the importance of the NDRA being recognised by Trinity so that we can progress the claim and deal effectively with Trinity so that they maintain the site in line with the high management fee we pay. There were still issues with another group trying to set up a separate residents association, Trinity will only recognise us if we can show that we represent 60% of leaseholders. We are working hard to achieve this.

 

Parking: Amanda referred to the letter from Trinity sent on Feb 9^th advising residents that all vehicles parked at North Dock must display an original valid permit. If a ticket is issued, Trinity will not get involved with an appeal, residents must contact UKPC directly.
Sally described some of the parking issues that had been brought to the committee’s attention.
a. Doctors and nurses displaying an official doctor/nurse on call badges had received tickets. Ana South Trinity Estates coordinator for North Dock has now spoken to UKPC to stop this happening. If, in the future, a ticket is issued to a nurse or doctor she should be contacted.
b. Contractors and estate agents are receiving tickets. Ana said that there is nothing official to state that contractors or agents have a grace period but common sense should prevail. If a ticket is issued where it is clear that efforts were made to demonstrate it was a contractors or agent, Trinity would look to deal with that with UKPC.
c. Before the parking scheme was introduced the main problem was that residents parked in the wrong spaces, the permits have done nothing to alleviate this. A residential parking permit enables a resident to park in any residential space regardless of whom it belongs to.
The meeting unanimously agreed that the parking scheme was not satisfactory, living at North Dock had become much more difficult and unpleasant since its introduction, residents were parking on lawns and the wardens were over-zealous.
Kim suggested inviting a representative of UKPC to attend the next meeting. Trinity should ask UKPC to give residents 5 minutes grace between parking and displaying a permit.
Keith Davies AM advised the meeting of ways to complain about the parking company if necessary especially by contacting the BPA. Rosemary Emery indicated that the parking signs are illegal as they are only in English. She provided a paper related to parking. Parking tickets should also be in both English and Welsh the paperwork should indicate the name and Company number of UKPC.
Amanda will ask Trinity to confirm the number of the parking space for each apartment and to display this list on the notice board in each stairwell.

6. Questions for the AM and County Councillors
7. Refuse Collection: The council are reviewing the frequency of collections at North Dock. Weekly collections will definitely continue until October and the council will undertake an inspection before then. The council currently have an issue with plastic recycling.
   b. There were further questions about parking and the legality of the double yellow lines on site and around North Dock as it is private land.
   c. Who is responsible for litter collection on the beach and in the sand dunes? We were advised to contact the council and look on the council website. See the Keep Wales Tidy Scheme and if the Scouts will get involved.
   d. Speed bumps can cause problems for residents in wheelchairs and on mobility scooters. The committee will to contact the council regarding the speed bumps concerning the standards of height and width from a health and safety point of view.
   Residents are invited to email the council with any concerns.
8. Website
   Ian described the construction of the NDRA website. It will be quite simple to start with and will grow to be more informative and helpful to residents. Wyn agreed to administer a ‘closed group’ on Facebook.

 

8. AOB
   There were further questions criticising the parking scheme.
   There were concerns about the site notice board and who has access to it.
   There was a request for the job specification of the caretaker following complaints from several residents about his intimidatory conduct. There was the feeling that the caretaker is not being properly supervised by Trinity in respect of his interaction with people on site.
   Wyn raised the issue of fire safety and that Trinity are not following guidelines. The committee will contact Trinity.
   The common thread is that Trinity are not responding to residents’ concerns.
9. Date of next meeting
   The next general meeting will be held on Friday May 6^th at 6.30pm in the Discovery Centre.

Amanda thanked all who attended, especially the County Councillors and the Assembly Member. She urged all owners to give the NDRA their contact details (so as to encourage membership) and asked all tenants to contact their landlords in this respect.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.00pm