Recent Uploads and Next Meeting

Following our last BSORA meeting held on 24th February 2013, the draft minutes can now be viewed here.

Further to the letter that you should all have received (copy here) two sheets have been prepared outlining in a little more detail the estimated apportionment of the costs:
 
- one is to 'building' level, showing how the totals have been shared between the three blocks,

- and the other is focussed specifically on our own arrangements for sharing the costs between the 14 properties that are arranged in 3 vertical groups in our own block.

We hope these summaries are helpful in answering any questions you may have about this proposed project and are looking forward to receiving your positive responses by 2nd April 2013 enabling us to proceed with this essential repair work. 
 
Our next meeting will be held at 5pm on Sunday 7th April 2013, venue to be confirmed.

Please email us at bsora@hotmail.co.uk with your response, and either your apologies or intention to attend the meeting.

Thanks,

Catriona
for
BSORA

(Update 13 March 2013: Apologies - there appears to have been an error in accessing the documents.  This should now be sorted but please let me know if you need help viewing them - thanks. Catriona)

Edinburgh Council Property Conservation Redesign

Most of you will by now no doubt be familiar with the issues affecting the City of Edinburgh Property Conservation Department. 

You may also recall being invited to contribute (here) towards a consultation that they held last year on how the service should be redesigned going forward.  Several options were proposed, none of which really offered a satisfactory solution, and this is reflected in the comments within the responses received, which are documented here.  I'd encourage you to have a look - it actually makes for some interesting reading! 

In the meantime, based on these results, the council are about to issue some new guidance from April 2013.  See current details here - http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/1028/improvements_and_repairs/1807/property_conservation_redesign.

So - watch this space!

Edinburgh Statutory Notice report reveals £27m gap

This article on the ongoing Edinburgh Council Property saga was featured on BBC Newsnight Scotland on Tuesday evening, which you might catch on the BBC iPlayer - or read it here - and perhaps ponder a moment on just how lucky we have been to have had such a narrow escape!

That said, we do still have a long way to go to get our own repairs done, so please let me know that you will attend our next meeting scheduled for Sunday 24 February 2013 at 5pm by RSVPing to bsora@hotmail.co.uk by this weekend.

Thanks.

Catriona   

Thur 28 Feb 2013 - Property Repair and Maintenance Event at ESPC

As mentioned at our AGM last week, there is another of these FREE Property Repair and Maintenance Events taking place along at the ESPC in George Street on Thursday 28 February 2013 at 5.15pm.

I attended the November version of the event and it was certainly very interesting in getting a better understanding of some of the more technical and detailed aspects of our responsibilities and what we are dealing with, as well as reassurance that what we are doing is indeed the correct way to proceed.

I'd really encourage you to attend - book here: 

Catriona
for
BSORA

****************

Living in a tenement?

Have you considered the best way to maintain the communal building in which you live to protect your property from damp or other such problems, particularly during the winter months?

Or worry about how to go about fixing repairs on your shared building now that the council's statutory notices are no longer issued? Is there funding available for your property?
Come along to our free event where you can speak to knowledgeable professionals who can put you on the right track.

Property repair and maintenance event

Date: Thursday 28 February

Venue: ESPC Showroom, 85 George Street, Edinburgh

Reception: 5.15pm

Speakers:5.30pm-6.45pm

Surgery and Q&A:6.45pm-7.30pm

Free event - refreshments provided

 
About the event

Hypostyle Architects has worked with homeowners for many years providing a professional service to help them repair and maintain their properties.

ESPC has teamed up with Hypostyle to host a Property Maintenance Event to provide homeowners with the tools required to assess their building's condition, and demonstrate how to carry out repairs and ensure correct maintenance of their property. This means you don't have to worry about any sudden large bills dues to degrading buildings.

Speakers

We have five excellent speakers who will each talk for around 10 minutes:

Jo Parry, Conservation Architect, Hypostyle Architects

Learn about the importance of repairing properties and advice on how to get started.

Fiona McDonald, Edinburgh World Heritage

The grant aided projects available within the EWH site.

Graeme Millar, NFRC

Advice on best roof repair practice.

