General Meeting Minutes - 1 May 2025
Date: 1 May 2025
Time and Venue: 6.30 pm Online - Google Meet
Meeting called to order by: Charlotte Baillie - Chair
In Attendance
Founder Members and Officers of the Association
Charlotte Baillie (CB) Chair
Amy Owens (AO) Treasurer
Lesley Novis (LN) Secretary
Vale of Glamorgan Councillors
Lis Burnett – Leader of Vale of Glamorgan Council
Mark Hooper – Baruc Ward
Robert Jones – Vale of Glamorgan Council – Communication and Participation Team
Residents and members of Barry Waterfront Residents Association
APOLOGIES
Alun Williams (AW) Co Chair of Barry Waterfront Residents Association
Agenda
Welcome.
Achievements of the Committee since the last meeting
Issues of Parking
Update from Mark Hooper, Baruc Ward Councillor
Key Points of Discussion and matters arising
Welcome
CB welcomed all those in attendance and welcomed the guest speakers Lis Burnett, Mark Hooper and Robert Jones.
AO spoke about meeting etiquette of staying muted when not speaking and using the ‘Raise the hand’ function to ask questions. She also indicated to attendees where the chat function was on Google Meet.
Achievements of Committee since the last meeting
February
Walk Round of Barry Waterfront with Fexco/Remus and Jon Whitehead
Following on from the general meeting in January, CB and AW walked round the estate with representatives from Remus/Fexco, Jon Whitehead, the developers surveyor and Steffan Williams – Baruc Ward Councillor. At this walk round the issues brought to light at the general meeting were pointed out to Remus/Fexco and Jon Whitehead.
Barry District News
Barry District News ran an article on the general meeting.
Litter Pick
Some of the committee members did a litter pick which was done in partnership with Asda. Around 15-20 people came and 27 bags of rubbish were collected.
Meetings with Housing Associations
AO and AW spoke with both Haford and Wales and West Housing Associations. It was asked if the housing associations would act on behalf of their residents and join the Residents Association on their behalf. They were not able to do this unfortunately. It is therefore up to individual residents to join the Association individually.
March
AW interview with Jason Mohammad on Radio Wales
AW was interviewed by Jason Mohammad on Radio Wales about the issues with Remus. Remus provided a written response to this which very much focused on their lack of providing accounts. There was little response from them on the other issues.
Issue of Stage One Complaint to Fexco/Remus
A Stage One Formal Complaint was issued to Fexco/Remus. This was not acknowledged, despite the fact that we now have hundreds of members. It is believed that this is because we have not yet reached the 51% membership level which would qualify us as a Recognized Residents Association.
Website Update
The website has been updated to include forms which we use to register interest in meetings and events.
April
Barry District News Article
A further article was published. This was regarding the really serious issue of Fire Safety Documents.
Litter Pick
A further litter pick was done in conjunction with Asda.
Meeting with Kanishka Nayaran – Member of Parliament
AW met with Kanishka Narayan to try and foster some real support in trying to deal with Fexco/Remus
Easter Egg Hunt – 21 April 2025
In conjunction with Asda and Easter Egg Hunt was organised by the Residents Association. Asda provided Goody Bags for the children and some 60 children attended
Meeting with representative from the Barry Tennis Club
CB met with a representative from the Tennis Club who wants to join forces with us and offer opportunities to residents. (The details of this are still to be negotiated).
ITV
The Association has been approached by ITV who want to cover the story about open space service charge, the service charges for apartments and the problems with the management company. CB will be speaking to them this week.
The floor was then opened to Rob Jones from Vale of Glamorgan Council.
Issues with Parking
Rob introduced himself as part of the council’s Communication and Participation Team. He said that what the council wanted to do was involve residents in order to design solutions for problems in their area. In the case of Barry Waterfront, the issue is parking.
Rob Jones said that he was trying to get a measure of what the issues of parking were on the Waterfront and he would take them away so that the council and residents could design some solutions.
Lis Burnett then spoke about the areas of conversation regarding parking. Firstly, statutory parking restrictions, then optional parking restrictions and residents parking. This will involve consultation with residents.
Mark Hooper commented that at the start of Ffordd y Dociau the intention is that there be double yellow lines between the junction at Ffordd y Mileniwm and the first junction in Ffordd y Dociau. He also spoke about the parking system currently applicable on Barry Island. He said that they have a system of Zones but that people are not finding these workable. The subject of the adoption of the roads was brought up. Lis Burnett was asked if this was imminent. She answered that she has regular meetings with the developers and this point would be fed into one of these meetings.
Residents then spoke about their issues with parking and Rob Jones said that the council would normally run drop-in sessions at a community venue where residents could come in and share their problems.
AO raised concerns about what would happen when the shops by the District Centre are fully let or sold. Rob Jones assured the meeting that this is the kind of thing the Council are trying to understand so that they can avoid problems before they occur. Of similar concern is the parking in Neptune Road when Craft Republic open there. The planning for 40 houses on Neptune Road was discussed and it was pointed out that the plans are for the Mole, not the site that is earmarked for a hotel next to Asda. There is a consultant exercise going on at the moment. Another resident raised concerns about the new college site and the issues that this might present for parking. Lis Burnett commented that although parking is limited, the site has been chosen because of good transport links and they are trying to make it ‘a car free college’. She also said that young people tend to use cars less than older people.
Rob Jones said he would take away concerns raised at the meeting and come back to us.
Road at the far end of Ffordd y Dociau leading to Jacksons Bay
CB raised the subject of the road at the far end of Ffordd y Dociau leading out to Jackson’s Bay. The residents association understanding is that ABP still have to decide on whether to proceed with this. Mark Hooper commented that it was his understanding that as part of the ‘Making Waves’ development there will be changes to the lock gates and this will need a direct access road instead of the steep road that leads off of Clive Road.
Housing Associations
Lis Burnett then commented on an earlier point made about conversations with the Housing Associations. She said that the council has direct lines to the housing associations and so she is happy to help us start further conversations with them. CB said that she would be to take up this offer.
Update from Mark Hooper
Mark Hooper informed the meeting that in 2027 Barry Waterfront will become a ward on its own and will include the original Waterfront properties on the North side of the dock. He asked that Rob Jones involve these people in any discussions.
The issue of membership was raised as due to the problems with Fexco/Remus at the moment the Residents Association cannot permit membership from outside of the development built by the consortium.
Mark gave apologies for the other Baruc Ward Councillors who unfortunately had to go to a Barry Town Council Meeting.
He also reminded the meeting that if a resident has any issues, that his contact details are on our website and that of the Vale of Glamorgan.
He also said he was keen to facilitate conversations between the residents association and the housing associations.
Barry and District News
Chloe a journalist for the newspaper asked a question about the fire safety certificate concerns. She asked if the Vale Council had any interaction with Remus about this concern. Mark Hooper assured the meeting that their should be no problems as all of the buildings are below the 9m height and therefore the Building Societies should not have any problems with issuing mortgages.
Rob Jones said he would take the information back with him and Chloe could pick that up with the press office.
Next Steps for the Residents Association
CB said that the Association will issue a Stage Two complaint to Remus/Fexco.
The Association is also looking at the possibility of a complaint to the Consortium.
CB asked for volunteers to focus on events for the community.
Final Questions from Residents
A resident spoke about the transitory nature of housing association tenants and asked again if the Housing Associations would act for their tenants. Or perhaps they could even add our £1 membership fee to the tenants rent.
Date of next meeting
The next meeting was given as 17th July to be held in person at the Academy in Hood Road.
CB gave thanks to everyone to guest speakers and everyone in attendance.
There being no further business the meeting was ended.
