The 2024 CBWRA Chair Elections – a model of good electoral practice
No only joking:). In fact this is how the CBWRA 2024 elections, run by Larisa Villar Hauser and Louis Sebastian Kendall and the meaningless ‘oversight team’ (Toby Spoerer, Stephen Thompson) look:
- 88.7% of Chelsea Bridge Wharf leaseholders are not eligible to vote in the current CBWRA chair elections. Only 130 leaseholders (11.3%) are eligible to vote.
- Leaseholders with multiple properties have to buy a membership for each property if they want to have a vote for each property
- The only challenger for Chair(me) is banned from the CBW app for pointing out that CBWRA were misadvising residents that RTM was not possible (up to end of 2022)
- Larisa and Louis unable to provide any evidence of the supposed legal advice they had which prevents them discussing the closure of my CBW app account
- Residents not able to see manifestos until voting opened
- No meeting with candidates until half way through voting and even then Larisa and Louis did their best to avoid a debate with me – wanting to meet residents in a separate room and crying ‘why do we need a debate?’
- Smear tactics and personal attacks on the CBW app – accusing me of having opened fake accounts on the CBW app
- Little or no discussion of the elections on the CBW app. – a culture of fear in my opinion
This would shame North Korea….
Thanks to those who have voted for me and many message of support on social media and privately. If you are one of those very few who are allowed to vote, and have not done so yet, please consider supporting me.
Voting closes – 12 April, 9pm
· Result announced – 15 April
· Chair takeover (if a new Chair is appointed) – 1 May
In my view, the actions of the CBWRA chairs prove on a daily basis that fair elections, freedom of speech on the CBW app and consultation with residents will never happen as long as they are in charge. We don’t have to put up with this – the committee are supposed to represent us, not to rule us.
Mike O’Driscoll- why I am running for Chair of CBWRA in 2024
About me
I am an academic quantitative researcher in an NHS related role, and cofounder/trustee of an international development charity. I have been a CBW leaseholder since 2004 and led many successful campaigns benefitting residents. In 2020 with other residents I worked to reactivate the residents’ association. I worked continuously (since 2020!) for Right to Manage, despite the fact that the current and former chairs and committee were informing residents that this was not possible, up to the end of 2022.
My CBW app account was closed in May 2022 without any due process for the supposed ‘misinformation’ that RTM was possible. The independent advice I obtained on RTM In June 2022 showed the CBWRA position was wrong and that RTM was indeed possible. This underlines the need for serious reform in CBWRA in terms of freedom of speech, ending online bullying/arbitrary account closure on the CBW app and conducting elections fairly as well as increasing resident consultation which is virtually zero at present.
My Priorities as Chair would be to:
Ensure the smooth completion of the Right to Manage process
Ensure all leaseholders get the benefits of Right to Manage (by ensuring elections for Directors and resident consultation on all major decisions)
After RTM – set the new managing agent (Urang) a target to reduce the average service charge by 15%
Challenge Building Safety Act Costs (R and R budget these at 400K which is many multiples of charges at other developments such as VISTA).
Introduce hard data monitoring on key performance indicators so that we have a rational basis to judge the performance of Urang
Ensure fair and transparent election process for CBWRA Chair & committee members and DIRECTORS OF THE RIGHT TO MANAGE COMPANY
Full manifesto: https://chelseabridgewharf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/manifesto-2024-mod-24.3.24-cmdlt.docx