Officers: Bob Muid (Secretary), Lily Leaver (Treasurer)

Minutes of the Board Meeting of St. Mary’s Island Residents’ Association Ltd. (SMIRA)
held at the Community Centre on Tuesday 19hSeptember 2017
commencing at 7:00pm

Present:

Chair:David Taylor

Directors:Allan Sneller (Vice-Chair), Graham Wrightson (Director), Peter Haigh (Director), Barry Woolford (Director), Steve Gargano (Director).

Officers: Bob Muid (Secretary), Lily Leaver (Treasurer).

Visiting Members:
Richard Roe, Barrie Davis, Alan Brockhurst, John Jones, Gina Carpenter, Susan Button, Karen Davis, Ranieri Notarianni, Lin Rumsby, Peter Rumsby, Martine Pay, Jessica Pay, Emma Richards, Karen Filmer, Clive Canning, Colin Stevens, Andy Ducat and Chris Jennings.

CMT Representatives:Jonathan Sadler (CEO), Grant Leathwhite (Residential Services Officer), Carl Davies (Estate Officer).

Moat Housing Representative: Yzanne Justice.

Medway Councillors:Cllr. Andrew Mackness.

Guests:

Apologies for absence:Sam Rainbow (Director), Leslie James (Director), Lily Leaver (Treasurer), Dean Marsh (CMT), PCSO Chris Price, Cllr. Habib Tejan, Mandy Samrai and Gary Page.

Abbreviations: CMT – Chatham Maritime Trust, CML – Countryside Maritime Ltd. (developers), HCA – Homes and Communities Agency (SMI landowner), MDL – MDL Marinas, SMI – St. Mary’s Island.

Item 72/17: Minutes of the previous meeting

Adoption of the minutes of the meeting of the 8th August 2017were proposed by Peter Haigh, seconded by Barry Woolfordand unanimously adopted. The minutes are posted on our website as well as being emailed out to everyone on our mailing list.

Item 73/17: Moat Housing

David Taylor welcomed Yzanne Justice from Moat Housing and asked if anyone had any issues that they wanted to raise with Moat. David asked if we could get information out to Moat residents about these meetings and that they can come to the pre-meeting surgery which runs from 6:00-7:00pm if they want to raise any issues outside of the main meeting.

No attendees had any issues to raise with Yzanne.

Item 74/17: Chatham Maritime Trust Report

Jonathan Sadler (CEO) reported on security as there has been a lot of comments on the twittersphere. For those residents who have been on the Island a long time there is a sense of harking back to the “good old days” when we had two security men driving around in a van. However, that cost over £300,000 a year back then and it was not sustainable. In those days there was an enormous subsidy from the government regeneration body SEEDA as the land was owned by them.

Several years ago, it was decided to invest money into CCTV cameras around SMI and the commercial areas. CMT are continuing to invest in cameras and upgrading the original ones, so there are now 44 cameras and a number are now 360⁰. Eventually they will all be 360⁰ coverage cameras. The cameras are viewed by a team of two 24 hours a day based in the Coach House in Chatham Maritimeand there is a call-out service, when a security vehicle is sent out. The camera operators may call out the police if it’s seen as needing that level of response. There is still a night patrol of the Island which also checks that the Community Centre is secure.

Although the Trust has moved away from a touring security vehicle during the day it does now pay for a full-time dedicated PCSO. This provides a much better link back to the police, for dealing with anti-social behaviour etc. We have a new PCSO, Chris Price, who will be attending future SMIRA meetings. His predecessor, Helen Kristic held the record as the PCSO whose work led to more arrests than all of the other PCSOs in Medway. In Jonathan’s view this is much more effective than a couple of guys driving around in a van all day.

The Trust also has a new Estate Officer, Carl Davies, whose background is also in security and knows the Island well. He will be out and about on the Island as well as other parts of the Estate during the day.

Jonathan knows that the Trust doesn’t get it right all the time and that there are areas that they need to focus on, such as lack in response time by the security contactor. CMT need resident feedback so that they are informed about residents’ issues when CMT meet Ward Security for their regular reviews.

For most residents, unless you are involved in an incident you don’t know what’s happening or the outcomes. CMT haven’t been very good at telling people where there has been an intervention which has brought about a positive outcome.

Grant Leathwhite went through some of the things which have happened during the last year. There has been an issue with travellers and security have followed them around the estate to deter them from stopping. He also reported on some active police prosecutions which we can’t detail because of the ongoing cases. There have been some attempted suicides which the security team have intercepted.

We now have an ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) camera on the HMS Chatham Bridge so that CMT can report specific vehicles to the police. Over the last two years this has led to a number of arrests.

