MEETING OF DREAM HILLS URBANISATION COMMITTEE HELD AT LA CASITA, FRIDAY 30^TH OF SEPTEMBER AT 10.00a.m.

Present: Stefan, Christine, Angela, Chris, Maggs, Jeff, Linda, Tid, Gerry & Mick.

Apologies: Peter.

MATTERS ARISING:

1 Gerry McIntyre addressed the meeting, advising that he was resigning from the committee due to personal commitments.  The meeting thanked Gerry for his stalwart work during his tenure and wished him well in the future.  Gerry then left the meeting.

Jeff agreed to take over Jerry’s’ area of responsibility.  Jeff (266) now covers house numbers

321-376, 384-387 and 423-499.

2.   Review of Night Security Guards.   Feedback on the guards from residents was very positive with only one incident, a handbag snatch, reported for July & August.  The main problems encountered by the guards were those relating to youths late at night or early in the mornings.  However, some residents felt that as the urbanisation was now more established with full time residents, that crime levels would drop anyway.  Some also felt that the guards were mainly for the benefit of the holiday-makers/tourists, whose security practices were not as good as residents.  In any case the matter will be  placed before the residents at the next A.G.M.

3.   Review of Pool Guards.   Whereas Paco, at bottom pool, operated efficiently, a number of written complaints were received regarding heavy-handedness by Raul, at the top pool.  In late August Stefan fired Raul for playing football in the pool area with ten of his mates! (Dream Hills F.C.?)  Again, many feel that the pool guards were there to control the behaviour of holiday-makers at the expense of the residents.  Pool guards will again be placed on the agenda of the next A.G.M.

4.   Pool Maintenance Co.   The old maintenance company’s contract was terminated at the end of August.  Their performance during late August was particularly dismal and negligent.  The new maintenance company, which was chosen unanimously by the committee (President abstained),   commenced at hand-over and matters began to improve immediately.  Two buckets of sand were extracted from the top pool filtration system which would indicate that the filters were never cleaned.   Also, the perceived leak in this pool may not exist and may have been as a result of sand blockage.  Time will tell.  The President refused to sign the hand-over letter of the out-going company.  It stated that the pools were handed over in a perfect condition!

5.   Works to Pools.   During the Pool maintenance-contract evaluation process, several contractors   pointed out that the pumps and filtration system for the bottom pool were inadequate and would have to be replaced, one contractor stating that new pumps would cost approx. EU. 6,500. (The committee was present during this process.)  This figure did not include housing, excavation or ancillary works.  A figure of EU 4,000 was never mentioned but seems to have been absorbed into Dream Hills' folklore!   Later, after bringing in an engineer, the new maintenance company advised that the total remedial works to the pumps and filters would cost approx. EU. 10,000. Although the bottom pool is only three years old, the mechanical and electrical works were only guaranteed for twelve months.

On the 1^st of September, the new maintenance company commenced work in the bottom pool.   The pool was closed, emptied; missing tiles replaced and the facade of the pool was cleaned intensively.

(Some residents wanted the pool closed until the next A.G.M.!)

They also commenced building proper steps and a support bar for the pool to assist the elderly, the infirm and young children, in entering and exiting the pool.  Automatic chlorine dispensers were installed in both pools.

As the maintenance contractor was already building on site, and after consulting with the Administrator, the President instructed the maintenance company to proceed with works to the pumps and filtration system.  If there were two contractors on site, there would be conflict with one blaming the other at a later stage for any faults, problems or defects.  The contractor also agreed to stagger the invoices until next year, so that the new bungalows could pay their share.

The President then wrote to the Developers, Torreveisa, explaining the situation, advising that the pumps which were originally installed were inadequate, requesting them to absorb any remedial costs.

We await their reply.  The committee also requested that any relevant invoices be redirected without payment to the Developer.  The President advised the committee that whereas he could not initiate or authorise expenditure on new luxury items such as tennis courts or a new pool, he was legally obliged to repair and remedy installations, particularly when health and safety was an issue.  Whereas some committee members felt that it would have been preferable to take a more orthodox approach, when most of them were contacted on the issue in early September, they felt that as the work had already commenced, then it was in order to continue.  The majority of the committee understood the Presidents position and supported his actions.   

The bottom pool re-opened last week looking better than it has for several years.

6.   Signage & Urbanisation Plan.   The City Hall has denied permission to place the plan and plinth at the roundabout.  Iberdrola have also rejected the secondary location by their boxes.  Other locations to be investigated, including the small pine-tree area by the bungalows.  Illumination of plan discussed.   Some of the hand-painted and signed house number signs have been placed on walls with others to follow.  Some signs are incorrect and will be repainted by the artist.  There have been some moans about the hand done signs stating that they are too imperfect.  One would wonder how Picasso made a living!

The City Hall was approached to see if they would pay for the stands for our new attractive “Calle Lagunas de Ruidera” main road signs.  They stated that they do not have any money available for them.

7.   Budgets.   Each committee member having received a copy in advance, the Quarterly Income & Expenditure figures were reviewed in detail.   The cost of the security and pool guards, at EU. 15,103 and EU. 6,560 respectively, represented a large chunk of the total expenditure of EU. 61,128. Whereas many felt that this type of expenditure did nothing to improve the fabric of the urbanisation and was incurred mainly because of the holiday-makers, others felt great comfort from their presence.

The issue of an additional maintenance charge for holiday lets was discussed but thought to be unenforceable.

Whereas any level of maintenance arrears is unacceptable, the current level of approx. EU. 5,000 does not cause concern.  The current policy of actively pursuing debtors has paid off and will continue.

It was noted that it costs approx. EU. 3,400 to hold an extraordinary or annual general meeting, the main costs being postage, stationery, printing and room hire.   Future reports to contain more detail where appropriate.

8.   Bungalows.   The first phase should be ready by December and the remainder by May 2006.  The possibility of arranging a welcome meeting or an information pack was discussed.

 A.O.B.

The Administrator will check with the City Hall about the availability of the small plot with pine-trees by the bungalows.

A request was received to fund the landscaping of an area by some large cable boxes, one scheme costing EU. 1,200. Approval was denied by the committee stating that it was up to the appropriate residents to fund the project themselves as in other areas.

Stefan cannot give approval to raising end-walls in cul-de-sacs because it would be illegal.  Requests to increase any wall heights above permitted levels must go to the City Hall.

The rubbish bins at Via Park 5 remain problematic.  The centre does not yet have an administrator.  More bins will be requested for the area and for the bottom of the urbanisation by the bungalows.  Refuse collectors will only collect from the main road and no one wants a bin by their house!  The City Hall will be contacted to discuss the problem.

Faulty fuse-boxes for the private street lights will be checked and repaired by an electrician.  The box locks will be changed and a key suitable to open all will be given to each committee member.  The common fuse-box for the pool and La Casita to be upgraded.

City Hall to be approached regarding the placement of a roundabout at Via Park 3, and some new effective “sleeping-policemen” on the main road.

There will eventually be a bus route through the urbanisation, details not yet available.

A Spanish translation of the committee minutes will be supplied to some members for distribution.

A number of minor points raised will be dealt with personally by the President.

The meeting ended at approx. 13.10

Next Meeting 18^th November at 10.00     

Mick.(586)