Management
The day-to-day management of Ottershaw Park Estate Company is carried out on behalf of the Members by a Committee, presently numbering six – one each representing residents in the Mansion and Tulk House, two representatives for the Freeholders, a Treasurer, a Woodland Guru and an Estate Maintenance supremo. Members of the committee also from time to time undertake special projects such as installation of bird boxes, fencing, broadband installation, etc.
They are appointed at the Annual General Meeting to hold office for one year. One of their number is elected Chairman and another performs the duties of a secretary to the committee. All the members of the Committee serve on an honorary basis and no fees or salaries are paid. In consequence, the co-operation of all members in paying their management charges promptly, and responding to enquiries from the Committee is greatly appreciated.
Committee members
The Committee members meet every two or three months. In addition, they meet more frequently at ad hoc meetings or informally to deal with matters not necessarily involving every Committee member. There are frequent telephone conversations, exchange of correspondence, submitting of invoices for payment and drafts of documents intended for circulation at meetings. Minutes are kept of meetings.
| Representing | Committee member | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeholders 1-14, 26-29 | Nigel Eastment | 01932 873427 | neastment [at] tiscali [dot] co [dot] uk |
| Freeholders 15 to 25a | John Athersuch | 01932 873033 | johnathersuch [at] gmail [dot] com |
| Tulk House | Ken Carrell | 07889 650149 | k [dot] carrell [at] kecl [dot] co [dot] uk |
| Tulk House | Andy Gifford | 07899 871743 | andy [dot] gifford [at] falcor [dot] co [dot] uk |
| Tulk House | Marlene Bacarese-Hamilton | 01932 875329 | bacaresehamilton [at] gmail [dot] com |
| The Mansion | Graham Hughes | 01932 363315 | rgh180 [at] gmail [dot] com |
| Treasurer | Robert Sampson | 01932 874266 | sampsonrds [at] aol [dot] com |
| Woodland guru | Mick Roche | 01932 874443 | mickroche [at] btinternet [dot] com |
| Estate Maintenance | Paul Stopps | 01932 874876 | paul [dot] stopps [at] hotmail [dot] co [dot] uk |
Park management
The management of the Park is the responsibility of Ottershaw Park Estate Company Ltd (OPEC), who act as Managing Agents and own the freehold (although not the individual properties therein). The Company is "limited by guarantee" not shares, and in consequence share certificates are not issued. (A point which is not always evident to solicitors dealing with conveyances).
There are 79 units and one agricultural holding, thus producing 80 members, situated as follows: Tulk House - 25 leaseholds , The Mansion - 24 leaseholds, 30 Freeholds, 1 Agricultural holding.
All units, whether freehold or leasehold, are legally obligated to OPEC to observe the covenants set out in their Leasehold or Freehold Titles. Generally, it is these covenants which govern the rights and obligations of both Members and the Managing Agents.
There are two further obligations which have as their authority resolutions approved unanimously at Annual General Meetings of OPEC:
a) Penalties: in the event of management charges which are normally due on 1st January. remaining unpaid for 6 weeks a penalty of 2% per month is due, effective from the original due date of payment.
b) Legal costs: if the Company deem it necessary to incur legal costs to recover unpaid management charges and penalties they are authorised to add the legal costs incurred to the amount due. (If the arrears relate to a leasehold property the Company can apply to the Courts for a forfeiture of the lease.)