What Work Does BCML’s Board Oversee (Or Do Themselves)?
The Board is ultimately restricted by the level of service charge that it can set, and which projects we can deliver within the scope of the funds available to us.
Some roles are allocated to specific directors. Those highlighted in red here have a current vacancy. If a similar level of care and attention is to continue, it is important that new directors volunteer to take over these roles and assist in others.
Treasurer
This role is a key one, where a financial/accountancy/tax background is important:
Finance
- lead on budget setting
- overseeing monthly spend against budget
- forecasting future project spend, so that the right level of funds is added to the reserve fund each year in a measured way,
- annual budget setting
- making a proposal to the other Board members about appropriate budget, with final sign off by the full Board
Communications
Overseeing all communications with Leaseholders in relation to the Board (with full sign off by the Board)
Day to day Budget Management
Work with the managing agent and project managers/consultants to track budget vs spend throughout the year and flag any issues to the Board (reverting to the Board where there is a variance on project budget vs forecast).
Accountancy
Check the spend report to ensure all costs are allocated to the correct head of cost, work with the managing agent to oversee the accounting process, making recommendations to the Board and (subject to full Board approval) signing off accounts each year.
We are grateful to Andrew Chadd and Parick Crockford, who have recently taken on this role.
Secretary
a key role in terms of the organization of BCML and a good position to undertake when first joining the Board:
- Organise Board meetings (including preparing and circulating agendas and making meeting venue arrangements (a mixture of “in person” and via an online platform)).
- Take minutes of Board meetings.
- Lead on organising (annual) general meetings of BCML’s shareholders and/or more informal meetings of residents/flat owners.
- Assist the managing agent with signing new shareholder certificates, welcoming new flat owners on behalf of the Board.
- Liaise with other shareholders who are interested in acting on the Board of BCML.
Diana Jackson (Skylark Court) undertook this role from 2000, but who stepped down in -March 2023
Development website
Was created and maintained by one of the directors who has now stepped down and moved away. We welcome a new volunteer who will help oversee maintenance and continued development of the website.
Site Care-taking / Garden management
BCML’s Board has directly overseen the maintenance of our communal outside areas grounds and the communal inside spaces.
Garden management
This role is busy throughout the year, but more so in the summer months. There will always be the need to revisit planting in borders as well as to plan for replacing planting that has reached the end of its natural lifecycle.
It is proven that being around plants increases our mental wellbeing; getting involved with gardening work also improves physical wellbeing.
Our gardens are the first impression for anyone visiting the site (including prospective tenants/buyers).
Care-taker management
One or two directors undertake day to day management of the caretaker, meeting the caretaker on site and discussing work plans. This is a key role as the caretaker is responsible for external site cleaning.
Since summer of 2023, we have modified the caretaker role to include aspects such as monitoring contractors coming on-site, and helping where necessary on some of the heavier gardening tasks and we have engaged a separate cleaner for the communal internal areas of the blocks.
Becoming a BCML Director
Guidance about becoming a director of BCML is provided on the main page of the Leaseholders’ portal. Please look there for further information.