| Present | ||
| Estate Committee Members Jen Adams David Elliott Phil Moore Helen Rae Tobias Zimmermann Estate Committee Positions Andrew Hall (Treasurer) Gemma Maughan (Secretary) | George Petrides (Chair of Meeting) D Allison S P Allison S Anderson R Anderson R Anderson M Bishop N Chambers S Chambers R Davison K Devere C Elliott S Green A Hamer C Harwood S Henderson M Hughes | M Hunter J Kirkup S Louw D Morphet J Newman J Newton C Pammell C Rae J Reisner J Reisner A Robson S Robson J Sandford B Steenberg J Stoves Robson J Tobin J Vickers |
George Petrides welcomed to the meeting.
Apologies for absence
Apologies were presented for:
| JR Bailey | Mr & Mrs Fagg | Mr & Mrs Quinn |
| D Chalton | Anne & Tim Gray | Ali & Steve Robb |
| Margaret Cummings | Mark & Beverley Henderson | A Cavender and S Simpson |
| Colin & Cynthia Davison | Richard Maughan | Mark & Maryanne Spoors |
| Muriel Devere | Mr & Mrs Pern | Mr & Mrs Thornton |
| P & B Turner |
Minutes of the previous meeting
Typo was highlighted.
GP asked someone to agree the minutes for accuracy, Robin Anderson agreed them.
Chair’s report
Helen Rae
HR summarised the report that had been circulated to Covenantors prior to the meeting. Stephen Gilroy had left the committee since the last AGM and HR thanked him for his work on the committee. HR also thanked GM and AH for their work on the litigation fund recovery and thanks were paid to Mike Bishop for connecting us with a solicitor who specialises in this area. 21 Cade Hill Road (21CHR) have paid the remaining money however the court fees are still outstanding.
HR introduced two new members who were co-opted onto the committee this year; Neil Chambers and Dave Pern. A vote will be taken later in the meeting on their appointment. The committee continue to have monthly meetings and HR invited Covenantors interested in joining the committee to speak to a committee member about it.
Challenges to the committee have been recovering the money from 21CHR. We now have a litigation fund to fight any further attempts to undermine the Covenant with a sizeable amount in.
Thanks were given to everyone for their continuing support.
Treasurers Report
Andrew Hall
AH summarised the accounts and thanked everyone who had contributed by way of the annual subscription. A new payment method was introduced in 2024 which has helped to increase subscriptions. Subscriptions received were around £9,400 and planning fees around £1,800. Costs largely as expected other than some legal costs for recovering funds from 21CHR.
Budget for 2025 is the same as the previous year, which includes upgrading the website. The 2025 budget for Common Land maintenance has been exceeded due to various trees which needed to be removed.
AH asked for any questions:
- What does the insurance cover on the common land? Public Liability.
- Why don’t people pay their subscriptions? AH and the committee are unsure why people don’t pay their subscriptions. It was suggested that a questionnaire is sent to understand why people don’t pay their subscriptions. Frustrations were shared from the Covenantors over not everyone paying, but everyone benefiting from the Covenant. It was also suggested that instead of a ‘Round-Robin’ letter, they are personalised.
AH summarised the litigation account in that there was no activity in 2024 and nothing was budgeted for 2025 but the repayment money has come into the account. AH asked those who hadn’t yet replied to the letter regarding repayments to do so.
A final point from AH was made in that he has been on the Estate for five years and took on the Treasurer role shortly after. AH announced his resignation as Treasurer now the litigation matters have come to an end. AH thanked everyone in the room who had supported him during his time as Treasurer and also thanked those who have supported the committee financially.
HR thanked AH for his work as Treasurer.
Vote to elect Neil Chambers and Dave Pern onto the committee and to re-elect Phil Moore, Chris Smedley & Maryanne Spoors
NC introduced himself to the meeting and HR gave a brief introduction to DP in his absence.
The vote was carried out by ballot papers and handed to the Secretary.
Secretary’s note: The papers were counted and including those who sent proxy votes, the final vote was unanimously in favour for all candidates.
AOB
Denise Morphet – Common Land Trees. DM briefed the meeting about the historical significance of the Foxtail Pine that was recently removed from the common land due to it being dead. The tree was a famous tree and was the largest in Britain, featuring on a Foxtail Pine website. Wood from the tree is to be made into a seat by Alan Wear. The seat will cost £690 and DM appealed to the meeting for donations. An application has been submitted to the Parish Council. Any donations should be made direct to the committee.
It was asked if dog owners could please call the council when the dog poo bins are full and/or take the poo home.
The overgrowing of the hedges in the snickets was raised. GM has already connect the relevant people about the upkeep of the snickets.
GP thanked everyone for attending.
HR thanked GP for chairing the meeting.
The meeting was closed at 20:10.