Agenda
Waterways Management Company
Minutes of the Management Committee Meeting 113
Community Meeting Room
6.00 pm Thursday 13 March 2025
Present: Louise Robertson, Pat Strudwick, Liz Wheater, Roni Hameiri, Ann Hall, Aroul Ramadass (Treasurer), David Morris (minutes), Nicholas Orme, Brian Shine (Acting Chair), Kate Lack, Nazeem Dharamshi, Liz Cairncross, Lucienne Bracke (Firstport), Alex Mazurkiewicz (Firstport)
- Apologies for absence
Raquel Stremme - Co-opt two new Directors: David Morris and Liz Cairncross
- Minutes of WMC meeting 112 held on Thursday 9 January 2025
(circulated with the agenda) - Matters arising from the minutes
4.1. Replacing notice board – would need planning permission. Keep this
pending.
4.2. Someone to update Compendium of Decisions – done, can be
removed.
4.3. Updating the Welcome to the Waterways leaflet – FirstPort agreed to
print the new booklet. Final edits being made. Goal is to have the new
version printed before the next AGM. Alex to check how long FP would
need to print the book.
4.4. Contact with Waterside low carbon team – Jonathan Finnerty to contact us
with an update. Action: A director to confirm WMC support for this venture.
4.5.Berkeley Homes re transfer of the land. A director has been in contact with BH this week. A former WMC member will continue to support this. - Sub Committee reports
5.1.Apartment Blocks Sub Committee
5.1.1. Lift survey to decide next block, survey and timing. Keep on
agenda for future review. No immediate replacement will take place.
5.1.2. Update on tenders for redecorations, Stone Meadow and EJW. On
hold pending surveyor visit to look at the state of the cracks with the
surveyor.
5.1.3. Marking of parking spaces – a team of directors to provide a list of
affected blocks.
5.1.4. Broken lift in apartment block. Hemsworth waiting for a second quote.
Apply Section 20/dispensation to get the work done as soon as possible.
Alex to reach out to Sarah/Hemsworth for background (incorrect quotation).
5.1.5. Tenant storing dozens of boxes on balcony – finished.
5.1.6. Cracks in apartment block 44-60 Frenchay Road – See 5.1.2
5.1.7. Flickering light outside 82 EJW – closed
5.1.8. 114-141 Frenchay Road: postman should be able to put Royal Mail
parcels inside security doors. Action: Director to discuss with neighbours.
5.1.9. Unoccupied apartment in Complins Close – FP to check who is paying
(or if) Service Charge. Action: Director to provide address to FP.
5.1.10. Vans parked in car parks by people who do not appear to be
residents. Action: Director to provide vehicle details to Lucie for action.
5.1.11. Framework agreement approach for lift works – done
5.2.Gardening Sub Committee
5.2.1. Resurfacing driveways – Surveyors report required: an inventory of car
parks, current condition, priority recommendations and quotations for
different surfaces (cost/benefit options), EV trunking, etc. FP to arrange.
5.2.2. Replanting of trees in Frenchay Road – done
5.2.3. Meeting with Joe Illingworth, neighbour, re management of our boundary
trees with 101 Bainton Road – done
5.2.4. Request from 21 Complins Close to pave over portion of front garden and install an EV charger – Action: Director to inform the owner that this is not
possible.
5.2.5. Rat contract: complaint from owner in Complins Close – Lucie to confirm
the rat contract is still active.
5.2.6. Bin collections in Complins Close – FP/Alex to send the regulation about
distance that binmen are allowed to walk.
5.2.7. Removal of two Cyprus leylandii trees along the railings in Frenchay
Road. Action: James to remove them.
5.2.8. Tree pollarding works on western boundary – Letter to residents to be
drafted by FP/Alex. Directors to print and distribute.
5.3.Private houses Sub Committee
5.3.1. Electric vehicle charging points, including cost of putting cables under
the surface of parking areas – see 5.2.1.
5.3.2. Garden railings – FP to find an appropriate contractor
5.3.3. Gate in passageway between 59 and 61 Frenchay Road – done - Finance
6.1.Budget for 2025-26
6.1.1. FirstPort reorg continues with account teams, hence some delay. A
draft of the budget is in transit and should be delivered soon. FP/Alex is
on top of this. Meeting to be arranged with WMC and FP to review
budgets.
6.1.2. Holding letter will be sent to leaseholders if required.
6.2.Progress on Asset Plan – done for certain blocks, another in progress.
6.3.Section 22 requests. Details received by some members.
6.4.Update on bank account. Physical evidence of bank account with
expected balance, confirmed in the name of WMC. Pending confirmation
of ring-fenced account. Treasurer has requested regular statements going
forward. Action: Alex to arrange quarterly statement. - Feedback
- Managing agent
8.1.Fire safety concerns
8.1.1. Some compartmentalisation may be needed. Pink foam in evidence.
Action: Alex to arrange inspection.
8.1.2. Apartment balcony in Clearwater Place is wooden. Also check for
potential blocking drainpipe. Action: Lucie to check (Demised or nondemised?)
8.2.New contact details – next meeting bring Gavin, Customer Service Manager from Firstport.
8.3.List of approved contractors – Action: Alex to provide list of contractors
engaged with Waterways.
8.4.Evaluate other Company Secretary options (alternative to Innovus): Action to be taken by one of the directors.(Check the Comp Sec fees in the new budget.) - WRACIC
9.1.Waterways World report from WMC directors
9.2.Community Room and Commercial Block
10.Any other business
10.1. Organisation of WMC, including needs of committee, chairing, and
recruiting new committee members. Wait a couple of months before further
recruitment. It would be useful to have a lawyer join the team.
10.2. Invite residents to first part of committee meeting (30min) in May. Ask
for questions in advance. Action: Director to arrange this (letter/website via
FP).
10.3. Offer to buy land managed by WMC – not possible
10.4. Revisiting the land issue. Contact Berkeley Homes once again. See 4.5
10.5. Payment to minute taker – done
10.6. Another deed of variation for WMC to sign – For clarity the ground rent
has doubled for some blocks this year due to a clause in the lease whereby
ground rent doubles every 25 years. Due to the dates the leases were started
different blocks are reaching this point at different times. WMC should not give
leaseholders legal advice about what to do with legislation changes but just say
that rule changes around leaseholds and ground rent are likely to be enacted
this year. If any leaseholder is thinking of extending their lease, they are
recommended to engage with a solicitor to advise.
11.Dates of next meetings
8 May, 10 July, 11 September, 13 November 2025, at 6.00 p.m. in the Communit