Summer 2025 Works

Symonds & Sampson, MANCO 2’s Managing Agents, carry out quarterly checks of all common areas in active maintenance.  In addition to resolving any issues identified during their visits or responding to reported problems from Shareholders, they also carry out a programme of routine maintenance.  The summer gardening plan was supplemented with extra shrub planting, the installation of water bags on vulnerable trees and further tree mulching across the MANCO 2 estate to improve weed control and enhance water retention. The regular redecoration of courtyard assets continues, including bollards, railings and lighting columns across our area, and these works were carried out at the end of the summer. Repairs to damaged coping stones, generally caused by high-sided vehicle impacts, were carried out at the entrances to Harewood Court and Harptree Court.

Winter 2025 Maintenance Programme

Seasonal activities being carried out through the autumn and winter months include tree maintenance works, clearing of autumn leaves and the replacement of several trees within courtyards across MANCO 2. The annual surface water drain clearance works have been carried out in the second week of December across multiple courtyards.

Board Appointments

The MANCO 2 AGM on 29^th April 2026 will vote to formally appoint Mr Michael King as a Resident Director of the Board. Mike’s experience in utility works will be particularly relevant to the working of the Board and will complement the existing team.

More Courtyards in Active Maintenance

Eventually over 50 courtyards and communal areas in the MANCO 2 area will become the responsibility of Shareholders.  The Duchy have not yet formally proposed a leasehold contract to transfer ownership to MANCO 2, however in the interim we are gradually beginning their Active Maintenance above ground. This only happens when we have agreed that appropriate build standards have been achieved by The Duchy’s developers.  Three further courtyards were recently brought into the Active Maintenance schedule for Manco 2, including Throckmorton Court, Coade Square and Crown Square. This takes the MANCO 2 cumulative total to 46 courtyards and communal areas in Active Maintenance by December 2025. The managing agents are also presently assessing several further courtyards and squares, although we are currently awaiting remedial works to be carried out by the developers before these may be brought into our work schedule next year.

TV Network Re-Life Works

As the older TV distribution infrastructure is now reaching the end of its life and is no longer supported by the manufacturer, the satellite receiver equipment is being gradually replaced.  MANCO 2 working in partnership with MANCOs 1, 3 and 4, have completed a survey of the current condition of the network and commissioned the design specification for replacement equipment.  An open-market tender event to procure and install new equipment was completed and contracts awarded for the first phase of work. Three of our sites (Tyberton Court, Victor Jackson Court and Trematon Court) were completed in October. Our final site in Marsden Mews will follow in 2026.

Meanwhile, please report any TV problems as normal for our maintenance contractor Wessex Aerials Ltd to address (details below).

Contact MANCO 2

If you want to report a maintenance issue, repair need or breach of Poundbury Stipulations which relates to courtyards or common areas, please do one of the following:

• Report online https://www.poundburymanco.co.uk/send-report-to-manco-2/
• Or call the dedicated MANCO number at 01305 756968 (office hours)

Sending our correspondence electronically saves both time and money.  If you wish to receive newsletters and other communications by email, please give our managing agent Symonds and Sampson your email address. Any personal information held on behalf of MANCO 2 is kept in strict compliance of the General Data Protection Regulations.

The Directors of Poundbury (Manco 3) Ltd. wish all Shareholders a happy and prosperous New Year and trust that you had a good Christmas.

 

Board Members.

Mr Robin James (Chairman)              Resident Director

Mr. Graeme Taylor                             Resident Director

Mr. Mathew Lucas                              Resident Director

Mrs. Rita Holliday                               Resident Director

Mr. Jason Bowerman                         Duchy of Cornwall Director

The 2026 Annual General Meeting

The 2026 Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 20^th of May 2026 at 18.30 p.m at Damers first School.

TV Service

The four Poundbury Mancos have been in discussion with Wessex Aerials (who currently provide the repair call-out service for our cabled TV system) and our technical advisers, Design Foundry, on the project to renew the ageing components of the system across Poundbury. The work is taking place in three phases and the first phase of the works was completed in the Manco 1 area in September, followed by the second phase in the Manco 2 area, which is also now completed. The third phase of works will be carried out in the Manco 3 area in early 2026. There are likely to be very brief interruptions to your television signal as the new equipment is connected to the network in January and February, but Wessex Aerials have assured us that they will ensure that any disruption to the service is kept to a minimum. All of the existing equipment that is being replaced will be left connected until the new hardware is in place, allowing the engineers a small window to disconnect the old equipment and connect the new equipment. The system will be tested thoroughly before the engineers leave site for the day, and they have provided us with a dedicated Poundbury call-out number should any problems be identified following the upgrade.

Manco 3 Help – What We Can Do and What We Cannot Do to Help You.

In addition to the television service, Manco 3 provides the covenanted services in private common areas (primarily courtyards) that form part of the Manco 3 estate. These duties include some stipulation management activities, and the maintenance of various Manco assets such as the courtyard surfaces, bollards, lighting and surface water drainage. Manco 3 has no responsibility for utilities, foul drainage (sewage) or broadband services, including the provision of TV channels through broadband. More details can be found on our website www.poundburymanco.co.uk.

The Mancos are not usually responsible for the areas immediately outside apartment blocks or the bin stores serving these areas. Blocks of apartments will usually have a Management Company set up to maintain these areas at the time the buildings were constructed. All queries should be addressed to the relevant Flat Management Company rather than the Manco. If you are unsure as to who is responsible for maintaining specific areas, please call the Manco managing agents on their dedicated Manco helpline 01305 756968 or email the team at mancos@symondsandsampson.co.uk.

Maintenance Charges

The Poundbury (Manco 3) Maintenance charge for 2026 will be £240 per share. Please make a single payment: this will be discounted to £228 if paid by 31^st March 2026. Please ensure that your payment is made either by bank transfer or by cheque, as advised on the invoice issued by Edwards & Keeping.

The increase from last year reflects higher on-going running costs alongside maintaining the value of our strategic reserve, on the assumption that in due course Manco 3 will take on a more comprehensive set of obligations for the maintenance of the common areas under a long lease from the Duchy of Cornwall. The exact specification and timing of future major works will become apparent in due course, but our best estimate is that we should increase our charge by 3.8% (the approximate rate of inflation) in order to meet our foreseeable maintenance, repair and replacement obligations. We keep the cost of maintenance under careful review every year, and we also have to ensure that the Manco 3 strategic maintenance reserve is maintained at a sufficient level to cover the cost of larger projects, such as resurfacing courtyards, that will inevitably arise in the coming years.

Please cancel any old standing orders for payment of charges. Please note that a handling fee of £12 will be deducted from any refunds due, if it is necessary to return overpayments. (This is usually due to shareholders forgetting to cancel a previous standing order). Unfortunately, due to banking regulations, Poundbury (Manco 3) Ltd is not able to take payments by direct debit.

Communications

It is very important that you keep Symonds & Sampson up to date with your contact details, especially if you do not live in Poundbury. It is our practice to send all communication to your property in Poundbury unless you have provided other instructions.

Given the cost of postage, where possible we try to send communications by e-mail. Please provide us with your e-mail address as well as a contact telephone number. This information should be sent to Symonds & Sampson, who can be contacted at mancos@symondsandsampson.co.uk or Burraton House, Burraton Square, Poundbury DT1 3GR.

Poundbury Streets and Courtyards

If you notice issues, whilst you are out and about, please continue to report them via the website, www.poundburymanco.co.uk.