For Householders, Blainroe Estate

From Terry Neill, chair – Interim Blainroe Estate Management Company board

April 7th 2021

BEMC status update (number 3)

This is a status report following the third meeting of the interim board of BEMC, which will serve until new elections for a board to be established in August.

Third meeting of Interim BEMC board

The meeting, via Zoom, took place on Tuesday April 6th.

Eugene Davy, Derek Griffith, Pat Hinkson, Philip McEnroe, Katie Mooney, Terry Neill, Billy Nelson, Linda O’Leary and Paul O’Neill attended.  We were joined by Marie Byrne, Anne Nugent and Bernie Nelson

Our main agenda items were

1. Management agency progress
2. Communications with Blainroe householders
3. Trees, landscaping, playground, beach
4. Rainwater/flooding issues and their resolution
5. Finance and Legal
6. Various updates

We also covered actions agreed in March meeting (all done); correspondence; update on the (healthy) state of Blainroe finances; the updated inventory of key documentation (contracts, insurances etc); and a further discussion of projects to address priority safety issues.

1. Management Agency

The board accepted a proposal from (Greystones based) Schnittger Bourne Property Services, to cover

• Review of the current management structure, arrangements and to prove an overall opinion of the strengths and weaknesses, and possible future recommendations.

• An assessment on whether the Estate would benefit from engaging a Managing Agent to run the Company/Estate on behalf of the Members, or to leave as is with a ‘Member-led’ approach.

• Creation of an Operations Manual for the Estate.

• Creation of a Member Handbook/Welcome Pack.

1. Possible suggestion of an annual audit from Schnittger Bourne (or other), as opposed to a change in management structure, reviewing existing arrangements and recommendations on an annual basis.

See https://www.schnittgerbourne.com

A subgroup of Peter Stapleton, Philip McEnroe and me, had agreed an action plan at the March board meeting.  I am especially grateful to Peter who did most of the work, which involved contacting a number of property agencies to determine their interest.  In summary, all bar one of the Dublin city based agencies said that they would have no interest in proposing, mainly because of distance from Dublin.  We did receive 2 formal proposals, which the subgroup reviewed.  We determined that the Schnittger Bourne proposal seemed best aligned to Blainroe’s needs.  We arranged a Zoom interview with their Managing Director, Steven Bourne.  We were impressed.  And I was further impressed when I joined Steven for a short tour of Blainroe on the morning of April 2nd. 

We expect the review to start on the next week or two.  We will report to householders when we have Schnittger Bourne’s recommendations.

2. Communications

The April board approved an approach proposed by Linda O’Leary, and a (modest) budget for the upgrade and maintenance of the Blainroe Estate website.

In March I reported that, led by Linda O’Leary, we have established a team to substantially upgrade communications with householders.  Phase 1 involves building a ‘user friendly’ website of useful information which can be routinely updated.

The problem with many websites, including Blainroe’s, is that the technology is put in place and then falls into disuse because it is not regularly updated.  Linda has begun to recruit a team of contributors who will meet weekly to discuss and create regular updates of facts, planning rules, interesting stories,…  etc.

There is work to be done to make the website fit for relaunch, which will be when the site is tested, robust and ready to go.  Further report – hopefully with launch date – next month.

Linda’s team will also be considering how the website can be complemented with Facebook, text, WhatsApp, etc …. to build, over time, a comprehensive communications environment for householders and renters.

3. Trees, Landscaping, playground, beach

The board approved spending

• To remove dangerous trees

• To replace the playground fence

Bernie Nelson described a tree surgeon’s assessment of potentially dangerous trees.  The board agreed a phased approach to both dealing with current tree issues and to plan a comprehensive trees strategy for the whole estate. 

As a priority, a small number of potentially dangerous trees will be removed within the next few weeks.  Beforehand, Bernie will share those parts of the tree surgeon’s report which justify the removals.  Other tree removals must await the end of the nesting season in the autumn.  We will develop a BEMC trees policy, but our general objective will be to plant 2 trees for each one removed. The policy will also determine the tree species that are best for the Blainroe environment.

Bernie also provided an update on plans being developed by the Landscaping subgroup.  Plans will include a revamp of the flower bed by the entrance.

The board approved the replacement of the playground fence chosen on the criteria of high quality, attractive and ‘permanent’.

Billy Nelson reported on upgrades/improvement to beach access and rainwater channels.

4. Rainwater/flooding issues and their resolution

The March board agreed that flooding issues on the road through Monk’s Glade and at the pond needed to be rectified. The board approved a budget for the work.

Billy Nelson reported that the Monk’s Glade work was complete. 

The work at the pond has been difficult as the main drain was hidden under weeds and blockages. The situation also posed substantial potential dangers.  The situation is now in hand and both projects will be delivered within budget.

5. Finance & Legal

Paul O’Neill provided a short update on Blainroe finances, where there are no urgent issues.

Katie Mooney, in her role as BEMC Company Secretary, provided an updated Central Register of Key Documents.

Katie also provided a short document setting out clearly the roles and responsibilities of board members.

6. Various

Eugene Davy reported on discussions with leaders of Blainroe Golf Club.  Both parties agreed an ambition to have more Blainroe estate non golfers using the golf clubhouse, particularly in the light of Sorrel & Eve taking over dining arrangements.  We will create a golf club section of the BEMC website with information about social membership, dining, green fee packages etc.  The marketing committee of the golf club will be responsible for providing content.

There was a short discussion about how we might encourage all householders to maintain ‘Blainroe standards’ in the presentation of houses and in the whole estate.  More as ideas emerge.

This will be partly the responsibility of the planning subgroup, which Derek Griffith has agreed to lead.  Derek has already documented some important issues for the planning sub-group to address.  More next month.

We also discussed the idea that some householders might be persuaded to sponsor aspects of the estate such as (say) flowerbeds or other ideas.  And Katie Mooney reminded us of the ‘community work days’ that used to happen in Blainroe.  Householders and their children came together to deal with litter, paint fences, etc… An idea worth considering for building community spirit as well as addressing practical aspects of a quality environment.

Classics Corner

We had Plato’s views in March and promised thoughts of his ‘old mucker, Aristotle – from the nearby parish – in April.  Good thoughts for Blainroe and its board, householders and their families.

“Happiness belongs to the self sufficient”

“Friendship seems to be the bond that holds communities together.”

“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing”

Stay safe and stay well.