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30 june 2010
GNTOWER UPDATE half time results... We changed our managing agents in January, appointing Rendall and Rittner Regional Limited (R&R).
This update has been produced by a group of leaseholders and residents who have a positive commitment to the Great Northern Tower; four of them act as initial Directors of GNTMC Ltd, the GNT management company, following takeover from the developers in spring 2009.
Good progress has been made, but we - and they - know that thereʼs a lot still to do. Weʼve seen improvements in cleaning, and itʼs great to have the new equipment which has lifted the standard of the floors, for example. Weʼre now re-examining the schedules, along with our resources to assess the rest, and in particular get on top of the important details. Redecorations have begun, and the carpets have been cleaned or replaced. Window and lift shaft cleaning is properly scheduled, and investigations in energy saving are being translated into a rolling programme. Collecting the 2010 service charges for the building, addressing the arrears from previous years and dealing with legal issues has also been a priority. More about legals overleaf.
Rendall & Rittner can be contacted by email at: matt.kirk@rendallandrittner.co.uk, or by telephone on 0161 277 7610.
entryphone...still (very) trying We reported last month that we were trying to get the front door entryphone panel reconfigured, so that the apartment number could be typed in directly. This has proved a bigger battle that weʼd thought. While the panel has been changed, it involves scrolling with the star key, which weʼre not very happy with as a final and best solution. However, it may be that the cost of doing otherwise would be prohibitive - and thatʼs if itʼs even possible, given the connections with each individual apartment - at least in this financial year. More news will follow as soon as we get a clear answer. And meanwhile, if this is the area of expertise of anyone reading, please do let us know!
AND: to maintain security, the lift codes will be changed soon - R&R will circulate details. We’ll do this every few months in future. PLEASE keep the code to yourself, or what’s the point?!
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GNT TOWER 30 JUNE 2010
legal matters... GNTMCLtd uses two legal firms: DLA Piper for actions on arrears, and Linder Myers for other matters. DLA Piper act for us on instruction from our agents, R&R, who themselves act on our instruction. Their methodology was reviewed by the Board at the end of last year. A detailed arrears report comes to Directors every month, and it has been heartening to see an improvement in the figures. However, there remain a number of big numbers and intransigent cases, where only action through the courts, probably resulting in repossession, will end matters. There are three other legal cases outstanding, in which Linder Myers act on the Company’s behalf. Two of these are with leaseholders who have breached their leases in significant manner, and where issues of fire and wider safety are major considerations, along with unpaid charges over a number of years. Both cases originated before this Board took over, and so we’ve tried to fully clarify the legal, technical and safety positions in order to reach agreement with the leaseholders on a safe and solid way forward. The third legal matter relates to the leases and approvals for the commercial units on the ground floor. One of the key parties went into receivership recently, which suggests there won’t be quick resolution, unfortunately. Once again, our primary concerns are issues of public and resident safety. AGM and residents meeting: Weʼve been waiting to have all queries answered to our satisfaction on the accounts which relate to the period before we took over, before arranging the Annual General Meeting. This has been a bit of a struggle, but soon R&R, as our Company Secretary, will be able to formally notify the date, time and venue of the AGM. The agenda will include some proposals for changes to the Mem & Arts of the Company, as circulated last year for discussion. The AGM will be followed by a resident/leaseholder meeting with, as usual, a wider agenda, including a GMP presentation. We look forward to seeing you there. Information will also be on the website: www.gntower.com
OPERATION PROTECTOR 2010 Greater Manchester Police will again run Operation Protector for the Annual Party Conference at Manchester Central in September, with similar security measures to those in previous years. Constable Ivan Hewitt, GMP Outer Zone Officer, is our liaison officer. He will need accurate and up-to-date information on who occupies each apartment, and vehicle passes will again be required for entrance and exit to the car park during the conference period. The Police require that these be applied for by 31 August at the very latest. Constable Hewitt is based in the entrance lobby of the building every Thursday evening between 5pm and 9pm, to make it easier for us. He will need: a. Identification: ie current passport or driving licence b. Proof of residency: eg tenancy agreement if you are a tenant on a 6 or 12 month agreement c. For a vehicle pass: vehicle details ie registration, make, model, colour and parking location of vehicle. Constable Hewitt will attend our next residents meeting (July or August) to deliver a presentation on the progress of the operation and give us a chance to ask any questions.
*****IF YOU DON’T HAVE A VALID VEHICLE PASS YOUR VEHICLE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INTO THE BUILDING DURING THE SEPTEMBER CONFERENCE PERIOD*****