Latest on Handover

By Nige on February 12, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Type: News Category: Handover
Tags: Announcements | Bloor Homes | FirstPort

Due to other priorities, this is the first update in the last month or so – apologies for that!

Safe to say that there has been a lot of activity over the past month or so, so we hope to bring you up to speed right now.

This is another quick update to advise residents about what the latest position is in respect to handover.

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Handover Plan

• We have previously talked about establishing a backup plan for Bloor Homes (BH) to continue with its intention of handing over to a FirstPort (FP)-controlled MC. This has culminated in a relatively positive outcome for residents.
• The RA now has a handover plan, agreed with BH and FP. A specific page has been set up on this website to focus on Our Timeline.

Early EGM

• We have previously taken steps in organising an early EGM and although residents have secured support to hold this EGM, in light of agreeing a handover plan (see above), it seems prudent that the RA takes a step back from this position for the time being.
• The residents retain the right to organise an EGM at any point, should we decide this is the right course of action.

Managing Agent Selection Process

• We have previously talked about initiating a procurement exercise to identify an alternative Managing Agent/Estate Manager. We can report positive news on this front as well.
• The RA has started the process of selecting a new Managing Agent. A specific page has been set up on this website to focus on Our New Managing Agent.
• Note it will be a residents-controlled Management Company that signs a contract with our selected Managing Agent, so the timing of the handover timeline and the selection process is crucial.

Raising Visibility of Activities through the Media

• The RA has continued raising visibility through media articles. See page 15 of the January edition of the Drayton Chronicle.

Biodiversity Enhancements

• You will all be aware that as part of the Section 106 agreement with VWHDC, BH committed to delivering 10 specific biodiversity enhancements. Some of these have not been delivered and are simply going to be too difficult for BH to deliver now. E.g. installing bird nesting habitat within buildings (houses).
• The RA posted on FB in Jan, the fact that BH had approached the Parish Council to discuss the idea of transferring those biodiversity commitments to alternative ones elsewhere in Drayton. That clearly is an attempt to avoid being pulled up on this commitment as part of the VWHDC inspection process. In theory, as it currently stands, VWHDC can’t issue a Cert of Final Completion if BH hasn’t delivered this aspect of the Section 106. There’s an argument that VWHDC shouldn’t have issued a Cert of Practical Completion, but that’s a different debate.
• A meeting is scheduled to take place on Wed 14 Feb with the Parish Council, BH and reps from the RA to discuss this – it’s an onsite visit. It’s unclear exactly what the agenda will be, but the RA will be suggesting that BH needs to be explicit about which of the biodiversity commitments it believes it has delivered and which are outstanding. We can only assume at this point that someone may have a proposal as to what an alternative might look like.
• The RA will be emphasizing that BH made a commitment to the residents to deliver the biodiversity enhancements, so if they are not delivered on The Dovecote, then there’s an argument that residents are losing out on what they have invested in and that needs to be dealt with as part of any agreement.
• As a result of the RA’s post on FB, another resident reached out recently highlighting their role as a consultant ecologist, so hopefully the RA will have an expert attending the meeting on Wed as well.