Boat Lane Court
Management Services
Staffing
Boat Lane Court Limited is responsible for all aspects of staffing. It is one of the most important duties that Boat Lane Court has, the reasons for this are:
- the welfare of every owner is dependent on the staff
- the life and atmosphere of the Court is significantly influenced by the staff
- Employment Law is so strictly interpreted that any shortfall in personnel administration and management can result in heavy financial penalties
- Successful staffing is a team effort involving the directors of Owners Company, the Manager, all of the staff and all of the owners.
Boat Lane Court employs a company called MHL, who are Personnel and Health and Safety Managers. They are experts in this field and the specific activities in which MHL is involved includes:
- advising on the formulation and placement of advertisements
- preparation of job descriptions and job specifications
- drawing up Contracts of Employment
- disciplinary and grievance procedures. This includes procuring the services of specialist personnel consultants who offer a representation and indemnity service for industrial tribunals
- formulation of induction and training programmes for all staff
- Close liaison with the Manager
- Advice re Health and Safety Regulations
Finance
Although Boat Lane Court has its own auditor and accountant, in order to keep that cost to a minimum, the Manager of the Court provides the following services:
- formulation of the annual budget in consultation with the Board of Directors and presentation to an owners meeting
- supervision of monthly wages bills
- detailed liaison with the accountants in preparation of quarterly management accounts and statutory accounts
- liaison with pension consultants
Company Secretary
The role of the Company Secretary to the Owners Company is at the heart of the concept of Very Sheltered Housing as it enables the Manager to report to the Directors, as the elected representatives of the owners, on the work which is carried out on their behalf; to present the various options, with costs, for the decisions to be made by the Directors at their Board Meetings, the individual owners at their informal meetings and the shareholders at their shareholders meetings.
The work of the Company Secretary carried out by the Manager, includes:
- responsibility for all returns to Companies House
- responsibility for the preparation of all papers for Board Meetings in consultation with the Chairman of the Directors
- responsibility for ensuring that Board decisions are implemented
- responsibility for formulating reports to the Board setting out the various options and costs.
Welfare Benefits
It is a major part of the work of the Manager to ensure that owners receive the various welfare benefits to which they are entitled and which can be substantial. As a result, more than half of all the owners are in receipt of Attendance Allowance.
In addition, help is given to those owners who are eligible for means-tested benefits, which greatly increases the scope of Very Sheltered Housing. Careful attention is also paid to ensure that any available assistance with Council Tax is claimed.
Resale of Properties
Although the resale of properties is the prerogative of the owner or their executors The Manager accepts responsibility for assisting with resales, for which there is a very specialised market.
