For Householders, Blainroe Estate                               

From Terry Neill, chair – Blainroe Estate Management Company board

February 5^th 2022                                                                                         

BEMC status update

This is a status report following the February 1^st 2022 meeting of the board of BEMC.

February meeting of the 2022 BEMC board

The meeting, via Zoom, took place on Tuesday Feb 1^st at 19:30.

Amanda Collins, Pat Hinkson, Philip McEnroe, Katie Mooney, Gordon Murray, Terry Neill, and Robert Patton attended. They were joined by Marie Byrne, Bernie Nelson, Billy Nelson and Anne Nugent

There were apologies from Craig Whelan.

Main agenda items were

1. Minutes & correspondence
2. Finance
3. Water Infrastructure
4. Landscaping/General Management
5. Preliminary presentations and discussions of objectives and plans for 2022 for each subcommittee and sub group
6. Other business

1. Minutes & correspondence

The minutes of the January board meeting were approved. Items of correspondence were shared and dealt with.

2. Finance

Robert Patton provided a brief update. The were no significant issues requiring board attention. It is planned that there will be substantive board discussions of Finance on a quarterly basis, with short updates in other months unless there is a significant issue to be addressed. The Finance subcommittee chair, Robert Patton, will propose an annual calendar at the March board meeting

3. Water Infrastructure

The note of the January board said “Billy Nelson provided an update on recent vital work to assess Blainroe’s water infrastructure. Billy explained that, of the original 4 wells, only two are now usable – as the system meets the demands of the Estate, Cottages, Nursing Home, and Golf Course. He has consulted outside experts, who have agreed that the unused wells should be brought back into commission. For technical as well as financial reasons, this approach makes more sense than drilling new wells. A formal costed proposal for the work required will be ‘signed off’ by our outside experts and brought to the board for approval.”

Billy provided a further update (See Attachment 1) and mentioned that there had been a helpful discussion with Stephen Bourne, of Schnittger Bourne, and the other members of the Operations sub-committee. The approach and costings were discussed; and Billy was hopeful that the work would attract a grant from the Council which could significantly lower the cost. The grant issue will be pursued.

4. Landscaping/General Management

Bernie Nelson’s February report is attachment 1. We have agreed that much of the March board meeting will be focused on Landscaping and Trees strategy. There will be a presentation and Q&A with Arborists Associated Ltd, who have provided a substantial and detailed report. A number of dangerous trees have been removed in the past few weeks; and there has been positive feedback from householders.

5. Board committees and working groups for 2022

There followed an excellent and substantive session which demonstrated that each of our sub committee and sub group leads are now getting to work on their plans and objectives for 2022. The materials presented are very much work in progress, but it was clear that each lead is taking their role very seriously.

Schnittger Bourne

The Schnittger Bourne report of 2021 set out many of the positives of Blainroe and the work of its employees. It also set out a series of recommendations for matters which could be developed or improved. At the 2021 AGM, the chair reported that the board had approved a budget for the continued involvement of Schnittger Bourne on an advisory basis.

Philip McEnroe reported that he and  Stephen Bourne had spent some hours in Blainroe and had a v productive meeting with Billy Nelson and Bernie Nelson. He felt that we are already seeing value from Stephen Bourne’s input.

Sub committees and sub groups

We have the sub committees and working groups below. We had good updates from each. Work will be refined and finalised over the next month or two.

Widening householder involvement

Amanda Collins presented good ideas on Social/Pavilion/Tennis Court where we need some more formal management arrangements; and where we need more householders to be involved. Amanda will be particularly keen to have permanent Blainroe residents as part of the working group.

Longer term planning

A separate board session is planned for March – to share perspectives and ideas on the “Future of Blainroe”

Reminder of Structures

We will have 3 board sub committees

            Finance. Chaired by Robert Patton

            Blainroe Operations. Chaired by Philip McEnroe

            Remuneration. Chaired by Robert Patton

We will have 4 working groups

            IT/Systems/Website. Chaired by Pat Hinkson

            Social Events/Pavilion/Tennis Court. Chaired by Amanda Collins

            Future of Blainroe Planning. Chaired by Robert Patton

            Governance. Chaired by Katie Mooney

6. Any other business

Finally It has come to the board’s attention that there are times when young children are in the playground, without evidence of adult supervision in attendance. It may involve a tiny minority, but it is both dangerous and unacceptable. BEMC cannot allow itself to be liable if accidents happen in these circumstances. We implore all parents to ensure that their children have the supervision appropriate to their ages.

There was no other business. The meeting closed at 20: 50 

ATTACHMENT 1 

Blainroe Estate 

Operations update February 2022

Date:  Jan 29^th  2022

Prepared by: Bernie Nelson

1. Landscaping

• Performed an inspection of the Estate with Avondale and agreed a plan of works for February
• Working with Avondale to prepare a monthly plan for landscaping activities

2. Trees Management

1. Tree survey of Woodland area behind the Wavering

• Report received from Arborist
• Priority 1 recommendations include the removal of 2 x beech trees & the pruning of 8 other trees. Have requested quote for works.
• It also recommends the removal/ reduction of 3 x Lawson Cypress trees, these trees are located on the far side of the river- bank. Location of these tree is possibly outside BEMC curtilage.

1. Tree Survey of Briary, Wavering & Monks Glade  Actions to date,

• Holden tree services were on site last week and completed the removal of the Priority 1 trees as agreed
• Priority 2 works ( to be completed within next 12-18 months) quote requested for works & also asked Avondale to review what items can be included in the annual tree maintenance programme as per the Landscape contract.
• Quote also requested for trees queried by residents and not included in Priority 1 or 2
• A comprehensive annual tree management programme will be required to address all Priority 3 recommendations ( 3-5yrs), the input of the Arborist would be critical in setting the priorities and  supporting the implementation.

Note: Arborist Services have confirmed attendance at BEMCMarch meeting

1. Drains 

• Kelly Drain Services did a call out to clear a blocked sewage drain in Monks Glade, this is a reoccurring issue that requires further investigation to find the root cause. Suggest we organise a camera investigation, and determine steps to resolve.

Other Activities

• Attended the NFGWS training course ( 2 days) on Water Quality Assurance requirements.
• Supporting with the set up of a Water Quality Manual
• Health & Safety – Steven Bourne has agreed to liaise with Safety Solutions & support with completion of the Safety Statement

Prepared by: Billy Nelson

1. Water Treatment Plant

• Decision required on costs to proceed with improvements to water supply e., getting wells 1&2 back into operation
• Booked water sampling & testing ( Micro & Chemical analysis) with Tellabs,  testing requirements have increased to 2 x full analysis annually.
• Set up monthly end of line routine chlorine testing to ensure the water quality is within specification
• Attended the NFGWS Water Quality Assurance training – 2-day course

The Course covered the 5 Critical Points  that require monitoring in water production as follows,

• Catchment Source
• Abstraction Point
• Pumphouse / Treatment Plant
• Storage Reservoir
• Distribution network

Water is  now classified as a food  source and comes under HACCP requirements. There is an increased emphasis on monitoring, testing & documentation going forward.

2. Streetlights

• Carried out repairs of 2 damaged lights , involved the services of our electrician & the hire of a cherry picker
• Due long lead-time for replacement lamps we ordered 10 spares for stock