Residents of Cove Bay have received details of the appointed landscape management company Greenbelt Group Ltd, and its plans for maintaining the Cove Bay development.
The arrangement is funded by payment of an Annual Management Charge from each homeowner in Cove Bay. In return, the Greenbelt will carry out the management of the open spaces and associated features.
Some residents are unhappy at paying for the upkeep of the development, others agree it is very necessary in order to maintain the excellent appearance of Cove Bay.
Greenbelt say: "Greenbelt’s Greenspace arrangement is acceptable to the developer and the local authority because it is secure in the long term and ensures that all property owners pay an equal and fair sum towards the ongoing management and maintenance of the open spaces and features on their development."
What Do You Think? Post your comments here.
9 comments:
Cove Bay resident Mark Crockard writes: "I imagine I am not alone in thinking the invoice I have just received is disproportionate to the amount of work required. I am happy to share the cost of keeping Cove bay neat and tidy but :
The cost is excessive
The grass cutting area to be maintained is quite small
The so called flower beds are filled with low or no maintenance plants
There is no clear schedule of work against which residents can measure if the work is being done
I would also be interested in hearing other people views on:
If Greenbelt has been replying to residents.
The scope for challenging Greenbelt legally - Im sure there are some solicitors or barristers in Cove Bay
Seeking the involvement of public representative is challenging Greenbelt's charges and right to a monopoly on maintaining Cove Bay"
I live in an area of Cove Bay where very little, if any, work is carried out due to the fact that there is no communal flowerbeds or grass area. Therefore, why should I have to pay the same amount as someone who has these on their doorstep? Granted, I have to drive past these other areas in order to get to my house and I don't dispute that the work needs done, but would it be better for people to pay an amount based on the volume of work that is required in their street? Legally, I don't think this can be challenged as I remember signing an agreement with my solicitor when I purchased the property over 4 years ago. Back then, the annual payment was £120 although this was only collected on one occassion.
If everyone is paying over £110 per year for the upkeep of Cove Bay and lets say, for example, there are 200 houses. That's £22,000 per year. We could employ someone full time (or 2 or 3 people part-time) all year to constantly keep Cove Bay neat and tidy for that amount. It certainly doesn't justify a couple of people coming around to cut the grass twice over the summer!!!
I am aware that some people have queried why VAT is charged whenever the Greenbelt company are supposed to be a charity. As far as the VAT issue is concerned, I think that VAT is only waivered for a charitable donation. As this company is actually providing a service, I think VAT has to be charged. This is only my opinionm Maybe someone more knowledgeable in this area could confirm if this is the case.
The charges made by the GreenBelt Group are ridiculous. MMM were queried as to whether there was a competitive tender process to award this contract and stated that there hadnt been one - it was awarded directly to GreenBelt. MMM claimed that Planning Service have listed them as the ONLY company that can provide this service - I am extremely sceptical about this and am currently seeking conformation from Planning on this.
Before paying any money to GreenBelt I would advise the residents to view this website
http://www.spanglefish.com/GreenbeltGroupAction/news.aspof Cove Bay
It would appear that the services provided by GreenBelt leave a lot to be desired.
Whilst it was in our contracts to pay towards the upkeep of the development, this applies to work actually undertaken - it doesnt say that the payment has to be made upfront.
The problem is that we have no choice but to pay. Unless we unite as a community and take on Greenbelt.
One of our neighbours recently moved and could not complete the sale until they had paid all outstanding debt to GB.
GB have not cut any verges all summer and I'm not aware of them tending the borders. They have provided a clear schedule of work and they are not providing the service promised.
Unless we take them to court and obtain a ruling that cancels all or part of the debt we will have to pay.
In a show of great community spirit many of the unkept verges have been taken in hand and cut by the residents. However we need to be careful that this doesn't work against us. Other estates who are taking GB to court have obtained third party surveys to confirm that work has not been completed. It may be more difficult for us to obtain an impartial assessment if we have done the work on their behalf.
There are solutions but they would require a united voice from residents.
Has all the residents of covebay gone to spain for the winter.
No one has anything to say.
Either that they must have got that big brick wall buit round the place to keep the locals out,and to stop vistors from parking their car to go to the beach.
What's the chances- two Cove Bays both getting screwed by Greenbelt. My previous post related to Cove Aberdeen so sorry for hijacking. Good luck in your fight!
Having just received another invoice from Greenbelt today it list the following charges that I will leave up to you whether we are getting value for money or not. Clearly we are not getting visual value as very little if any work appears to get done...
£128 site maintenence
£81 admin charges
previous billing
£61 site maintenence
£40 admin charges....
I have made a 1/2 payment for last year as that is what I thought of the service they provided..!!
Looks to me we are getting ripped off and we need to unite and get this sorted out.....!!!!
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