In the future CMT will be looking at putting some of this information out on the SMIRA Residents’ Facebook page.

Peter Haigh mentioned that he is the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator for the Island. Allan Sneller mentioned that there were now two other neighbourhood watch groups that have been formed, one in the Azure development. Allan will put them in touch with Peter.

Colonial House

Colonial House has received its reserved matters planning application, so the developer can now proceed with the demolition of the building which is expected to start before Christmas. It is being replaced by approximately 200 new homes, mostly three storey town houses with some flats which front the dual carriageway at the back of the site.

Basin 2

CMT are trying to encourage Arethusa to extend the amount of activities they provide in Basin 2. They are talking to them about enhancing the range of activities and not just for children but for adults of all abilities. If you’re interested in canoeing, sailing, paddle boarding etc. please go down to Basin 2 when either Arethusa or Medway Water Sports are there and enquire about joining in. You can also go to the Medway Water Sports webpage: to book courses.

In preparation for the enhanced activities the aeration system will be activated in October to improve the water quality and will continue over the winter so that the basin is ready for the new water sports session in March 2018.Residents will see bubbles coming up from the bottom of the basin, which oxygenate the water.

Rubbish

At the last SMIRA meeting, Peter Haighsaid that rubbish was becoming a problem on the northern bullnose where the bins there didn’t have lids on. When it’s windy the contents including the black sacks are sucked out. Four new bins are now being installed in that area.

Post Meeting Note: These bins have now been fitted.

Biodiversity

At a SMIRA meeting some months ago, residents suggested that there should be some wild areas on the Island to encourage biodiversity. A wild meadow has been created on Finsborough Down, beyond the dog run up to the perimeter road. The area has been well received and at the end of Septembersome wild flower seeds will be planted. Turfsoil will work with Kent Wildlife trust to identify the correct type of seed etc. The school has made some visits to the area.

Jonathan Sadler wanted to thank the residents who worked with them on this very positive project and said that the Trust is always open to suggestions on how to improve the Island.

Bulb Planting Day

The bulb planting day will be onSaturday 7th October from 11:00am to 3:00pm. The planting will be in Central West Bund and yellow bulbs (daffodils) will be planted for the Marie Curie charity. All are welcome and it’s another chance to plant our spring and summer flowering bulbs for next year. Great fun for all the family under the expert eyes of Turfsoil who will provide the equipment: gloves, safety glasses, trowels as well as refreshments. Turfsoil supply the bulbs and heavy labour - we do the easy bit - planting.Meet at Central Walk near the noticeboard at 11:00am.

Post Meeting Note: Unfortunately, the response from residents was very poor this year and the CMT and Turfsoil teams had to complete the job. SMIRA hope that this will not prevent this initiative being repeated by CMT on another part of SMI next year, so can all residents reading these minutes please make an extra effort to help next year.

In addition, David Taylor has said that the Sunlight Rotary will be looking to plant purple crocuses (for End Polio) on Stones roundabout on Saturday 21st October. There are now only about 12 cases of polio worldwide; the UK government spent £100 million through their foreign aid budget in order to eradicate polio. Previously smallpox was the only contagious disease to be eradicated.

Post Meeting Note: 3,000 purple crocus corms were planted so look out for them as you come on the Island in spring. Medway Sunlight Rotary would like to thank CMT and Turfsoil for preparing the soil again.

Covenants

Grant Leathwhite, as the Residential Services Officer,is now dealing with all covenants matters across the Estate.

There are no permitted development rights on SMI so permission must be sought from CMT as well as Medway Council. Grant has changed the way planning permissions are sought; previously planning applications were made to the Council before speaking to the Trust. Now Grant is offering an informal chat to residents or a visit to their house before they put in an application so that he can let them know if the proposal is something that the Trust would accept or not. This should save everybody time and money.

David Taylor emphasised that residents should talk to Grant before they put in a planning application at the Council.

Estate Officer & PCSO

Carl Davies is now in position as Estate Officer and Jonathan welcomed him into the team. Carl has 27 years’ experience in security and is ex-army. Since taking the position of Estate Officer, he has walked most of the whole site and as his previous job was with Ward Security he has contacts there and knows how they work.

PCSO, 58549 Chris Price, can be contacted by email:
He will be continuing the confidential surgery before the SMIRA meetings from 6:00 – 7:00pm.

CCTV

The Trust have installed two new CCTV cameras, one to view activities under HMS Chatham Bridge and one sited at the back of MHS homes on the river walk.

Two new bollards, one each side of the bridge, have be installed to prevent cars speeding under the bridge.

