How Urang were ‘selected’ to be the new agent at Chelsea Bridge Wharf – a secret ballot amongst an unelected committee who were not allowed to see the contract – leaseholders have still not seen it

CBWRA informed those residents on their mailing list (on 17.6.23) that they they are to engage Urang as managing agents for the RTM application at Chelsea Bridge Wharf. As reported here there has been no meaningful consultation with residents they were simply sent a brief note of the managing agent shortlisted with a ‘deeper look’ only provided for one agent (Urang). Residents were only able to meet one agent – Urang. CBWRA invited residents to give feedback on this decision (which is not a consultation) and have not published any meaningful account of the responses received. There is no mention of how many responses received from residents or how many were positive or negative. I know for fact that some residents objected to the lack of fair consultation (including me in this letter) but this is not mentioned. It would appear that the committee voted by email in a ‘secret ballot’ (rather than in a meeting) with 9 for and 3 abstaining. We are not told why they abstained or who abstained.

The committee were not allowed to see the contract with Urang (which apparently was for two years) so how could they possible make an informed decision in any case?

The ‘secret ballot’ committee vote is another tool from the CBWRA dysfunctional anti-democracy toolkit: it prevents discussion between committee members (or residents) in a meeting prior to a vote which would allow committee members and residents to interact with each other, it means that committee members do not know who else is supporting or opposing particular views and maximises the chances that the committee members (none of whom are elected) will simply follow the recommendation of the Chair. Why was this vote not simply held at an open meeting which residents could attend?

Nearly two years later, Leaseholders have still not been allowed to see the contract with Urang and now that RTM is about to happen, and Urang will take over as managing agent, and the existing contract will (presumably) expire around June 2025, leaseholders must be allowed to see the existing contract and any new contract BEFORE it is signed.