Resident Awareness

[rathoraiser]

To the Chairperson: some well intentioned suggestions.

Could I suggest that the Ratho Residents Committee undertake to enhance their profile and general awareness of their existence - inclusive of identifying those who participate via names and house numbers.

With such a turnover of residents, plus general misplacement of the infrequent newsletters, I would suggest that a fresh communication should be delivered through letterboxes which carries this information plus summary details of AGM and certainly of this useful website. At least by attempting to enhance the communication with residents, and offer everyone the opportunity to engage in two way dialogue, the committee can claim to have acted with positive endeavour.

Such activity may also lead to enhanced committee membership which appears desirable.

May I also suggest that the committee first seek some form of general support of residents before committing to activities which have an increased cost to each household (point in case being the power-washing of the wall - see AGM minutes) or indeed to restrictions on how the local area can be used by residents (point in case being proposed banning of children playing with footballs in a family development).

Whilst the intention of the former was no doubt to act in the interests of all, the result (an increase in each household's annual factor bill) is something which surely residents should minimally have had some pre-notification of? Similarly, did the replacement of bark in the children's play area result in additional costs to residents? Regardless of whether it did/did not, no household should be in the dark as to the answer to the question.

Thanks to those who give up their time to residents committee activities, I trust my comments will be accepted in the well intentioned spirit they are made.

[Drew2u]

Thanks for posting Rathoraiser.

I wouldn't like to post names and addresses of committee members without their consent but you can get a private message to Bill, the chairman of the residents association by emailing [e-mail] - that will automatically be forwarded to Bill's personal email account which (again) I wouldn't like to post here.

You can also email me about the website, content etc - [e-mail] although I am not on the committee, just helping out.

Much of what you said in your post was raised at the AGM but the few who attended were split on whether the factor did a good or bad job and if the additional work they did was indeed required. I have started a specific thread on the merits of Lloyd Younger where residents can air their opinions, which I hope people will use.

I agree with almost everything you say about better communication and promotion of the residents association etc although I have found that the office bearers do as much as they can in the time they have. If there are people in the estate with something to offer in the way of time, ideas etc then I know the committee would love to hear from them, as volunteers are a bit thin on the ground.

As for the other points about the play bark and football, well the swing park belongs to us all (literally) and as such we have a duty to look after it, although my wife is currently liasing with NLC about the cost of them maintaining it in future.

The point about ball games was raised at the AGM by a couple of folk who have had problems with noise, kids in the garden, windows hit etc but the residents association don't really have any power here other than to request signs if that’s what people want.

To describe it as the “proposed banning of football” is sensationalising it a bit however people are entitled to their peace and quiet and if the ball games continually upset that then it wouldn’t just be the residents association’s job to deal with it.

Anyway good that you are posting – lets hear more from the lurkers out there as well - and I have emailed the Committee just in case they haven’t check the forum for a while.

Cheers


Drew

[rathoraiser]

To the Chairperson / Committee Members

Thanks for posting Rathoraiser.
Thank you for acknowledging my post Drew2u, I note all that you say although had rather expected a response from a committee member if not the chairperson given I had addressed my suggestions to him. I completely accept that emailing Bill is possible thanks to your confirming his forwarding email address, however that is against the very transparency I am voicing my opinion in favour of achieving! As you have agreed, "better communication and promotion of the residents association" is what should be aimed at in order to extend a sense of shared ownership in decisions related to living in Ratho Drive.
Can you (or another) please confirm that my suggestions have at least reached the committee (I assume that they know of and use this website)?

I wouldn't like to post names and addresses of committee members without their consent but you can get a private message to Bill, the chairman of the residents association by emailing [e-mail] - that will automatically be forwarded to Bill's personal email account which (again) I wouldn't like to post here.
Accepted, although your point doesn't appear to accurately reflect what I had originally posted "I would suggest that a fresh communication should be delivered through letterboxes which carries this information plus summary details of AGM and certainly of this useful website". Again, I am proposing the committee employ some written communication which makes residents aware of who they are, how to contact them, how (and when) to propose future agenda items, how to have a voice in decisions which affect all residents and how (via this site) to find out more. Such activity promotes openness, facilitates increased participation and places the onus on individual residents as to whether they decide to be active or passive in matters related to living here.

You can also email me about the website, content etc - [e-mail] although I am not on the committee, just helping out.
Thanks. The website is sufficient for its purpose, the main thing lacking I suspect is potential user awareness - see my suggestion above. Without an 'audience' the activities and future viability of the committee surely must be constrained?

Much of what you said in your post was raised at the AGM but the few who attended were split on whether the factor did a good or bad job and if the additional work they did was indeed required. I have started a specific thread on the merits of Lloyd Younger where residents can air their opinions, which I hope people will use.
Accepted, one limitation of the current set-up is that unless residents are fully aware of (and no doubt reminded of) the AGM date and venue, then they have critically bypassed their single opportunity to voice their opinion(s). I suggest that this is wrong. I know it's not quite a political election but at least such a system offers proxy and electronic votes (opinions) on the matters in hand.
Most families lead busy lives these days, I don't believe anyone should be disadvantaged due to having a clash of commitments on the single (and underpromoted) date of an AGM. I am certain that far greater numbers of residents will attend this years AGM if the general communication and profile of the residents committee is improved, incorporating early notice of any resident events and actively seeking registration of issues to be discussed.


