St. Marys Court

Constitutions Existing (E) and Proposed (P)

Existing

5.d. The Association meets quarterly with representatives of Aldwyck in accordance with clause 4 of agreement 23.4 1996 in order to consider:

i) the quarterly accounts of St. Mary’s Court, including matters arising;

ii) budget and service charges.

Proposed

3. the Group is a community group, apparently working for the benefit of supposedly the village and even a wider area;

4. its activities appear to centre around running community events, improving the environment, raising money, etc.;

5. membership is open to anyone who supports the Objects.

7. notice of meetings need to be advertised to people living in the area.

Comment

There is no requirement in P to meet with representatives of Aldwyck/Catalyst to consider the accounts, budget and service charges or to permit matters arising.

P places the Group as an entity of Catalyst, as is evident from the heading of the notepaper: “CATALYST”.

E stands apart and though its purposes relate entirely to Catalyst it has its own identity.

It is not clear what TRA stands for. If it is “Tenants and Residents Association”, that speaks for itself. What is good for Tenants is good for Freeholders. All tenants may be residents but not all residents are tenants.

Observations

Under P there is no right for residents to question and challenge Catalyst’s conduct. It could be ruled simply out of order.

To grant the Group powers to raise money for community events is irrelevant and patronising. Residents don’t need Catalyst’s permission to engage in charitable and community activity; they can do it when and how they choose.

Why are Catalyst offering financial inducements to adopt its constitution? Tenants, leaseholders and freeholders do not readily recognise Catalyst for its altruism.

1) The move brings a residents’ organisation more tightly under its control;

2) while at the same time distancing it from any effective influence;

3) It puts Catalyst in the position of being able to advertise its charitable aims and achievements through the good works performed by its community “groups”, while it is they who bear the cost in terms of time and energy.

Catalyst offered financial inducement in order to sell no. 17. What was the result? Entire loss of the facility. It was a sleight of hand stratagem. While one hand attracts attention, the other makes a grab.

“I fear the Greeks even when they are bearing gifts.” This is not a racist comment on our contemporaries. It was put into the mouth of a Trojan leader as he surveyed the Wooden Horse from his beleaguered city. It came to mind as I looked over the constitutions and helped me believe that if we adopt P, we sell our birth-right.

Peter Liddell

2/12/21