Photo Competition

The Trust is having a photo competition for residents. There are four categories: family, architecture, adventure and nature and landscapes. The closing date is 29 September 2017 and you can enter by downloading an application form from the CMT website. The photographers of selected photos from the four categories will win prizes and have their photos on the new upgraded CMT website.

Christmas Fair at the Community Centre

The Christmas Fair atSt. Mary's Island Community Centre will take place again this year on Saturday 25th November 2017, 2.00pm-5.00pm. The format will be as last year with, Harmony ladies choir, the Salvation Army band and Father Christmas already booked. Children can visit Father Christmas free of charge and receive a modest present. There will be a carol service with the Salvation Army band around a new Christmas tree (as the old one has died) towards the end of the afternoon.

Residents are invited to bring along or just ‘drop-in’ an unwrapped present for a child up to 16 years of age and these presents will be distributed by the Salvation Army to underprivileged children at Christmas. Residents have always been extremely generous in this regard in the past and can be assured that every present donated finds a home.

Redrow

Jonathan Sadler said that until recently it had been very difficult to get Redrow to engage in the transfer of the landscaping. Things are now moving; the legal documents have been drafted and they should be with Redrow by the end of the week. Both Redrow and the HCA will need to sign the documents and the price has been agreed for CMT to take over the maintenance. It has all taken far too long.

The Trust will send a letter out to all residents in the area explaining what is to happen with the landscaping in the future. Extensive replanting will be done before beginning routine maintenance. Once handed over to the Trust the landscaping will be maintained to the same standard as the rest of the Island.

The same is happening for the Barratts site.

Questions from Residents

A resident asked if there was going to be another dog run on the Island because of the number of new residents in the new development who have dogs. Jonathan said there were none planned for the Azure side of the Island but since it came up at a meeting this morning CMT will look at it.

Item 75/17: Chair’s Report

The Board members must adopt the accounts for year ended March 2017. The directors have had the accounts by email. Formal approval was proposed by Allan Sneller and seconded by Barry Woolford. The income and expenditure report can now be presented to the members at the AGM for adoption.

The SMIRA AGM is on 1st December 2017 commencing at 7:30 p.m. in the large hall of the Community Centre. All resident’s not just Members of SMIRA are welcome to attend. David has booked someone from Medway Council to talk about recycling. He has also asked Cllr Mackness if he could approach the police commissioner to speak at the AGM, particularly what can be done to resolve the increasing number of youth anti-social behaviour incidents currently occurring.

A member of the History Group will also give a brief history of the basins on SMI at the end of the AGM.

Post Meeting Note: Please see the final list of guest speakers for the AGM on the attached Addendum.

Cladding

At the last meeting, a resident asked if there are any buildings on the Estate that have flammable cladding. David Taylor has been in touch with Countryside and has received an email stating: “After a full audit of the materials used by Countryside Maritime Limited in the build out of all previous phases (built by the JV) and all phases currently under construction at St Mary's Island,they havenotmade use of aluminium composite cladding on any of the properties.”

On some of the newer builds there is some dark grey cladding which is thin concrete and not flammable. The material which looks like timber on some properties is believed it to be cementitious board, which is inert.

Item 76/17: Secretary’s Report

Bob Muid reported that we have had four new members join since the last meeting; all from the new Azure development.

All the contact information for CMT is available on the SMIRA website Contact Info page, along with numbers and emails for security, street lighting and the Environment Agency (for fly or dust problems). Also on the website is a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page. This will be expanded of the next few months to include answers to most of the recurrent questions which are asked by email or at SMIRA meetings.

Sam Rainbow and Steve Gargano have now joined the SMIRA Board as directors.

Item 77/17: Treasurer’s Report

Lily Leaver sent her apologies for not attending but sent a report:The accounts have now been completed by the Accountant and circulated to the Directors.Our spent to date is £1,208. This includes website costs, postage, meeting room costs and History Group booklets circulated at the last meeting. The majority of SMIRA’s costs come at the end of the year when the AGM documents and SMIRA newsletter are published and circulated to all residents of St Marys Island. Our printing costs are quite high as the newsletter goes to every home on the Island and is full colour.

Item 78/17: Social Media

Allan Snellerreported that since the official SMIRA Facebook group was set up exactly 12 weeks ago we now have 358 members. To become a member, you must live on the Island or be in the process of purchasing a property on the Island.

The top three topics on the Facebook page are security, the bike gangs and dogs.

Allan also helps Emma Richards run the SMI Community Facebook page. There are also two further Facebook groups for the Island, the new neighbourhood watch groups. There is one group which Allan was worried about because its nameis very similar to our St.Mary's Island Residents Ass'n Official Gpas he thought there might be some confusion between the two groups.Theirs is the St.Marys Island Residents Group.