EGM Related Queries/Comments

• Those who live on the lakeside and have access to this all year round every day in comparison to those that don’t, will have the benefit of the committee spending the levy predominately on the lakeside. 
  
  

The Lake and Field scored highest of all priorities in the survey, suggesting that many more residents than those living on the lakeside alone feel that this is an important aspect of Axwell Park that should be prioritised.

All Axwell Parkers have the ability to obtain an access key to the Lake Field and woods and therefore access the amenities at any time they choose – these amenities are open to Axwell Parkers all year round every day. 

As with man-made structures, nature takes some maintenance as well. The maintenance planned on the Lake is the result of having a professional company assess the Lake and provide advice and quotes for carrying out essential works to prevent the Lake from ultimately drying up and being lost. The majority of work planned is within the Lake itself to remove algae (at the appropriate time of year so as to protect species currently living in it) and reinvigorate the water, returning it to a healthier balance. The Committee believe that this essential maintenance will safeguard the life of the Lake, giving all Axwell Parkers the opportunity to take advantage of its beauty for the long term.

• Why is the increase for everyone on the estate and what about residents who live on Shibdon Road
  
  

Axwell Parkers living on Shibdon Road and The Mews do not contribute towards the Road account and as such have a reduced levy compared to the rest of the Estate. All Axwell Parkers contribute towards all other accounts because all Axwell Parkers have access to those amenities. The Road account already has a surplus balance so there is no element of the levy this year being allocated to the Road account. 

• What’s the committees intention of making our estate more accessible for our older children, our elderly, non owners who are on limited income, older generation, disabled.
  
  

The Committee feel strongly that the Estate amenities should be as accessible for all Axwell Parkers as possible and have already started exploring ways in which to improve access. Unfortunately, some access issues are solved more easily than others so to address each group identified in the question;

• Older children. The regeneration plan for the tennis court is to transform it in to a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA). This would provide the opportunity for all residents, including older children, to have access to an area suitable for a variety of sports such as tennis, football, basketball. In addition, with the play area requiring attention and some equipment reaching the end of its (safely) usable life, the regeneration plan for the play area has been carefully considered to include at least some equipment for as wide an age group as technically available. The Committee believes that, between these amenities, access for older (and indeed younger) children will become much better.
• Elderly/older generation. The Committee is very conscious of elderly Axwell Parkers feeling as included as the younger ones and is striving to provide as manageable access as possible. To date, the Committee has spent considerable time tackling immediately remediable issues to make access to the Lake Field as safe and welcoming as possible – for example, repairing existing benches to provide a peaceful place to sit and ensuring that the grass paths around the Lake Field are regularly cut to provide as safe and stable footing as possible.  The Committee has already discussed accessibility issues with the bridge having only steps down one side and will be exploring ways in which that could be improved within the limits of law and cost. 
• Non owners who are on limited income. All Axwell Parkers have access to all of the amenities, regardless of income or any other factor. 
• Disabled. As mentioned above, the Committee is trying its best to tackle issues within its immediate control to try to make access to the Lake Field as easy as possible. The Committee will continue exploring accessibility options to ensure that all Axwell Parkers feel welcome and, most importantly, able to take advantage of the amenities.

The Committee are always delighted to hear from Axwell Parkers with any ideas or suggestions that might help tackle any issues. Please do get in touch (either directly with a Committee Member, via the website or vie email to the Secretary) if you have any ideas that could help!

• Is payment by a direct debit an option
  
  

The Committee is more than happy to discuss payment options with any Axwell Parkers that feel that payment by standing order or any other instalment plan would be of benefit to them.

• Can we vote online
  
  

It’s a great idea, and something the Committee will look at for future AGMs or EGMs, unfortunately having followed the traditional method of holding AGMs/EGMs there is not enough time to organise an online vote at this stage. In addition, the Deed of Mutual Covenants (DMC) does not specifically allow for online voting at AGMs or EGMs and this is something that the Committee will need to consider when implementing any modern methods of voting in future. That said, the Committee will try its best to provide as much information as possible to any Axwell Parkers that are unable to attend a meeting so that they have the opportunity to form their own view and submit a proxy with instruction on how they wish their vote to be used.

• is anyone from the committee going around to all residents to ensure that some elderly residents who are not tech savvy and who want a vote don’t miss out.
  
