Edgewood Court [2000] QBCCMCmr 139 (15 March 2000)

P G DanielsREFERENCE: 0024-2000

ORDER OF AN ADJUDICATOR

MADE UNDER PART 10 OF CHAPTER 6

BODY CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT ACT 1997

Number of Scheme:	21288
Name of Scheme:	Edgewood Court
Address of Scheme:	21 Bunowen Street FERNY GROVE QLD 4055

TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to an application made under the abovementioned Act by

Mr Michael James Wright the owner of lot 1


P G DanielsI hereby order that A.D Body Corporate Pty Ltd (the appointee) of Suite 9 Highpoint Plaza, 240 Waterworks Road, Ashgrove is appointed to call, hold and chair a general meeting (the meeting) of Edgewood Court within 3 months of the date of this order for the purpose of the consideration of motions included on the agenda of the meeting, and the election of the executive members of the committee and the ordinary members of the committee, if any, who shall hold such positions, subject to section 25 of the Body Corporate and Community Management (Standard Module) (the standard module), until the next annual general meeting is held.

I further order that, for the purposes of convening, holding and chairing the meeting, the appointee shall have all the powers, authorities, duties and functions of the chairperson, secretary and treasurer of the body corporate, with the exception of the following powers -

a) to further delegate any of those powers, authorities, duties and functions to another; or

b) to make any decision on a restricted matter within the meaning of section 26 of the standard module; or

to incur expenditure, in respect of a single project, beyond the relevant limit for committee spending.

I further order that within seven (7) days of the appointee receiving a copy of this order, the appointee must give a copy of this order to each person whose name appears on the roll as the owner of a lot included in the scheme (lot owners).

I further order that lot owners shall have the right to submit to the appointee, motions for inclusion on the agenda for the meeting; and

a) if the lot owner is an individual - to nominate the lot owner or another individual for election as a member of the committee; and

b) if the lot owner is not an individual - to nominate an individual for election as a member of the committee;

Provided that

a) the motions and / or nominations are received by the appointee within 28 days from the date of this order; and

b) the motions and / or nominations are otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the standard module;

then the appointee shall include the motions on the agenda of the meeting, or nominations on the ballot for election as members of the committee.

I further order that the appointee shall not give notice of the meeting until after the expiration of 28 days from the date of this order.

I further order that -

a) notice of the meeting is to be given in accordance with section 42 of the standard module;

b) the agenda of the meeting must include the items set out in section 45(2) of the standard module, and the meeting may determine any other motion validly before it;

c) except as provided for in this order, the meeting and all related matters must be conducted in accordance with the standard module.

I further order that the appointee shall hold the appointment for the period beginning from the date of this order until the completion of the meeting.A.D Body Corporate Pty Ltdof Suite 9 328728y1nn
STATEMENT OF ADJUDICATOR’S REASONS FOR DECISION - REF 0024-2000

“Edgewood Court” CTS 21288

The applicant, Mr Michael James Wright, the owner of lot 1, has sought an order of an adjudicator under the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (the Act) that:

Appoints A.D. Body Corporate Pty Ltd of Suite 9, Highpoint Plaza, 240 Waterworks Road, Ashgrove 4060 as body corporate manager for the purpose of calling an annual general meeting of the Body Corporate for Edgewood Court CTS 21288 at the end of March 2000, and to regularise the correct date of future annual general meetings, and to manage and administer the records of the Body Corporate for Edgewood Court Community Titles Scheme 21288.

Section 223(1) provides that an adjudicator may make an order that is just and equitable in the circumstances to resolve a dispute, in the context of a community titles scheme, about a claimed or anticipated contravention of the Act or the community management statement. An order may require a person to act, or prohibit a person from acting, in a way stated in the order (section 223(2)).

Specifically, without limiting the power of an adjudicator to make an order under section 223(1), an adjudicator may order the body corporate to call a general meeting of its members to deal with stated business or to change the date of an annual general meeting (section 223(3)(p)). Alternatively, the adjudicator may order the appointment of an administrator, and authorise the administrator to perform obligations of the body corporate, its committee, or a member of its committee under this Act or the community management statement (section 223(3)(v)).

The administrator has the powers given to the administrator under the order (section 248(2)). Section 248(3) provides that the order may –

a)	withdraw all or particular stated powers from the body corporate (and any delegate of the body corporate) or from stated officers of the body corporate until the administrator has taken the necessary action to secure compliance with the obligations; and
b)	require officers or delegates of the body corporate to take stated action to help perform the work the administrator is required to perform; and
c)	fix the administrator’s remuneration.

An order appointing an adjudicator may be the only order the adjudicator makes for an application (section 223(4)(a)). An adjudicator’s order may contain ancillary or consequential provisions the adjudicator considers necessary or appropriate (section 230(1)).

The Body Corporate and Community Management Regulation (Standard Module) (the Standard Module) section 60 provides that an annual general meeting (other than the first annual general meeting) must be called and held within 3 months after the end of each of the scheme’s financial years. A general meeting (which includes an annual general meeting) may be called by a person authorised or required to call a general meeting by an order of an adjudicator acting under the dispute resolution provisions (see section 40(c) of the Standard Module). Moreover, the agenda for an annual general meeting must include the items set out in sections 45(2) and (3) of the Standard Module.
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In the supporting grounds, the applicant states that the last AGM for this Body Corporate was incorrectly held on 22 November 1999. It was resolved at that meeting to seek the services of a professional body corporate manager to manage the Body Corporate.

I draw to the attention of the Body Corporate that it must hold an annual general meeting within three months of the end of financial year. For this scheme, the end of financial year is the last day of the month containing the anniversary of the first AGM: section 276(9) of the Act. For example, if the first AGM was held on 15 March 1985, then the end of financial year would be 31 March of each year.

Two owners have consented to A.D. Body Corporate Pty Ltd calling and holding the meeting. The other two owners were invited to make submissions on the matter but have not done so.

In the circumstances, I am satisfied that the appointment is necessary to authorise a person to call and hold a general meeting of the scheme, and allow it to thereafter proceed on a proper legal basis.A.D Body Corporate Pty Ltdof Suite 9 328728y1nn