25.09.19 A number of issues were discussed including the removal of the Leylandii trees (their removal had already been voted on and approved at committee level and subsequently confirmed at the last AGM). A couple of quotes were obtained, one of which was astronomical at almost £2000 and another at a cost of £850. This is for the removal of the Leylandii and dead Cherry trees to stump level, removal of all foliage and chipping of smaller branches with the remainder “log” size branches being left on site. The cost will be paid from the small float in our Garden Maintenance Fund. The committee members voted to go ahead with the £850 quote as they felt that trying to remove the trees bit by bit was going to take forever.
It is likely that we will ask the existing grass contractor to trim the hedges and bushes two or three times next year. There would be an additional cost to this obviously but the committee felt that we can not continue to rely on the good-will of a small number of people using their own time and effort on this. It is likely that the cost per house this coming year for the garden maintenance fund will rise to at least £80 as this years figure of £60 has barely paid for the number of cuts required this year (so far 13 cuts but possibly at least another one will be required if not two).
Purely as an exercise one of the committee members contacted a number of Property Factors to obtain a quote for the maintenance and upkeep of our mutually own property i.e. grass and bushes / tree etc. Only one Factor came back to him and the quote was an eye-watering £450 per house per year. Clearly it shows that our fee for garden maintenance should be considered extremely reasonable.
The car park repairs were discussed at length and it was agreed that some form of two stage payment should be implemented to help spread the cost for residents. An exact figure is not yet available but this will be discussed fully at the next AGM which we hope to hold in March next year.
Due to drainage work required at No.18 it is likely the pedestrian path down to the Gallolee will be closed for 4 or 5 days to allow this work to take place. The council will hopefully erect a notice to that effect with a few days warning.
