Did you know you may be a member of Hilltop Park’s management company?
If you own a home at Hilltop Park, your household is likely to have a formal role in the company responsible for managing the estate. Many residents understandably assume that FirstPort is the management company. It isn’t, and that distinction matters.
The company belongs to the estate’s governance structure
Hilltop Park (Chippenham) Management Company Limited was incorporated in April 2019. It is a private company limited by guarantee, established to manage land, facilities and shared areas within the development.
The statutory register supplied to the Residents’ Association on 24 July 2026 records memberships linked to homes across Hilltop Park. Where a property is jointly owned, the owners are normally treated together as a single member.
The £25 shown against each membership is not a charge. It is a nominal guarantee, representing the maximum amount a member could be required to contribute if the company were ever wound up.
The management company and FirstPort are not the same
It is important to separate the three main bodies involved in the estate.
The management company is the legal entity that ultimately governs the estate. Its directors are responsible for decisions and for setting the overall direction of management.
FirstPort is the managing agent. It is appointed to carry out day-to-day operations, including budgeting, arranging maintenance, managing contractors, and collecting the estate rentcharge. It acts on behalf of the company but does not own or control it.
The Hilltop Park Residents’ Association is independent. It is a voluntary group that represents residents, raises issues, and shares information. It is not part of the company’s formal governance structure.
In simple terms, the company sets direction, FirstPort delivers services, and the Residents’ Association represents the community voice.
What membership means in practice
Membership creates a formal link between residents and the company. Subject to the company’s articles and the Companies Act, members are typically entitled to receive notice of meetings, attend and vote, and appoint a proxy if they cannot attend in person.
Members may also be eligible to become directors, if they choose and meet the necessary requirements.
In most cases, each dwelling carries one vote. However, the articles also include special provisions for the original subscriber, or a nominated successor, while the development is still being completed. We are currently seeking clarity on how this operates in practice and what it means for residents today.
An accurate and up-to-date membership register is therefore essential. If it is incomplete or outdated, residents may miss information or be excluded from decisions that affect the estate.
Why resident involvement matters
Resident involvement strengthens transparency and accountability. It helps ensure that services reflect the needs of the community, that decisions are informed by lived experience, and that there is clearer oversight of how funds are used.
This does not replace the need for a professional managing agent. Large estates require structured administration, contractor management, and financial control. The question is how residents can have a clearer and more consistent voice in how those services are directed and reviewed.
What the Residents’ Association is doing
We have obtained and begun reviewing the statutory register and the company’s articles of association. This is to better understand how the structure operates, how residents are represented, and how decisions are made.
Over the coming period, we will share further information on how membership relates to individual homes, how governance decisions are taken, and how residents may become more involved.
We will not publish the register, as it contains personal data.
Key takeaways
Many residents are already members of the management company without realising it. FirstPort is the managing agent, not the company itself. Membership carries formal rights, including participation in meetings and voting. An accurate register is essential to ensure fair communication and representation.
What you should do next
If you own a home at Hilltop Park, please check that your household is correctly recorded as a member of the management company. This ensures you receive relevant information and can take part in future decisions affecting the estate.
If you are unsure about your membership status, or would like us to check the register on your behalf, please contact:
committee@hilltoppark.org.uk
This is the first in a series aimed at helping residents better understand how the estate is managed and how they can be more directly involved in its governance.