CBWRA’s ”CONSULTATION” on the PROPOSED RULES FOR USE OF CBW APP – have your say by 31st May 5pm

May 29, 2024

Summary: In this letter (full version here), I reply to CBWRA’s ‘consultation’ regarding proposed new terms and conditions for use of the CBW app and highlight that these ‘’terms and conditions’’ are deliberately confusing those things which obviously should be banned (e.g. bullying, hate speech, personal attacks) with things which are simply aspects of freedom of speech (e.g. choosing to make an ‘unconstructive or ‘negative’ comment).

Action you can take: I encourage residents to reply to CBWRA (info@CBWRA.com) to support the points in this letter or to give their own feedback to CBWRA by 5PM on Friday 31^st May. You may also wish to include accounts of your own experiences on the CBW app and what changes you would like to see.

There is absolutely no objective or rational basis to state that people must only make ‘constructive or ‘positive’ comments on the CBW app and this is an unreasonable imposition on free speech and is a pretext for continuing to close down criticism of the committee or any meaningful debate.

I also highlight that approximately 88% of CBW app users have been excluded from this ‘consultation’ (only 140 leaseholders have been invited to comment on the proposed rules and there are approximately 1,200 users of the app).

Even before this supposed ‘consultation’ is closed, Chris Garston (of Garton-Jones estate agents) has weighed in on the CBW app and, in what seems a bad tempered and patronising post (29.5.24) has told residents that Garton-Jones would withdraw funding of the CBW app unless CBW app users obey his arbitrary ‘rules’ (which are not those proposed by CBWRA and have not been agreed by anyone). Mr Garston’s demands seem include to include arbitrary stipulations that users must not make ‘negative’ posts or anything that makes other residents ‘uncomfortable’ (which could be pretty much include anything). Isn’t threatening to effectively close down the CBW app unless people do what you demand a form of bullying?

In my view, CBWRA has also sought to systematically supress discussion on the CBW app by refusing to publish important documents there (such as motions for Annual General meetings or the manifesto of candidates for Chair) and by insisting that residents must make enquiries privately by email to CBWRA rather than to post them on the app (even though there is no basis for this in any terms or conditions of the app). This is unacceptable and must stop.

In short my message regarding these proposed ‘terms and conditions’ is:
NO to bullying, NO to hate speech, NO to personal attacks but YES to freedom of speech and YES to different points of view, YES to meaningful discussion of issues that are important to residents. There is no rational or objective basis for demanding that residents only make ‘positive’ or ‘constructive’ posts and no such conditions exist on any social media platform or online community anywhere that I am aware of. This is a crass attempt to continue censorship and make residents afraid to criticise the committee. The rules of the CBW app must not be dictated by Chris Garston of Garton-Jones and there cannot be two sets of rules.

Following Right to Manage, when the CBW RTM company (and its unelected directors) have responsibility for a £5 million service charge budget it will be even more important that we can have an honest and open forum for residents to express their views – good or bad, positive or negative.

Please take this chance to have your say!