26 Feb 2025, 6pm-8pm, Woolwich Works
All leaseholders and tenants of the Royal Arsenal were invited to stay updated and share ideas.
Copies of the presentation slides available below in this webpage.
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REPORT:
About 50 leaseholders and residents attended the meeting at Woolwich Works.
Welcome and Introduction: Rikki Garcia, Chair, welcomed all present and introduced:
– WARA website www.wara.london
– WARA Mailing List where the subscriber list now exceeded 800.
– use of ‘Contact Us’ page on WARA website to ensure queries are directed to the appropriate subcommittee.
Reports from Work-streams:
1- Maintenance: John Denton introduced:
– Section 20 / Major Works: Warehouse Court redecoration, B 50 roof repairs, etc.
– WARA support available to ensure lease-holder involvement and transparency especially over tendering.
– Fire Safety: WARA seeking more information on Inspection process and whether gaps in apartment main doors were there at installation and so not the lease-holder’s responsibility.
– Procedures and costs. WARA work on reporting now on website, but better R&R comms needed, and possibility of a new ticketing system
2- Security: Annie McTighe introduced:
– Residents are feeling less safe
– WARA engaging with stakeholders inc. BH, R&R, PCSO, Safer Neighbourhood
– Residents need to report crime and ASB to the appropriate body and not just the Concierge or FB. In addition, WARA now asking for reports to be logged onto website so that a more overall picture can be presented to stakeholders.
– WARA looking at what CCTV, PCSO, R&R Security costs within the Service Charge.
– Concern over escalating CCTV costs in the Freehold budget.
3- Service Charges: Julia spoke around:
– ongoing Investigations regarding potentially significant accounting « errors »
– the responsibilities of Individual leaseholders
– future works
– Section 22 workshops.
Relationship with R&R and Berkeley Homes: Michael Doe (Secretary) reported on:
– Leases Those for WARMC and Warren are outdated and therefore illegal, preventing residents checking Estate expenditure. After 3 years, BH may act.
– Relationship with BH Work in progress on both informal recognition and becoming a legally established Residents Association.
– Planning Decisions Concerns taken to RBG Planning Board over impact on local services etc. Issue of BH’s “gagging order” now with the Mayor of London.
Any resolutions from members of the Association:
Questions were asked about the District Heating Scheme, and the future of leasehold reform, and it was agreed to write to our MP, the Housing Minister, on both issues.
Future Plans:
– AGM – Tuesday July 22nd preceded by online Phase meetings for Committee elections.
– Members with time, talents, etc urged to register this on website, and to consider standing for the Committee or as an Officer.
