19/12/2025
We have issued a complaint to the current CIC. The CIC is responsible for "employing" the services of the management company, and oversees how the budget is spent and approves it.
A copy of the complaint was also issued to Claire Young, MP.
For your reference - dated today.
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Dear members of the CIC,
We are writing to lodge a formal complaint regarding the recent invoice issued by Pinnacle Management and to request immediate clarification from the CIC.
To begin with, we are extremely concerned and frankly appalled by both the content of the invoice and the manner in which it has been handled. Before we proceed any further, we require confirmation as to whether the CIC has actually reviewed, seen, and formally approved any of the costs that Pinnacle has submitted. Given the nature and scale of the charges, this point is critical. For reference we have uploaded a breakdown of the costs applied, which are, we believe, incorrect and not married up with expected costs. We have also not seen a breakdown of expenditure from the last financial year to ascertain these costs.
In addition, the process surrounding this invoice has been wholly unacceptable. The due date stated is July 2025, yet despite repeated requests and months of chasing, the invoice was only issued a week before Christmas. This timing is unreasonable and places unnecessary pressure on residents. The only prior communication was a poorly written letter sent just a week earlier, offering a vague explanation for the delay—yet residents are now being charged for that delay. A delay which will result in an invoice being posted after Christmas, giving residents less than 4 weeks to pay a substantial bill.
To summarise our biggest concerns:
1. £20,000 for a football pitch, listed here as a kickabout, which has mud, no lines, no nets, no preventative measures to stop bikes, cars or animals, and not only that, but £20,000 was paid by residents in 2024 for this pitch, which has still not been handed over. Where did this £20,000 go? What was it used for? Our invoice is higher, and there is no acknowledgement as to where this £20,000 was spent.
2. The underspend is missing, as above, we have no understanding as to where the large payment of £20,000 was "spent", for there to be a reserve this year - what for? Where is this money being used?
3. There is no breakdown of costs vs. expense. How can we be certain what it cost last year, and will cost this year? Multiple areas were not completed in a satisfactory manner, where is this shown within the invoice?
When we state a breakdown, this is because the invoice is not clear what the actual spend is for. Such as communal water - what is this? Hedgerow maintenance, how often as an area of the site has been unmaintained for 4 years? Litter picking - no one has ever picked litter in the estate. These are just come examples.
This situation raises serious concerns about transparency, governance, and the management of residents’ funds. We expect a full explanation of how this invoice was produced, who approved the costs and how, and why the communication and timing have been so inadequate - and not only that, why residents were then charged for this.
Given the gravity of these issues, we expect a response immediately.
Yours sincerely,
Park Farm Residents Committee