  

A short while ago, the Committee delivered paper ‘Contact Me’ forms requesting Axwell Parkers to provide their contact preferences. For those that elected to receive information by email, the Committee has respected that preference (and saved a few trees in the process). If you have elected to receive correspondence via email but do not appear to have received any, please check your junk folder. For any Axwell Parkers that requested paper copies, or that did not respond at all, we have distributed information in paper form. We hope that this has enabled all Axwell Parkers to remain informed and the distribution of the survey results has included a reminder that they are able to submit a proxy vote if they are unable to attend the EGM.

• The levy for this year was already set at £80 by the committee in place at the time. Why is this not an option?
  
  

With the effects of COVID reaching into the Committee’s ability to maintain the Estate, the majority of Axwell Parkers voting at the AGM voted in favour of the revised Committee researching the cost involved in repairing and maintaining the Estate and proposing a revised levy to accommodate such cost. The Committee has spent a considerable amount of time and effort obtaining numerous quotes for works covering that repair and maintenance and, unfortunately, the previously proposed levy of £80 is insufficient to cover the most basic maintenance.

• It’s a lot of money to maintain the tennis court and play area, which in my opinion isn’t used to justify the hike, not to mention trees.
  
  

All mand-made structures require regular maintenance but are, unfortunately, of a limited life span. The tennis court and play area are reaching the end of their safe and useful life and require some regeneration to ensure the Estate continues to benefit from such amenities. The Committee also believes that this regeneration would resolve issues that have been raised by other Axwell Parkers (as one example, accessibility issues for older children). These amenities are a huge benefit to the Estate as well as being a huge selling point – they enrich the lives of all Axwell Parkers that wish to take advantage of them as well as adding value to property on the Estate. 

With respect to trees on the Estate, the greenery and trees are one of the most commonly complemented features of the Estate and undoubtedly one of the features that attracted Axwell Parkers to purchasing property within the Estate. Unfortunately it is essential to deal with trees that have been deemed dangerous as a matter of public health and safety. The Committee has a report carried out each year in respect of the trees and the current report has identified a number of dangerous trees that the Committee is obliged to deal with. We have also all seen the devastation that a single storm can cause and the account must retain a balance that would allow the Committee to manage any such emergency situations.

• Are the proposals and budget going to be available before the meeting for the residents who are unable to attend?
  
  

The proposal has been published on the website, via email and on the Facebook page (as well as by paper where needed), which includes details on which account certain portions of the proposed levy will be allocated to.

• What will each levy option get me
  
  

£110 – this is the minimum amount required to cover essential works to maintain the Lake and Field, take care of urgent trees identified in the annual tree and wood report and also deal with more urgent repairs to some of the play equipment which is becoming dangerous to use.

£140 – this will cover all of the essentials listed above and make a start towards the less urgent and essential, but nonetheless required, works to the tennis court and play area. These works are required and will ultimately need to feature in the levy, but the Committee is making every effort to listen to Axwell Parker’s needs in the current climate. With this option, the Committee will be able to achieve less but will be able to lessen the impact on the levy in future years, spreading the cost over maybe 3 years or less if we are able to raise funds through fundraising events.

£190 – this will cover all of the essentials listed above and also enable the Committee to carry out all of the required works over the next year or 2 years, depending on our ability to raise funds through fundraising efforts. Regeneration of the tennis court and play area is expensive but with this option you will see a tangible difference more immediately with the cost of this dealt with sooner rather than later.

Ultimately, these costs will need to form part of the levy, but in light of the current economic climate the Committee felt it important, for this year only, to offer Axwell Parkers the opportunity to have their say through a vote. If Axwell Parkers vote in agreement that this year is not the right year to raise the levy then you should keep in mind that an increase will ultimately need to come next year and the year(s) following. The Committee will fully support any decision Axwell Parkers make and continue to try our best to achieve as much as possible within the limits determined by Axwell Parkers.

General Queries/Comments

• What is being done in respect of the issue of the police vehicle sign on Shibdon Road. 

The revised Committee took a handover from our predecessors shortly after the AGM and there does not appear to be any correspondence on this issue. We apologise if this was raised with the Committee prior to the AGM and has fallen through the cracks – please do feel free to get in touch (again) so we can discuss the issue and see if there is any way we can help.