MINUTES OF DREAM HILLS URBANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING,

LA CASITA, 20^TH OCTOBER 2006 AT 10:00 a.m.

Present: Stefan Pokroppa, Anna Rosa (Admin.,) Marie Carmen, Peter Frasier, Peter Hemmings, Chris McNary, Jeff Andrews, Linda Sims, John Halton, Angela Cresswell,

Tid Clifford.

Apologies: Pam McKinstrey (Secretary)

1.   Minutes of previous meeting were agreed.

2.   Street Lighting.   Following a letter to City Hall stating that we were not satisfied with the street lights and their repeated failings, the City Hall refused to accept the hand-over until the problems were resolved.  They have also withheld repayment of the bond to Espinosa, the main electrical contractors.  After inspecting the urbanisation with Stefan, Jose Manuel – the head of Espinosa, addressed the meeting and pledged to rectify all failings and check every light bulb.  Any new fuse trips should be immediately reported to your committee member or Stefan so that Espinosa can be called out to rectify the problem.

     A request will be sent to the City Hall to activate the lights by the petanca courts as neither the courts nor the lights belong to the urbanisation.

3.   Anna Rosa will re-submit a request to the Correos in Alicante for an outgoing post-box.   Following Anna Rosa’s letter to the Correos concerning the poor service to the new phase (bungalows), the situation has now improved.

4.   Stefan gave a review of his recent surgeries.  Many of the issues arising have been dealt with by letters or denuncias.  Remaining issues are covered in the minutes.  Dates of future surgeries will be posted on the notice boards.

5.   During one surgery a large representation of owners from the new phase expressed their concern at the lack of outer doors to the post-boxes.  Several options were discussed by the committee and the following option was approved.

Lockable sliding doors to be commissioned at an approx. cost of 1,500 Euro, which equates to a cost of approx. 6 Euro per owner (new phase only).  This charge – a one off – would be added to next year’s urbanisation fee for owners in the new phase.   Jeff Andrews wished it to be recorded that although he was not against the doors, he voted against the motion as he felt that the payment should be absorbed by all the owners of the urbanisation.  However it was pointed out that the majority of owners voted against this at the previous A.G.M.

6.   Swimming Pool.  Repair works to the tiling in the top swimming pool are to commence in November 06.  The water will be pumped into a holding tank and then returned.  The tank hire is approx. 1,300 Euro for one week, a considerable saving compared to the 3 / 4,000  Euro it would cost to refill the pool.(Due to the water shortage, there is no guarantee that the City Hall would allow the pool to be refilled from the mains once emptied.)  Once the pool has been emptied the whole committee will inspect the pool for rough edges, broken tiles etc.  Repair costs will then be assessed.

7.   Urbanisation Map Area.  Three trees are to be placed by the map area.  Marie Carmen will liaise with gardener re suitable choices and has volunteered to care and water the said trees.  It was agreed to install a spot light (possibly placed high to avoid damage by vandals) to illuminate the map and area at night.

8.   Anna Rosa reported that so far she has not received any reply from Torrevisa regarding the repayment of gardening costs to the area in front of the top pool and around the La Casita area which does not yet belong to the urbanisation.

9.   In reply to a query concerning the proposed future of the area known as ‘Zona Escsolar’, it was stated that the land belongs to City Hall and as yet there are no plans or information forthcoming.

10.  Review of Pool Guard.  Generally it was felt that he provided a reasonably satisfactory service.  However, one person cannot be in two pools at one time – which led to some complaints!  One life-guard (which he was) costs almost as much as two security guards – which would be more efficient.  Also it was pointed out that due to the size of the pools, we were not required by law to provide any type of guards.  Several proposals will once again be placed before the A.G.M. next year.

11.  Bins & Rubbish.   The committee were fully aware of the complaints and problems during the summer.  The City Hall is the main culprit in this matter.  Several fruitless requests have been made for new and extra green containers.  However, due to corruption charges against the Mayor in Orihuela, all service contracts are currently frozen and under investigation.  Acciona, the main refuse company, have threatened strike action in November unless certain demands are met.

Colsur, the company who services our area and others on the Costa do not officially have a contract!  Simple and thoughtful practices such as flattening boxes and taking green rubbish to the green bin in Lago Jardin 2 would help matters.

12.  Orihuela Costa Presidents Association.  Despite many attempts by the Association to meet or communicate with the Mayor since January ’06, all approaches have been ignored.  In an effort to promote and help achieve the wishes and rights of the Orihuela Costa residents, a group of some of the presidents and others have formed a new political party called C.L.A.R.O.  The party was officially registered on the 18^th of September ’06.  Stefan reported that a recent random survey conducted by the association indicated that many people were willing to exercise their franchise.

Out of approx. 28,000 expats recorded on the pardon, a vote of say 5/6,000 for C.L.A.R.O. would put 3 to 4 candidates on a Town Council of 25 candidates following the local elections next May.

     In order to register to vote you need to be on the pardon (resident for more than 181 days).   If you wish to register to vote please follow the instructions below.

Take your passport and photocopy (or residencia and photocopy) to the Ayuntamiento at Playa Flamenca off the N332 and queue at the first two right hand windows inside the front door.  Tell the official that you want to register to vote and fill in the short simple form then provided at the window.  There is an explanation in English and other languages on the back of the form.  A list of registered voters will be posted at this Town Hall eight weeks prior to the elections in May to confirm registration.

     To find out more about C.L.A.R.O. check the website on www.orihuela-costa.eu or contact Stefan direct.

13.  Chris McNary , co-ordinator of the environmental sub-committee, stated that unfortunately people have misunderstood their mission and that, as yet, they are not a hands-on action group but meet to discuss environmental issues, possible solutions and report back to the main committee.  Chris will issue the committee with a “mission statement” clarifying aims by the next meeting.  In the meantime, your thoughts and comments can be addressed to any of the following sub-committee members.

Chris McNary No.859, Janet Jordan No.848, Ron Gethin No.152 , Gordon McCadden No.21.

14.  Urbanisation Rules & Pool Rules to be reviewed at the next meeting.

15.  A handrail by the steps leading to the top pool will be constructed in Nov/Dec ’06.

16.  Complaints were received regarding the number of quads and cars that were driving along the wide pedestrian-only pathways in the new phase. It was agreed to erect four bollards to block vehicular access at a cost of approx. 600 Euro.

17.  Financial Update.  Earlier in the year, bad debts (urbanisation fee arrears in excess of 200 Euro) exceeded 12,650 Euro. Over 7,330 Euro has now been recovered following the written threat of legal action.  Outstanding debts now total 5,320 Euro, some of which will be pursued through the courts in the period December ’06 to March ’07.  Individual debts have to exceed 200 Euro before they can be referred to the Courts.

  At present the urbanisation’s financial position is ‘in the black’.  The introduction of an annual urbanisation fee charge and established recovery procedures are thought responsible for this.

18. Any other business.

An individual/company has been telephoning residents stating that a fire certificate for their dwellings was a town hall requirement.  This is another scam.  Do not respond to this nonsense or allow them to access your property.                                

The hosing of the first floor balconies in the bungalows/apartments has been causing distress to the residents in the ground floor areas.  It was recommended that the ‘Spanish solution’ of brush, bucket and mop be adopted as it was environmentally friendly and a ‘tried and tested’ solution.

Mrs. Linda Sims has resigned from running La Casita but remains a committee member.

The meeting concluded at 13:30.

Date and timing of next meeting to be advised.

Minutes prepared by Tid Clifford in the absence of Pam McKinstrey, Secretary.