CBWRA caught out in yet another attempt to misinform residents?

Summary: The CBWRA ‘co-chairs’ recently claimed that there was a limit of 3 motions per person at the 2023 AGM and that it would be the same this year (at the 2024 AGM). But there was no such limit at the 2023 AGM (I submitted 5 motions, 2 of which were passed by a majority of leaseholders who voted) and there is no basis in the constitution for creating such a limit. I have asked CBWRA three times if they can explain why they made this claim of a limit of 3 motions and they are unable to do so. I think it would be reasonable to conclude therefore that this was yet another attempt to misinform residents with a view to exerting even further control on resident involvement. In my view, it is petty, controlling and cynical and shows the contempt which CBWRA has for facts and for residents.

If there is a response or explanation from CBWRA then I am happy to publish it here.

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Residents were sent the following email (below) re the AGM by CBWRA ‘co-chairs’ Larisa Villar Hauser and Louis Sebastian Kendall, who changed the constitution in September 2023 resulting in only 9% of leaseholders voting in the Chair elections.

The email states that:

The 2024 AGM will be held on June 12 between 7-8.30pm.
If you would like to submit any motions to the AGM, the deadline for motions is 5pm on May 24th. Please send your motions to info@cbwra.com including the text of the submission alongside the RA member who is putting the motion forward and the RA member who is seconding the motion. As last year, the maximum number of motions that may be submitted by one person is 3.

In fact I submitted 5 motions for the SGM in September last year, 2 of which were passed. There was no limit to the number of motions that any leaseholder could submit as far as I am aware, either at AGM or SGM. There is no mention of any such restriction in the bizarre constitution which CBWRA forced through in September 2023 which residents were given only 10 days to examine before the vote and which they were told contained only ‘minor changes’ (in fact it contained sweeping changes which were not mentioned such as limiting voting in Chair elections’ to paid up members, allowing any member to have their membership terminated because of ”any other conduct not in line with the aims of the Association” (as judged by co chairs/committee) and removed the article from existing constitution which required CBWRA to make available to leaseholders copies of all correspondence with the freeholder, removing yet another important aspect of scrutiny/transparency.

I have asked CBWRA three times if they can explain why they made this claim of a limit of 3 motions and they are unable to do so. I think it is reasonable to conclude therefore that this was yet another attempt to misinform residents with a view to exerting even further control on resident involvement. In my view, it is petty, controlling and cynical and shows the contempt which CBWRA has for facts and for residents.

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CBWRA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – WEDS 12th JUNE 7pm ONLINE (MS TEAMS)

Summary: Residents have proposed three motions for the AGM:

CBWRA should challenge the Building Safety Act costs which Rendall and Rittner have budgeted for Chelsea Bridge Wharf (circa £400K) and require detailed justification and explanation of assumptions by Rendall and Rittner and proceed to first tier tribunal action if necessary.

CBWRA should publish full accounts for the last 3 financial years, clearly showing income and expenditure

CBWRA should publish minutes to be taken at leaseholder forum meetings and circulate these to leaseholders in a timely manner

The text of the motions, CBWRA’s response and the proposer’s further comments can be seen in this pdf.

Click to access x1-agm-2024-motions-mod-8.6.24.pdf

Action you can take: I encourage residents who are eligible (i.e. leaseholders who are members of CBWRA) to support the motions which address basic aspects of transparency and good governance. Please vote by proxy or join the meeting on Weds and vote online. You may prefer to attend the meeting rather than vote by proxy as you will get the chance to hear the motions proposed and opposed and (if we are very lucky) maybe even some semblance of an intelligent discussion , which CBWRA seem to work so hard to prevent on the CBW app (hence they do not publish the motions there).

If you are a member (or think you are) and did not get the meeting link or other details feel free to contact me – residents@chelseabridgewharf.org.uk – I prefer not to publish it here. Equally if you cannot attend and would like me to act as your proxy voter I am very happy to – please get in touch ASAP.

Thanks for your attention and I hope you enjoy your weekend.

Please feel free to get in touch if any questions.

Best Wishes

Mike O’Driscoll (residents@chelseabridgewharf.org.uk)
Warwick leaseholder