Sorry above pic is so huge - scanner software in library playing up again!
Latest official publication from the Association (or is it?): Latest newsletter.
9/4/2
Residents' Association meeting, last night, at which I had been told I was going to be asked about the newsletter. After one person began to act as Chair (Colleen, again), another declared herself to be (Sheila), and then a third said he was going to act as Chair (Alfie) (by authority of the Chair), a vote was taken on 'We don't need anybody telling us how to run this'. 'They' decided that they didn't. Then there was a vote that 'Jeremy have nothing to do with the newsletter ever again' - carried. Then there was a vote that 'Mr Jones be excluded from 'our' meetings', also carried.
Two people described me as an outsider. One said there were 'bad vibes' in the meeting. One told me 'get yourself sorted out'. One questioned whether I was 'alright'.
After they (the insiders) had decided whether they were actually going to vote on things, and had done so. I asked whether they would like me to leave the meeting right then. They said they did. So I did.
In all that time, the only suggestion of error in any of the material they had professed worries about was that the person acting as Chair, on authority of the Chair (which, apparently had been given by the Chair to the person acting as Chair at the previous meeting, in blatant contravention of the Rules (capital letter definitely needed!) of the Association - although this was not mentioned in the meeting, and was not, therefore, minuted) professed to be 'disgusted by the person that put the suggestion that the Union Flag be burned'. Which isn't, in fact, an error at all. Merely somebody not liking an obvious joke in some data which was, quite frankly, obviously there for test purposes. That's the trouble with Norwich people - no sense of humour (appart from obscene graffiti, of course). Apparently, they had 'all' met, immediately after distribution of the newsletter because of the errors. Nothing has been done, to date, to correct any errors. Not even this morning, after the meeting last night. Obviously heinous!
All sorts of talk about how 'we' had been running things 'quite happily', and 'without interference' for four whole years (almost enough to call it a tradition, really!), and how people like me (I have only lived there for two years - which only amounts to half of that long and enduring tradition) were disturbing a nice cosy little setup. Most odd. I have no idea what relationship 'they' (the insiders) believe that they have with the rest of the residents - none at all, presumably. There definitely seemed to be some fear of what was talked about finding its way out of the meeting. Which is odd, really, since it is supposed to be for the benefit of all residents. Hey ho!
Wonder who signs the cheques?
I expect to see the insiders bury themselves in subsequent postings (as Colleen more or less did with her first (unauthorised) mailing). I am happy to have lent them a shovel.
22/3/2
Wayne Tatlow explains the key position at Cotman. For some reason there is no mention of my original letter, only the follow-up postcard. His letter also appears to contradict the letter from Julian Housing, which clearly states that they have access to 'communal areas' (as if these are, somehow, less private to us). And, finally, he passes the buck to a junior - always a popular management move! Letter.
21/3/2
More responses regarding key-nabbing.
You will not believe this one!
Letter
Julian Housing responds: Letter
A quick word with Norwich Police reveals that they believe that complete strangers getting doorkeys without so much as asking is just fine and dandy by them.
14/2/2
Colleen leaflets the Courts. Cotman refuses email. No news on handing out keys. Storm, teacup. Teacup, storm. Hmm.
Courts Circular
A word from Colleen. Colleen's letter.
A word from Jeremy.
To say that Courts Circular was sent out without the knowledge of the committee is ever so slightly misleading. I was, in fact, asked to produce a newsletter, based upon the proceedings of the Residents' Association meeting, using my own notes and those very kindly supplied to me by Colleen. I duly did so. In other words, the Committee had specifically asked me to produce a newsletter. And gave me the information to do so. Why Colleen should, later, choose to say something like this, is, frankly, beyond me.
Sincere apologies for any slight inaccuracies! No idea what the inaccuracies are supposed to be. Obviously not important enough to warrant correcting in a circular. A circular which the Committee was completely unaware of, did not sanction, and had not asked for. Much better to waste another sheet of paper, later!
However, it clearly requires the Committee to consider the inaccuracies. But only after Colleen has corrected them. I mean, the Committee has corrected them. While Colleen chairs it. Which she clearly can't since the rules preclude her from chairing a third time. Which is why she calls herself 'Secretary'. Although she did Chair the last meeting. Well. She didn't. Not really. The newly elected Chair did. Or didn't. It was rather hard to tell. Or wasn't.