I agree with almost everything you say about better communication and promotion of the residents association etc although I have found that the office bearers do as much as they can in the time they have. If there are people in the estate with something to offer in the way of time, ideas etc then I know the committee would love to hear from them, as volunteers are a bit thin on the ground.
Again thanks. Having served on several public bodies I am only too aware of the value of those individuals who give up their own time to the benefit of others. Unfortunately my own commitments now prevent me from having an active role to play thus my well intentioned suggestions and guidance via this forum. Although you don't appear to have said as much, no doubt you will also be in agreement with my original prediction that greater activity/profile would result in "Such activity may also lead to enhanced committee membership which appears desirable"

As for the other points about the play bark and football, well the swing park belongs to us all (literally) and as such we have a duty to look after it, although my wife is currently liaising with NLC about the cost of them maintaining it in future.
As a non-committee member I would not have expected you to shed any light on my question and comment "did the replacement of bark in the children's play area result in additional costs to residents? Regardless of whether it did/did not, no household should be in the dark as to the answer to the question" - I'd still be interested to have this answered by the committee as part of their duty to all residents as well as illustrating that openness and transparency which is currently lacking. Whether residents have managed to attend the AGM of not, surely we all deserve to timeously know what was discussed, what was agreed and the impact in terms of additional costs to us all? The very same principal applies to the reference to an increased cost (presumably per household) for some sanctioned power-washing activity. On whose authority was any increase in costs to residents given? I cannot recall being consulted or asked for my opinion and neither was my neighbour.
I presume that whilst you are not a committee member that your wife is, given that she is taking this forward on behalf of all residents? Can the committee please confirm whether the dialogue with NLC is in respect of potentially displacing Lloyds Younger as factors given that they currently (I presume) maintain the park area and general landscape? Presumably this activity is merely fact finding and will be channelled back through the committee and make public in order that all residents can have a say (if they so choose) in what happens? Could this lead to increased or reduced costs for residents?

The point about ball games was raised at the AGM by a couple of folk who have had problems with noise, kids in the garden, windows hit etc but the residents association don't really have any power here other than to request signs if that’s what people want.
Again, a potentially unfortunate side-effect of placing so much criticality around a single AGM event. Why should the potentially unique views of "a couple of folk" result in an apparent commitment to assume wider acceptance of their particular issue with the possible result you appear to suggest? This is a family based development, how many parents of boys/girls who play football within safe sight of their homes would support a move to effectively ban this and thus force a displacement of their children further from home?

Surely it's far more logical that the property owners who may have suffered from some nuisance take the matter up with the children's parents without impacting the lives of others within Ratho Drive?

To describe it as the “proposed banning of football” is sensationalising it a bit however people are entitled to their peace and quiet and if the ball games continually upset that then it wouldn’t just be the residents association’s job to deal with it.
In the absence of any further clarity from the committee, this was indeed my conclusion "point in case being proposed banning of children playing with footballs in a family development". In addition to their peace and quiet people are also surely entitled to have a say in what is permitted and what isn't in and around their place of residence? Might it be that the very complainants could be guilty of some sensationalisation themselves in order to give this issue any credence? There are always two sides to every story and at least two to every complaint!

My own ‘pet hate’ is residents (and not visitors) who opt to park their vehicles on pavements in Ratho Drive thus partially obstructing the pavement for those trying to use them, worse still this anti-social activity increases the risk to the safety of the children who live/play here by obscuring the visibility of moving vehicles and children. Perhaps the committee could canvas resident opinion on this in addition (or opposition) to ball games?

Anyway good that you are posting – lets hear more from the lurkers out there as well - and I have emailed the Committee just in case they haven’t check the forum for a while.
Given the low number of hits/reads on the forum I'm not so certain there are many lurkers out here, and that's one of my fundamental points. Keep up the good work.

Look forward to reading a response from the committee themselves preferably with some necessary clarity to all questions raised.

Thanks

Rathoraiser

[rathoraiser]

Just a suggestion. How about a Christmas newsletter posted through everyone's letter box which tackles some of the issues raised and, if nothing else in the context of contacting folk, promotes this website and residents forum?

Not impossible surely?

[rathoraiser]

Hmm not quite the (non) response I had expected. 5 weeks since my original well intentioned post, and 4 since my follow-up and still not the courtesy of an acknowledgement by a committee member?

Is this truly a residents forum and intended to be encouraged as such?

It could be all so much more of a valuable utility for Ratho residents if only things were taken a little more seriously.

[rathoraiser]

rathoraiser said:

Hmm not quite the (non) response I had expected. 5 weeks since my original well intentioned post, and 4 since my follow-up and still not the courtesy of an acknowledgement by a committee member?

Is this truly a residents forum and intended to be encouraged as such?

It could be all so much more of a valuable utility for Ratho residents if only things were taken a little more seriously.

Happy New year! 4 months on, the silence remains golden sadly.

It could all so easily be improved - and at the same time make the site hosting costs (and webmaster effort) viable.

Come on residents association, promote yourselves and in doing so generate a much more vibrant Ratho Drive resident awareness and general buy-in to local events.

[Drew2u]

I left this thread on because its the most entertaining - not much competition, I know.

Lets not troll or hide behind a keyboard like Rathoraiser, the new comittee are doing a good job in their own spare time - so lets be constructive and get behind them.

Drew

[rfmckay]

Yep, I agree. I've not been very active myself but I do think the Committee have done a great job on our behalf. Well done folks.