Give and Take day - 7th Jan

The next Give and Take day will be on the 7th Jan, held at St. Giles Cripplegate.  If you'd like to give then drop off your bits between 10:00 and 12:00.  You can browse and perhaps do some taking between 13:00 and 15:00.

Here is the flyer from the City:

Click to enlarge

Is the future woody?

Timber buildings are the future according to an article on the BBC, and as an example of the bad-old-ways of using concrete we are shown a picture of the Barbican :-/

Could wood really be better than this?

Bernard Morgan House - new planning application!

Taylor Wimpey have submitted a new planning application for the demolition and replacement of Bernard Morgan House.

I understand there are only a few changes, but they must have been significant from Taylor Wimpey's point of view.  There will be a slight reduction in the number of flats in the building, a balcony or two will be removed, but otherwise it's just the same as the last application.

I heard that the reduction in the number of flats was to get below some threshold where more money would have to be given towards social housing.  The removed balcony may be related to light surveys taken from nearby flats in the Cobalt Building.

I understand that any objections received for the last application will be rolled forward to the new one, but if you want to be sure you could email the planning people with your objection again.  I'll be writing to remind them of the house group objection.

Here is the notice (sorry for the delay in posting this)
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Click to read the whole letter

Collect your parcels promptly

A message from the BEO about our CPA elves drowning in parcels ...

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Due to an increase in parcels received around the Christmas period, concierge offices begin to get very full. If you could please try to collect your parcels as soon as you receive your pink cards, this would be most appreciated. Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Tailgating

From the BEO:
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Tailgating

While the blocks are very secure, we need residents to take some responsibility and not hold the door open for anyone without a key. If someone does try to follow you in and you are not comfortable challenging them, you should call either your Car Park Concierge/Lobby Porter or the Police when it is safe and reasonable to do so, making a note of where you came in.
Reminder, the Police Non-Emergency number is 101.

Reporting Faulty Locks or Doors
If you discover a faulty lock or door please do not assume someone has already reported it. For the sake of security, a quick phone call or email to the Property Services desk 0207 029 3909 or barbicanrepairs@cityoflondon.gov.uk or your Car Park Concierge/Porter will mean it will be rectified as soon as possible.

Thank you for on-going assistance with these matters.
Barbican Estate Office

Minutes of the 2016 House Group AGM

Here are the minutes from the AGM meeting.  The smart PDF version is here.  The text of the minutes is below.

Please let me know if you see any errors or omissions in the minutes.

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The Ben Jonson House Group

AGM

19:00 on Tuesday 6th December 2016

The residents meeting room (Lilac Room)

Minutes of the meeting

• Opening and Welcome
• We are a Recognised Tenants Association (RTA) under the Landlord and Tenant act 1988 (as amended).  This is the AGM we’re obliged to have each year.
• We have 100ish members as at 5th Dec.  To be quorate we need 15% of members present, which is 14.25 people.  31 residents attended so we were quorate.
• Apologies:
• Fiona Lean

• Minutes of the previous general meeting
• - http://bjhg-blog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/house-group-agm-on-9th-dec-2015-minutes.html
• Acceptance of the minutes proposed by Tony 339 and seconded by Mary 507
• The meeting accepted the previous minutes

• Treasurer’s report
• The treasurer report was read from the house group rolling agenda and minutes.  The only expenditure has been on Staff Christmas presents for 2015.
• Balance at 21st September was  £1,483.90.
• The meeting agreed to ask the treasurer to once again dispense Christmas Cheer to the staff who give such excellent support to residents throughout the year.

• House Officer’s Report
• Following the formal part of the AGM our house officer provided insights and details regarding the current matters on the house group committee rolling agenda.  Any actions arising appear in the rolling agenda.

• Election of the committee  & seeking new committee members
• The following committee members agreed to stand again:
• Helen Hulson
• Fiona Lean
• John Dilger
• Wendy Spurry
• Bruce Badger
• The following residents agreed to stand this year:
• John Murch
• Dave King
• Kevin Bond
• The meeting accepted all those standing as committee members

• Any Other Business
• There was no other business for the formal part of the AGM

• The meeting was closed

Xmas Gathering & AGM - Tue 6th Dec 19:00

Ben Jonson House residents are invited to Wine, nibbles, and hopefully a quick-quiet AGM.

19:00 on Tuesday 6th December in the Lilac Room.  See here for directions to the Lilac Room.  The agenda for the AGM is here.

Actually the AGM part of this is quite important.  We need 15% of members to be present to have a very quick AGM (10 minutes of admin). The committee is hoping that the lure of wine and mince pies will draw enough people along.

The house group must have an AGM every year (or else!). Please do just pop in for a short while.

And please do sign up as a member!