Alex Stark, Stone Federation

Identifying defective stonework and the process of its repair/replacement.

Dorothy Hoskins, Historic Scotland

Advice on appropriate repair and maintenance, covering all key areas of your building and the HS Inform guides available to help.

Simon Roberts, Scottish Government

Fundamental information on the Tenement Act, encouraging owners to work together with their neighbours.

After the speakers

Mingle and talk to the experts who can answer any of your specific questions or concerns, plus pick up information packs. In addition Edinburgh World Heritage will be there on the night who can provide details regarding any funding available for the preservation of selected properties in and around Edinburgh.
Perhaps you fancy learning more about building maintenance so that you can spot any potential work before it gets worse.

Book a space at the free event

For information about the event or to book a space contact Jo Parry of Hypostyle at conservation@hypostyle.co.uk or call 0131 555 0688.
Places are limited so book fast to make sure your home is protected over the winter!

Post Meeting Note - 27 January 2013

Many thanks once again to all who attended and contributed to this evening's AGM.

(Thanks to Ella and the team at the No11 Brunswick Street Brasserie and Hotel for accommodating us again.  They are now open for coffees, lunches, afternoon teas and evening meals!).

 

For information, I have now uploaded the following: 

• Updated Tender Document with 4th contractor's return added (received 11 January 2013).
• Questions presented to DM Hall from 18 December 2012 
• Chair's Report 2012
• DRAFT Meeting Notes from our meeting this evening (please let me have any comments or corrections to these as soon as possible before next Sunday 3 February 2013). 

In summary, we agreed unanimously that our preferred contractor would be:

• James Breck Roofing & Building Contractors Ltd – http://jamesbreck.co.uk

Further information will now be sought from DM Hall on certain aspects of how we proceed from here, with a view to preparing draft correspondence for our neighbours to be reviewed at our next meeting.

This will be on Sunday 24th February at 5pm. 

Please RSVP your attendance YES or NO to bsora@hotmail.co.uk before Saturday 16 February 2013.  

With thanks,

Catriona
for BSORA

Notice of BSORA AGM - 27 January 2013

The very first

Annual General Meeting

of our Brunswick Street Owners' and Residents' Association (BSORA)

will take place on

Sunday 27 January 2013, at 5pm

in the No 11 Brunswick Street Brasserie Hotel.

The Owners of each of the 14 properties within the building at No 46 Brunswick Street are, as automatic members, invited to attend in person or to send a representative on their behalf *.  

All residents within the block are also very welcome to attend, and to contribute to the discussions, although they shall have no voting powers*, unless they are appointed as the Owner's Representative. (To see the full details of the BSORA constitution, click here.)

At this meeting, in addition to electing (or re-electing) a committee for 2013, we will be discussing the quotations that have now been received from various contractors for the work to be undertaken to repair and maintain the building.  The basis of these quotes was the full building survey undertaken by DM Hall in November 2012.  All of the relevant documents can be viewed on this blog, here. Please take time to familiarise yourself with them before the meeting.

A decision will then be taken as to which contractor to appoint, and as per the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004, the majority vote will rule.   

It is hoped that by then we will also be able to share the details of our new BSORA Bank Account, along with guidance on how payments may be made into it.

Tea, coffee and other refreshments will be available, so to ensure we are able to accommodate everyone, please confirm your attendance by emailing  bsora@hotmail.co.uk (BSORA) before Sunday 20 January 2013. 

If you have any questions, or issues that you would like to be included in the agenda, please email BSORA as soon as possible, and ideally no later than Saturday 19 January 2013.

Regards,

Catriona
for BSORA

(*Each property carries one vote which may be cast either by the owner or their representative. Please note that in cases of shared ownership there is only one vote, and any representatives must be confirmed as such by the owner in writing prior to the meeting).

  

Merry Christmas and a Watertight New Year

Wishing all Brunswick Street Owners and Residents a very Merry Christmas and a watertight New Year for our building!

Many thanks to the BSORA committee for their support this year in moving the repairs forward, and I look forward to seeing them, and you, at our AGM at 5pm on 27 January 2013 at the No 11 Brasserie Hotel.

Best wishes,

Catriona