Monthly Archive: Feb, 2023

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Rendall and Rittner refuse to take membership fees on behalf of CBWRA-the end of the collegiate relationship?

Rendall and Rittner are no longer prepared to deduct the Chelsea Bridge Wharf Residents’ association fees at ‘source’ i.e. added to the service charge. Since the end of 2021 they have been making all leaseholders members of CBWRA by default (i.e. without consent) and adding £20 membership to the service charge. Leaseholders can opt out but moist would be unaware they were added as members unless the read through the very small print in service charge billing.

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Vote Mike O’Driscoll for CBWRA Chair – for a new model of residents’ association, not just a rebrand and to keep pressing for Right to Manage despite the contract retendering

There are many areas of CBWRA governance which need reform, including the constitution, election processes, transparency on finances and resident consultation but  above all we need to detoxify the CBW app. I have spoken to many residents who are genuinely afraid to ask even the most basic questions for fear of being attacked or having their app account closed: this must stop. Please see my manifesto for detailed proposals. The unfair running of the 2023 Chair elections show how much we need to change to become a normal democratic residents’ association. A 140% membership fee increase without explanation says everything about the culture of current CBWRA regime – remote, hierarchical, apparently not too interested in residents’ views.

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Recognition of CBWRA – it has to be earned or else there is no incentive to address the serious problems in our residents’ association. CBWRA’s recognition is at risk because of its own governance issues – not because of me

. We should of course be recognised but we also need to get our house in order and start behaving like a normal residents’ association. A Residents’ Association which is not behaving in a democratic way – which has never held elections for committee and which has to be dragged into elections for Chair (while insulting the residents who are asking for elections) has never held a valid AGM, may have some issues to address..

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A slightly biased question.?

This is the voting form for the 2023 Chair election, which is currently open. Does anyone see anything wrong here? Has the result been announced already? :). It should of course say joint… Continue reading →

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Understanding the difference between Fact and Fiction – a response to some groundless allegations against me

While I am forced to be absent from the CBW app, the soon to be former Chair (Mr Stephen Thompson), has repeatedly made defamatory statements about me which are completely untrue and unevidenced. I consider these wild and groundless statements to be a smear campaign, and make a fair election impossible. My solicitor has written to Mr Thompson (5.2.23) and offered him the opportunity to draw a line under these matters by a simple retraction and apology on the CBW app – unfortunately Mr Thompson has refused to do that and hence I am writing this letter and discussing further action with my solicitor. Mr Thompson enjoys legal insurance as the Chair of CBWRA, which residents are paying for, and which in my view is being seriously misused.

Below I reply to numerous instances of what I consider to be defamation by Mr Thompson Since May 2022

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Voting open in CBWRA Chair elections and membership fees increase by 140% – still no statement of income and expenditure

The voting opened in The CBWRA Chair elections today. The process has been characterised by what one might politely call a number of ‘irregularities’. The email containing the voting link also announced that the RA subscription fee has gone up from £20 a year to £48 an increase of 140%. No explanation is given. I have been saying for the best part of 18 months that the CBWRA should publish a statement of income and expenditure and this is need now more than ever. Why would such a huge percentage increase be needed? Has there been massively increased expenditure? If so, what on? Where has all the money gone?

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Right to Manage stalled again – just days before Chair election results. CBWRA claim Berkeley Homes to retender the management contract at Chelsea Bridge Wharf – Berkeley Homes say they have not made the decision yet.

Residents will not choose new agent – Berkeley Homes will be in charge of the process

Rendall and Rittner will be allowed to bid and may be reappointed

Right to Manage at the very least delayed by many months and may not happen at all (unless you vote for me!)

No resident consultation on this decision

It is clear that once again CBWRA/BH have at the very least kicked Right to Manage a long way down the road, and without any resident consultation, and the timing of this announcement suggests at the very least a disregard for the Chair election process.

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2023 CBWRA Chair elections – democracy dying in darkness?

I have nominated myself for Chair of CBWRA in the 2023 elections because I wanted to improve the governance of the CBWRA and to ensure that all that was possible was being done to achieve Right to Manage, following what have been (in my view) two wasted years as far as RTM goes

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Government set to ban hidden insurance commissions (such as Rendall and Rittner’s captive company schemes)

Close on the heels of Liam Spender’s win against First Port property management, whereby £100,000 in building insurance commissions is to be returned to residents, Michael Gove has announced plans to ban such… Continue reading →