I think, perhaps, there's some confusion in Colleen's mind about the difference between Colleen and the Committee. And Colleen and the Chair of the Committee. And the Committee and the Residents' Association.
I am an orange.
Jeremy.
Email
Whoops! Cotman not quite ready to use email! Wayne Tatlow's letter. Watch this space, though! They'll almost certainly catch up with this century at some stage! Funny, though. They use email to report faults and problems from reception to the people in the offices. I guess email is only intended to be used over short distances. The sort of distances that it's too much trouble to walk across to tell people things. Hey ho!
Apologies to anyone who has sent emails to the address I took the trouble to set up for Cotman, with the expectation that they would respond. I shall 'deactivate' it shortly.
Pity Mr Tatlow's letter doesn't say anything about why they're handing out our keys like they're mere tokens and not actually something important to us.
Why use one letter when two will do? I wrote to Cotman on about 13/2/2 regarding this, but have had nothing back.
Mr Tatlow may be exhibiting some confusion, here, about the difference between an email address and a web site. I think he may also be exhibiting some confusion about whether the Resident's Association is a Cotman association or a residents' association. I'm sure time will tell!
:p
13/2/2
Check out the comparative performance links at the top of the page! How does Cotman compare? How much money is it making out of us?
Scan of Tenants' Handbook will follow (some 100 pages or so to scan, so may take a while, and will probably have to be posted in several pieces!).
Report a problem to Cotman Housing If you are in the Norwich library, this will try to call up Hotmail. A window labelled 'Enter Network Password' will appear. Click on 'Cancel' to get past this. If you have no account of your own, use the one I created. Click on 'Go to Hotmail sign in' and login in as cotmanfaults (@hotmail.com) and use the password 'parmentergate' (both words all in lower case letters). Click on 'Compose' to write a message, and click on the word 'To' to bring up the address book, where you will find the email address to report faults to. - Please don't change any account info - ta!
Latest (at
15/02/02
):
PCRA has stall booked at King Street Festival, which is same day as Jubilee. Colleen told everyone that PCRA would, therefore, support the Jubilee. No vote was asked for.
Adoption of St John Street was awaiting repair to lampposts, which has now been carried out
Planters/flower troughs under review, as Cotman must comply with planning regs
Mind, Julian Housing, and some Community Psychiatric Nurses have apparently asked for, and got, keys to the outer doors of Parmentergate Court and to its garages.
Rear carpark will be closed on 27 Feb while gate and height limiting bar installed.
Rave warning for yesterday/tonight (14th Feb)
PCRA to ask for shell supergrip (grippy) covering for Rose Lane Road.
PCRA to ask Cotman to lower coinbox/repair request box.
PCRA to meet in Murrell's next time (8th April) - suggestions for matters to discuss...
Lights on one corner of block (outside) not working
Cages to be introduced for bicycles in underground carpark. Will use combination lock
PCRA to ask about labelling letterboxes to indicate lack of desire to receive circulars
Old brewery (large building with asbestos roof opposite PC is to be taken down.
Land by bottom of steps between PC and MC: Cotman want to plant it, Church wants to park on it.
CDS will hold vote at next meeting, for no particular reason, when everyone has had time to think about it, as if, somehow, they are unable to do so at a meeting
Web site: to be dealt with later, too, as this was clearly something else that ought not be voted upon at a meeting - even if most or all of the members were there, unlike at some
How to find us
I would very much like to have been able to have posted a map for Cotman Housing (53-57, St Martins Lane, Norwich. NR3 3SA), too, but there appears to be a problem with their postcode - most internet mappers appear to place them near the Aylsham Road! The Post Office says the problem arises because Cotman use a bulk mailing postcode.
The closest postcode I can find that produces a map with St Martins Lane on is NR3 3BD, which is actually the code for a small housing estate by the doctors' surgery in Mandela Close, opposite the Church. Cotman House is down the street to the left of the church (as you look at it). Zoom in to 5,000 to see St Martins Lane.
Click on the counter itself to see viewing figures in graph format
Letter
Julian Housing responds: Letter
A quick word with Norwich Police reveals that they believe that complete strangers getting doorkeys without so much as asking is just fine and dandy by them.